More than a dozen Wallaroos will collide when the Reds and Brumbies kick off this weekend while the Waratahs and Force continue to build towards Super Rugby Women's 2025.
ACT coach Andy Friend has named all his available Test stars to tackle Queensland at Ballymore on Saturday with one-time Wallaroos skipper Siokapesi Palu set to lead a powerful pack featuring Lydia Kavoa, Sally Fuesaina and Tabua Tuinukauvadra.
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Out wide, incumbent Wallaroos playmaker Faitala Moleka will partner with returning cross-code star Ella Ryan with Test winger Biola Dawa also named to start.
"All our Wallaroos girls have earned the right to be at that international level and they will be there this weekend to set that standard and lay the platform for the rest of the side," Friend told Brumbies Media.
Fans heading down to Ballymore can expect stiff competition in the halves with Queensland rolling out Test duo Nat Wright and Carys Dallinger while a mouth-watering clash looms with Dawa set to mark Reds all-time cap leader Ivania Wong in her first game since July 2024.
Up front, off-season Wallaroo recruits Tiarah Minns and Eva Karpani headline a stacked pack featuring Tiarna Molloy with Melanie Wilks adding to the Reds' firepower out wide.
There's plenty of Test caps on the Queensland bench as well with Lori Cramer, Sarah Riordan, Ariana Hira and Sarah Dougherty named as finishers.
“The starting team is a reflection of the strength of our squad. We have players across the bench deserving of starting chances too and they will have their opportunities to impress,” Fraser told Reds Media.
“This is a really exciting opportunity to play at home in front of family and friends because we want to keep building our fan base for the games we play at Ballymore during the Super Rugby Women’s season.”
Meanwhile the Waratahs and Force are set deploy their Test stars this week with NSW tackling Super Rugby Aupiki champions Blues in Auckland and the Force welcoming a Rugby Victoria XV to Perth.
The Waratahs went down to Hurricanes Poua 41-24 last week with 2024 Wallaroos Player of the Year Maya Stewart wreaking havoc down the right wing in a losing side.
However, NSW are bolstered by the return of Test veteran Emily Chancellor, who makes her long-awaited comeback after suffering an ACL injury in Round 1 of the 2024 Super Rugby Women’s season. Breakout 2024 Wallaroos star Caitlyn Halse will form a new-look halves combination with Tatum Bird at scrum-half with Desiree Miller, Maya Stewart and Waiaria Ellis ready to launch in a dangerous back-three.
The Queensland Reds vs ACT Brumbies trial at Ballymore Stadium kicks off Saturday February 8 at 11am AEST - entry is free.
The NSW Waratahs tackle Super Rugby Aupiki Champions Blues on Saturday February 8 in Auckland - kick off 2pm AEDT.
The Western Force host Rugby Victoria at Wanneroo Rugby Club on Sunday February 9 - entry is free with kick off at 11am AWST.
