Wallaroos' World Cup prep taken to the next level
Today at 01:55 AM
NEWS: Wallaroos head coach Jo Yapp and her coaching team will closely monitor 46 contracted players as they prepare for the 2025 World Cup.
The managed group is split across four tiers with contracted players given access and resources from Wallaroos high performance staff throughout 2025.
The contracted players will be monitored and supported during the Super Rugby Women's competition, the Wallaroos Test season and additional post-season camps.
The Wallaroos will play at least 10 Test matches in 2025, including five on home soil, two away Tests and three pool matches at the World Cup in August.
A two-Test series against Wales in Brisbane (July 26) and Sydney (August 1) will be the final internationals before the World Cup gets underway on August 23.
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Rugby Australia General Manager - Women's High-Performance Jaime Fernandez said: "We are pleased to see continued progress taking place in terms of a full and comprehensive international schedule leading into the Wallaroos' World Cup campaign in 2025.
"With increased Test opportunities and more time spent together as a team, we are seeing the emergence of new talent while also seeing positive progression in those players who have been mainstays of the program over many years.
"This is an exciting combination, growing the depth of the program, while also providing healthy and productive competition for the opportunity to be selected for the Rugby World Cup later in the year."
Among the managed group includes 17 players from the NSW Waratahs, 10 each from Western Force and Queensland Reds, and nine Brumbies representatives.
The squad features majority of players who featured throughout last year's Test season including captain Michaela Leonard, most-capped Wallaroo Ashley Marsters and all-time leading try-scorer Maya Stewart.
The likes of young guns Caitlyn Halse, Waiaria Ellis and Ruby Anderson are included after the trio gained valuable experience during WXV 2 last year.
Hard-working forwards Alapeta Ngauamo, Lydia Kavoa and Sally Fuesaina, who were among 11 players that made their Test debuts last year, also earn contracts.
Wallaroos prop Brianna Hoy, who injured her ACL in October, has been re-signed as she eyes a possible return to the national side prior to the Rugby World Cup.
Wallaroos quartet Emily Chancellor, Adiana Talakai, Bree-Anna Cheatham and Ivania Wong will also look to break back into the Test team after injury ruled them out of contention last year.
Wallaroos lock Atasi Lafai will be supported through rehabilitation after a season-ending knee injury in January while Wallaroos forward Lucy Dinnen has taken an indefinite break from the game.
Australia's Rugby Sevens stars who have put their hand up to play in the Super Rugby Women's competition in a bid to possibly debut for the Wallaroos in 2025 are excluded from the contracted list pending selection.
Jo Yapp's side open their Test season against Fijiana in Suva on May 3 before the Pacific Four series gets underway with New Zealand, USA and Canada to provide strong World Cup preparation.
Wallaroos Group 2025:
Ruby Anderson (NSW Waratahs/Avoca Beach Rugby Club), Ashlea Bishop (Brumbies/Canberra Royals), Emily Chancellor (NSW Waratahs/Sydney University), Bree-Anna Cheatham (Queensland Reds/Western Districts Rugby), Georgia Cormick (Western Force/Harlequins Rugby Club), Lori Cramer (Queensland Reds/University of Queensland), Carys Dallinger (Queensland Reds/Feilding Yellows), Biola Dawa (Brumbies/Canberra Royals), Piper Duck (NSW Waratahs/Tumut Bullettes), Waiaria Ellis (NSW Waratahs/Blacktown Scorpions), Ashley Fernandez (Brumbies/Uni-North Owls), Georgina Friedrichs (NSW Waratahs/Wests Bulldogs), Sally Fuesaina (Brumbies/Campbelltown Harlequins), Caitlyn Halse (NSW Waratahs/Southern Districts), Brianna Hoy (NSW Waratahs/Coffs Harbour Snappers), Eva Karpani (Queensland Reds/Onkaparinga), Lydia Kavoa (ACT Brumbies/Eastern Suburbs), Atasi Lafai (NSW Waratahs/Campbelltown Harlequins), Kaitlan Leaney (NSW Waratahs/CSU Marlins, Michaela Leonard (Western Force/Tuggeranong Vikings), Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke (Western Force/Huria Rugby Club, Ashley Marsters (Western Force/Booroondarra), Arabella McKenzie (NSW Waratahs/Lightning Ridge Tigers), Brittany Merlo (NSW Waratahs/Sydney University), Desiree Miller (NSW Waratahs/Eastern Suburbs), Tiarah Minns (Queensland Reds/Manly Mermaids), Faitala Moleka (Brumbies/Blacktown Scorpions), Tiarna Molloy (Queensland Reds/Inverell Highlanders), Layne Morgan (Queensland Reds/Merewether Carlton), Tania Naden (ACT Brumbies/Uni-North Owls), Leilani Nathan (NSW Waratahs/Hamilton Hawks), Sera Naiqama (Western Force/Sydney University), Alapeta Ngauamo (Western Force/Wests Bulldogs), Bridie O'Gorman (NSW Waratahs/Sydney University), Siokapesi Palu (Brumbies/Rockdale Rangers), Faliki Pohiva (NSW Waratahs/Manly Mermaids), Trilleen Pomare (Western Force/Wanneroo), Deni Ross (Queensland Reds/Gordon Rugby Club), Allana Sikimeti (Western Force/North Eagles), Cecilia Smith (Western Force/Leeton Dianas), Maya Stewart (NSW Waratahs/Nelson Bay Gropers), Adiana Talakai (NSW Waratahs/Sydney University), Tabua Tuinakauvadra (Brumbies/Tuggeranong Vikings), Ivania Wong (Queensland Reds/Sunnybank Dragons), Samantha Wood (Western Force/Kalamunda Rugby Club), Natalie Wright (Queensland Reds/Wests Bulldogs)
