10 Wallabies and SVNS star named in Australia A squad to play Japan XV

Australia A coach Simon Cron has selected 10 Wallabies in a 26-man squad to take on Japan XV in Osaka later this month, along with a number of players who have been included in a men’s national XVs program for the first time.

Former Crusaders, ACT Brumbies and Bordeaux backrower Pete Samu headlines a group of 16 forwards named in the squad. Samu has returned to Australia after signing with the NSW Waratahs ahead of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season.

Samu has played 33 internationals for the Wallabies, with the loose forward’s most recent Test falling on July 9, 2023, against the Springboks. While Samu missed the squad for the Rugby World Cup in France, he did play for Australia A against Portugal that year.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt recently included Samu in the squad to face the All Blacks in Auckland, after Rob Valetini was ruled out with a leg injury. Samu didn’t take the field but continues to push for Wallabies honours, as this Australia A selection shows.

Josh Canham, Matt Faessler, Isaac Kailea, Matt Philip, Luke Reimer, Darcy Swain and Seru Uru bring a wealth of experience into the squad, having played for the Wallabies as well. In the backs, Ben Donaldson and Hamish Stewart are both Australian internationals.

Australia Sevens representative Sid Harvey is among a group of players who have been named in a men’s national XVs program for the first time. Harvey was one of the standouts during the NSW Waratahs’ run to the Super Rugby AUS title, beating the Western Force in the final.

On the HSBC SVNS Series, Harvey debuted for Australia during the 2024/25 season. Harvey starred alongside the likes of Aden Ekanayake, Henry Hutchison and Henry Paterson all season – scoring the winner in a third-place playoff against Fiji at the Hong Kong Sevens.

Cron will lead the group as the head coach, and will be supported by newly appointed Force assistant Brad Harris. Junior Wallabies coach Chris Whitaker will also serve as an assistant coach of this side.

“Following the success of the Super Rugby AUS competition, this match is another great opportunity for Australian players to test themselves against high-quality opposition,” Cron said in a statement.

“To have ten Wallabies in the group shows the depth in Australian Rugby, while there’s some young men here who will be keen to challenge themselves for the first time on the international stage.”

Australia A squad to take on Japan

Forwards 
Tevita Alatini (ACT Brumbies – Penrith RSL Silverbacks)
Dan Botha (NSW Waratahs – Mosman Juniors)
Liam Bowron (ACT Brumbies – Marist College Canberra)
Joe Brial (Queensland Reds – Easts (Sydney))
Josh Canham (Queensland Reds – Harlequin Junior Rugby Club)
Ethan Dobbins (NSW Waratahs – Wests Bulldogs)
Matt Faessler (Queensland Reds – USQ Saints)
Isaac Kailea (NSW Waratahs – Harlequin Junior Rugby Club)
Lington Ieli (ACT Brumbies – Brisbane Boys’ College)
Matt Philip (NSW Waratahs – Newport Juniors)
Luke Reimer (ACT Brumbies – Lindfield Junior Rugby Club)
Pete Samu (NSW Waratahs – Moorabbin Rams)
Rory Scott (ACT Brumbies – Canberra Royals)
Darcy Swain (Western Force – Tuggeranong Vikings)
Seru Uru (Queensland Reds – Wests Bulldogs)
Rhys van Nek (ACT Brumbies – Easts Rugby (Brisbane))

Backs
Ben Donaldson (Western Force – Clovelly Eagles)
Mac Grealy (Western Force – Souths Kookaburras Toowoomba)
Sid Harvey (NSW Waratahs – Narrabri Blue Boars)
Harry McLaughlin-Phillips (Queensland Reds – Gunnedah Red Devils)
Henry Robertson (Western Force – Scone Brumbies)
Tim Ryan (Queensland Reds – Brothers Rugby)
Ollie Sapsford (ACT Brumbies – Uni-Norths Owls)
Hamish Stewart (Western Force – Toowoomba Bears)
Joey Walton (NSW Waratahs – Warnervale Wildcats)
Teddy Wilson (NSW Waratahs – Easts Rugby (Sydney)

Australia A
Australia A v Japan XV at 3:00pm AEDT on Saturday October 18, Yodoko Sakura Stadium, Osaka