Wallaroos boosted by return of reigning Player of the Year for WXV Global Series

Incumbent Wallaroos Player of the Year, Tabua Tuinakauvadra, will make her return for Australia at WXV Global Series.

The 23-year-old back-row forward has not played a Test for the Wallaroos since Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 as a result of separate knee injuries. During her time off the pitch, Tuinakauvadra missed the Pacific Four Series and the second Laurie O’Reilly Cup match in Auckland.

In addition to Tuinakauvadra, the Wallaroos Director of Women’s high performance, Tom Walsh, has also recalled Georgina Friedrichs and Faliki Pohiva. Tiarah Minns has also recovered from the neck injury that kept her out of Super Rugby Women’s action this season.

Maya Stewart has been ruled out of September’s WXV Global Series fixtures against England, France and Scotland with an Achilles injury. Maddison Levi and Bienne Terita will also miss the European leg of the season as they compete in Ultimate Sevens.

Piper Flynn, Jemma Bemrose and Amelia Whitaker are the potential debutants included in the squad.

Tim Walsh, Director of Women’s High Performance, 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’.”

Wallaroos WXV Global Series squad

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

*uncapped