Three uncapped players in Wallabies squad for July Nations Championship

ACT Brumbies playmaker Declan Meredith is one of three potential debutants named in the first Wallabies squad of 2026, while some others are in line for their first Test appearances in a while during the Nations Championship.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has included a few uncapped prospects in the 37-man squad for matches against Ireland, France and Italy. The Brumbies duo of Declan Meredith and Lachlan Shaw have been named, and so has NSW Waratahs lock Miles Amatosero.

Reds pivot Carter Gordon and Western Force playmaker Ben Donaldson are the other fly-half options named, with Meredith benefiting from a strong individual season with the ACT Brumbies, having started in 14 of 15 appearances.

Shaw represented Australia U20 in 2023 and later became a mainstay of the Brumbies run-on side, featuring in 14 matches during Super Rugby Pacific 2026. The 23-year-old enjoyed a particularly impressive performance against the Waratahs in round seven, scoring two tries.

The third uncapped player in this Wallabies squad is towering lock Amatosero, who spent time overseas in France with Clermont Auvergne before returning to Sydney. Amatosero has been with the Tahs for the last three seasons, leading to higher honours with the Wallabies.

Another notable inclusion in this side is Reds fullback Jock Campbell, who hasn’t worn Wallaby gold since 22. Brumbies backrower Charlie Cale is back in the mix as well, after missing last season due to injury.

The Wallabies all-time caps record-holder James Slipper has been named after initially retiring from international duty last year. Tate McDermott and Tom Wright have been included despite injury-riddled Super Rugby Pacific campaigns.

But there was no place for Reds lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto in the squad, with Amatosero and Shaw earning selection instead. Reds enforcer Josh Canham and Force captain Jeremy Willaims have also been named, along with utility forward Tom Hooper.

“There have been ongoing discussions amongst the coaches for a number of months and, as always, there are some very good players who have not been selected for this first international window,” Schmidt said.

“We’ve settled on a group that we think will work hard and can perform well against three top-tier European teams with the added excitement of competing in the new Nations Championship for the first time.”

Wallabies squad for the Nations Championship

Forwards (20)

Allan Alaalatoa (#896, West Harbour Juniors, ACT Brumbies, 88)
Miles Amatosero (uncapped, South Coogee Red Devils, NSW Waratahs, 0)
Angus Bell (#940, Hunters Hill Rugby Club, NSW Waratahs, 50)
Charlie Cale (#976, Beecroft Junior Rugby Club, ACT Brumbies, 2)
Josh Canham (#987, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club, Queensland Reds, 2)
Nick Champion De Crespigny (#991, Canberra Grammar School, Western Force, 4)
Tom Hooper (#964, Bathurst Bulldogs, Exeter Chiefs (UK), 22)
Fraser McReight (#937, Albany Creek Brumbies, Queensland Reds, 39)
Josh Nasser (#979, Easts Rugby (Brisbane), Queensland Reds, 11)
Zane Nonggorr (#966, Gold Coast Eagles, Queensland Reds, 19)
Brandon Paenga-Amosa (#918, Southern Districts, Western Force, 25)
Billy Pollard (#958, Lindfield Junior Rugby Club, ACT Brumbies, 20)
Aidan Ross (994, Bond University, Queensland Reds, 3)
Lachlan Shaw (uncapped, University of Queensland, ACT Brumbies, 0)
James Slipper (#843, Bond Pirates, ACT Brumbies, 151)
Carlo Tizzano (#982, University of Western Australia, Western Force, 14)
Taniela Tupou (#917, Brothers Rugby (Brisbane), Racing 92 (France), 68)
Rob Valetini (#929, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club, ACT Brumbies, 62)
Jeremy Williams (#973, Wahroonga Tigers, Western Force, 25)
Harry Wilson (#933, Gunnedah Red Devils, Queensland Reds, 36)

Backs (17)
Jock Campbell (#959, Inverell Highlanders, Queensland Reds, 4)
Filipo Daugunu (#931, Wests Bulldogs, Queensland Reds, 20)
Ben Donaldson (#962, Clovelly Eagles , Western Force, 19)
Josh Flook (#972, Brothers Rugby, Queensland Reds, 6)
Carter Gordon (#967, Sunshine Coast Grammar School, Queensland Reds, 9)
Len Ikitau (#944, Tuggeranong Vikings, ACT Brumbies, 50)
Max Jorgensen (#984, Balmain Wolves, NSW Waratahs, 20)
Ryan Lonergan (#993, Tuggeranong Vikings, ACT Brumbies, 5)
Tate McDermott (#936, Flinders Rugby Club, Queensland Reds, 50)
Declan Meredith (uncapped, Barron Trinity Bulls, ACT Brumbies, 0)
Hunter Paisami (#932, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club, Queensland Reds, 35)
Dylan Pietsch (#979, Leeton Phantoms, Western Force, 9)
Harry Potter (#989, Moorabbin Rams, NSW Waratahs, 11)
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (#988, The Kings School, NSW Waratahs, 18)
Kalani Thomas (#995, Springfield Hawks, Queensland Reds, 1)
Corey Toole (#992, Wagga Crows, ACT Brumbies, 6)
Tom Wright (#939, Clovelly Eagles, ACT Brumbies, 43)

Unavailable for selection
Ethan Dobbins
Folau Fainga’a
Langi Gleeson
Jake Gordon
Zac Lomax
Tom Lynagh
Kadin Pritchard
Henry Robertson
Tom Robertson
Blake Schoupp
Will Skelton