Wallaroos stars set for return in WXV Global Series

Fri, Aug 28, 2026, 4:00 AM
Rugby Australia
by Rugby Australia

The Wallaroos have been bolstered by the return of several stars from injury for the upcoming WXV Global series in September and October.

A 32-player squad will depart for the UK next week with Australia to play England, France and Scotland in the northern hemisphere before returning home for two final Test matches against Scotland in Sydney and Canberra.

The Wallaroos have added seven new faces to their squad following last week’s loss to New Zealand with veteran Georgina Friedrichs, reigning player of the year Tabua Tuinakauvadra and barnstorming prop Faliki Pohiva among those returning.

Tuinakauvadra joins the squad for the first time in 2026 after separate knee injuries ruled her out of the Pacific Four series and recent New Zealand Test.

Queensland Reds lock Tiarah Minns is also back from a neck complaint that saw her miss Super Rugby Women's, along with Pacific Four series debutants Ella Ryan and Ava Wereta.

Queensland outside back Piper Flynn is among three uncapped players in the squad, which includes Reds teammate Jemma Bemrose and NSW Waratahs winger Amelia Whitaker.

The Wallaroos have lost Maya Stewart for the European leg of the series with an Achilles injury, while Maddison Levi and Bienne Terita will begin preparations for the Ultimate Sevens in Europe next month.

Director of Women’s High Performance Tim Walsh said: “The flight to England can’t come quick enough. The team is ready to test themselves against the best and close the performance gap.

“The Wallaroos' future is bright and the journey is a challenge we will embrace. The journey is where we will find our purpose, our growth, and our resilience.

“We are building a system to maximise talent and reach our potential and the goal is to compete and be the best in the world.

“The team selected for this tour is tilted towards youth with Rugby World Cup 2029 on the horizon whilst being surrounded by experienced veterans to lead the way.

“As they say in London ‘mind the gap’.”

The Wallaroos will depart for Manchester on Thursday to begin preparations for the Red Roses clash before Tests against France in Marseille (September 20) and Scotland in Edinburgh on September 27.

Watch the Wallaroos during the WXV Global Series live and on demand on Stan Sport.

WALLAROOS SQUAD FOR WXV GLOBAL SERIES

  • Jemma Bemrose* (Queensland Reds/Palm Beach Currumbin Alligators) - uncapped
  • Lily Bone - #229 (ACT Brumbies/Orange City) – 4 caps
  • Emily Chancellor - #158 (NSW Waratahs/Sydney University) – 38 caps
  • Piper Duck - #185 (NSW Waratahs/Tumut Bullettes) – 27 caps
  • Waiaria Ellis - #225 (NSW Waratahs/Blacktown Scorpions) – 7 caps
  • Piper Flynn* (Queensland Reds/Surfers Paradise Rugby) – uncapped
  • Georgina Friedrichs - #178 (NSW Waratahs/Wests Bulldogs) – 42 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) – 11 caps
  • Brianna Hoy - #203 (NSW Waratahs/Coffs Harbour Snappers) – 14 caps
  • Eva Karpani - #171 (Queensland Reds/Southern Suburbs) – 46 caps
  • Kaitlan Leaney - #179 (NSW Waratahs/SCU Marlins) – 40 caps
  • Michaela Leonard - #168 (Western Force/Tuggeranong Vikings) – 47 caps
  • Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke - #209 (Western Force/Kalamunda Rugby) – 3 caps
  • Brittany Merlo - #230 (NSW Waratahs/Sydney University) – 4 caps
  • Desiree Miller - #204 (NSW Waratahs/Eastern Suburbs) – 28 caps
  • Tiarah Minns - #217 (Queensland Reds/Melbourne University) – 6 caps
  • Faitala Moleka - #199 (ACT Brumbies/Blacktown Scorpions) – 31 caps
  • Tania Naden - #197 (ACT Brumbies/Uni-North Owls) – 30 caps
  • Bridie O’Gorman - #180 (NSW Waratahs/Sydney University) – 42 caps
  • Siokapesi Palu Sekona - #194 (ACT Brumbies/Rockdale Rangers) – 28 caps
  • Faliki Pohiva - #219 (NSW Waratahs/Blacktown Scorpions) – 11 caps
  • Ella Ryan - #234 (ACT Brumbies/Canberra Royals) – 1 cap
  • Allana Sikimeti - #212 (Western Force/Norths Eagles) – 4 caps
  • Piper Simons - #231 (NSW Waratahs/Gordon Rugby) – 2 caps
  • Cecilia Smith - #190 (Western Force/Leeton Dianas) – 30 caps
  • Pia Tapsell - #236 (Western Force/North Shore Rugby Club) – 1 cap
  • Tabua Tuinakauvadra - #200 (ACT Brumbies/Orange Emus) – 22 caps
  • Ava Wereta - #233 (Queensland Reds/Coomera Crushers) – 2 caps
  • Amelia Whitaker* (NSW Waratahs/Randwick) – uncapped
  • Samantha Wood - #207 (Western Force/Kalamunda Rugby) – 16 caps

*Denotes uncapped

Unavailable for selection due to injury

  • Katalina Amosa (knee)
  • Chioma Enyi (ankle)
  • Grace Freeman (leg)
  • Atasi Lafai (knee)
  • Manu’a Moleka (knee)
  • Ngamihi Monk (leg)
  • Leilani Nathan (hamstring)
  • Maya Stewart (Achilles)
  • Adiana Talakai (neck)
  • Brooklyn Teki Joyce (ankle)

WALLAROOS 2026 TEST SCHEDULE

  • March 27: Wallaroos 33 defeated Fijiana 15 at GIO Stadium
  • April 11: Canada 24 defeated Wallaroos 0 at Heart Health Park, Sacramento, USA
  • April 17: USA 33 defeated Wallaroos 12 at CPKC Stadium, Kansas City, USA
  • April 25: Wallaroos 5 defeated by New Zealand 40 at Sunshine Coast Stadium
  • August 22: New Zealand 66 defeated Wallaroos 19 at Go Media Stadium, Auckland

WXV Global Series

  • September 13: England v Wallaroos at CorpAcq Stadium, Salford - 12:00am AEST
  • September 20: France v Wallaroos at Stade Maurice David, Aix-en-Provence - 1:45am AEST
  • September 27: Scotland v Wallaroos at Hive Stadium, Edinburgh - 1:10am AEST
  • October 17: Wallaroos v Scotland at Accor Stadium, Sydney - 1:00pm AEDT
  • October 23: Wallaroos v Scotland at GIO Stadium, Canberra - 7:30pm AEDT

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