Wallaroos ready to usher in new era with season opener against Fijiana

It’s been more than 190 days since the Wallaroos bowed out of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup in the quarter-finals; disappointed with the result but both upbeat and optimistic about the team’s potential moving forward.

Interim coach Sam Needs has assembled squads for two training camps in Canberra ahead of their 2026 season opener against Fijiana, which is now only a matter of days away. Six months on from their quarter-final exit, it’s finally Test week for the Wallaroos.

Needs selected a 30-player squad ahead of the clash with Fijiana this Friday, with 10 uncapped prospects ready to make their mark. 19 of those selected went to last year’s Rugby World Cup, including captain Siokapesi Palu Sekona.

Palu Sekona leads a squad that features Australia Sevens representatives Sidney Taylor and Piper Simons, adding their own “experience to help elevate the game.” Canberra’s GIO Stadium will host the 27^th Vuvale Bowl match, and the Wallaroos cannot wait.

“We’ve obviously had a long pre-season so the girls are just keen to strap their boots up and get into some actual rugby,” Palu Sekona told reporters.

“I’m excited knowing that we’ve got such a young squad and just seeing the talent that will come is just going to be something that we’re going to look forward to this Friday.”

This is the first of 10 Tests for the Wallaroos this year, which includes a clash against reigning Rugby World Cup champions the Red Roses in September. That Test will be part of the new-look WXV Global Series, with the Australians playing three matches up north.

The Wallaroos started their season against Fijiana on Friday, before a historic tow-Test tour to the United States to face Canada and the Eagles. Those Tests are part of the Pacific Four Series, as is an O’Reilly Cup Test against the Black Ferns in Queensland.

Following the record-breaking success of last year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup in England, the journey to the showpiece event in 2029 begins for the Wallaroos, with that tournament set to be held on home soil in Australia.

“It’s exciting. We’ve seen what women’s rugby can be and I guess it takes a crowd and an audience to allow that spectacle to go worldwide,” Palu Sekona said.

“The program alone has come such a long way,” she added. “You’ve had contracted players, people who have a bit of flexibility to leave their jobs and hone their craft in this rugby space.

“There’s still a gap there that we can definitely fill so that we can go into that full-time space that we constantly talk about.

“But you talk about the rugby element… the game is changing, it’s faster with the rules, but the athleticism of our young players coming in is just going to help elevate the game.”