Former Black Ferns international Pia Tapsell has earned her maiden Wallaroos call-up while Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke and Allana Sikimeti have both received recalls after two-year hiatuses.
The Wallaroos’ squad for the upcoming O’Reilly Test match away to New Zealand was confirmed on Wednesday morning, fresh from the announcement of new coach Sione Fukofuka’s appointment.
Six Western Force players were named in the squad, the first since the conclusion of the 2026 Swyftx Super Rugby Women’s season.
Tapsell, Malcolm Heke and Sikimeti are joined by regulars Cecilia Smith, Michaela Leonard and 2026 Rebecca Clough medal winner Samantha Wood.
The selections of Tapsell and Malcolm Heke come after both enjoyed exceptional 2026 Super W campaigns, finished third and second respectively behind Wood in the Rebecca Clough medal.
Tapsell, 28, previously represented New Zealand across six Tests in 2019 and 2020, but the Melbourne-born back-rower is eligible for Australia, having played the past three seasons with the Force.
Tapsell was a physical powerhouse throughout the Super W campaign, underlined by a team-high 19 dominant carries, while she was one of the best in the competition for in-contact metres (100) with a team-high four offloads and seven turnovers won including four breakdown steals.
The recall of Kalamunda’s 26-year-old hooker Malcolm Heke is welcome, having played three caps for the Wallaroos in 2024. Malcolm Heke scored an equal team-high four tries in the 2026 Super W season, where her lineout accuracy and hard-hitting tackles were again a feature. The Kala rake also won six turnovers.
Likewise, front-rower Sikimeti, 22, will also look to add to her three caps, all earned in 2024. Sikimeti put aside injury troubles to have a strong 2026 Super W season with a team-high 43 ball carries.
The likes of Katalina Amosa (knee), Grace Freeman (leg), Ngamihi Monk (leg) and Brooklyn Teki Joyce (ankle) were unavailable for selection due to injuries.
Director of Women’s High Performance Tim Walsh said: “Achieving big ambitions requires an army of purpose-driven, disciplined and focus athletes with a management team that provides an environment that maximises potential.
“It is a fresh start for everyone involved in the Wallaroos program and this next campaign is our responsibility to set a platform on the road to 2029.
“In what should be a fantastic occasion for our 100th Test match, our promise to align both programs also starts with the inclusions of Maddison Levi, Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea and Bienne Terita, who will add strike out wide.”
The Wallaroos will travel to Auckland on Thursday in preparation for the 100th Test match in their 32-year history to be played on Saturday 22 August from 11:05am WST.
Rugby Australia confirmed the coaching set-up for the remainder of the season on Tuesday with Walsh joining Mike Ruthven, Reg Tayler, Ben Mowen and Duncan Chubb for the New Zealand Test.
Fukofuka will commence the Wallaroos Head Coach role in 2027.
Watch the Wallaroos in their 100th Test match live and on demand on Stan Sport.
WALLAROOS SQUAD FOR TEST AGAINST NEW ZEALAND
- Jemma Bemrose* (Queensland Reds/Palm Beach Currumbin Alligators) - uncapped
- Lily Bone - #229 (ACT Brumbies/Orange City) – 3 caps
- Emily Chancellor - #158 (NSW Waratahs/Sydney University) – 37 caps
- Piper Duck - #185 (NSW Waratahs/Tumut Bullettes) – 26 caps
- Waiaria Ellis - #225 (NSW Waratahs/Blacktown Scorpions) – 6 caps
- Martha Fua - #223 (ACT Brumbies/Blacktown Scorpions) – 4 caps
- Caitlyn Halse - #210 (NSW Waratahs/Camden Rams) – 15 caps
- Tia Hinds - #222 (NSW Waratahs/Randwick) – 10 caps
- Brianna Hoy - #203 (NSW Waratahs/Coffs Harbour Snappers) – 13 caps
- Eva Karpani - #171 (Queensland Reds/Southern Suburbs) – 46 caps
- Kaitlan Leaney - #179 (NSW Waratahs/SCU Marlins) – 39 caps
- Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea - #170 (Queensland Reds/Sunnybank Dragons) – 4 caps
- Michaela Leonard - #168 (Western Force/Tuggeranong Vikings) – 47 caps
- Maddison Levi* (Australia Sevens/Bond University) – uncapped
- Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke - #209 (Western Force/Kalamunda Rugby) – 3 caps
- Brittany Merlo - #230 (NSW Waratahs/Sydney University) – 3 caps
- Desiree Miller - #204 (NSW Waratahs/Eastern Suburbs) – 27 caps
- Faitala Moleka- #199 (ACT Brumbies/Blacktown Scorpions) – 30 caps
- Tania Naden - #197 (ACT Brumbies/Uni-North Owls) – 29 caps
- Leilani Nathan - #202 (NSW Waratahs/Hamilton Hawks) – 8 caps
- Bridie O’Gorman - #180 (NSW Waratahs/Sydney University) – 41 caps
- Siokapesi Palu Sekona - #194 (ACT Brumbies/Rockdale Rangers) – 27 caps
- Allana Sikimeti - #212 (Western Force/Norths Eagles Rugby) – 3 caps
- Piper Simons - #231 (NSW Waratahs/Gordon Rugby) – 3 caps
- Cecilia Smith - #190 (Western Force/Leeton Dianas) – 30 caps
- Maya Stewart - #196 (NSW Waratahs/Nelson Bay Gropers) – 26 caps
- Pia Tapsell* (Western Force/North Shore Rugby Club) – uncapped
- Bienne Terita - #195 (Australia Sevens/Randwick) – 6 caps
- Amelia Whitaker* (NSW Waratahs/Randwick) – uncapped
- Samantha Wood - #207 (Western Force/Kalamunda Rugby) – 15 caps
*denotes uncapped
Unavailable for selection due to injury
Katalina Amosa (knee)
Chioma Enyi (ankle)
Grace Freeman (leg)
Georgina Friedrichs (quad)
Atasi Lafai (knee)
Tiarah Minns (neck)
Manu’a Moleka (knee)
Ngamihi Monk (leg)
Faliki Pohiva (calf)
Ella Ryan (ankle)
Adiana Talakai (neck)
Brooklyn Teki Joyce (ankle)
Tabua Tuinakauvadra (knee)
