GODWIN EARNS CALL-UP FOR QANTAS WALLABIES
WESTERN FORCE MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday, 27 August 2014
Western Force inside centre Kyle Godwin has been selected to join the Qantas Wallabies 30-man squad for the next stage of their 2014 Castrol EDGE Rugby Championship campaign against South Africa in Perth.
The 22-year-old was unavailable for selection in the past due to injury but has returned to full fitness and is set to return to the field this Sunday for the Perth Spirit in the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship (NRC).
While the team is in Perth, Western Force hooker Heath Tessman and prop Tetera Faulkner will be invited to train with the Qantas Wallabies squad.
The Qantas Wallabies endured two further injuries in their recent clash against the All Blacks in Auckland and will be without Western Force hooker Nathan Charles and winger Pat McCabe.
A breakthrough campaign from Charles has come to a premature end with the Western Force hooker to miss the remainder of the 2014 Test season with a pectoral tear.
Godwin said he was not expecting the call-up to the Qantas Wallabies squad.
“It’s still sinking in to be honest,” he said. “Foles [Force coach Michael Foley] told me that I’d been selected just now – it was certainly a surprise.
“It’s obviously a great feeling and I’m very thankful to Ewen for the opportunity. It’s a great chance to learn a lot off a squad of experienced and senior players, and I’ll certainly be looking to put my best foot forward.
“However, given I’ll be playing my first game in four months this weekend, my focus is very much on Sunday’s match for the Perth Spirit. The guys did a fantastic job in Canberra last weekend and it’s up to us to keep that momentum going against a quality Brisbane City line-up this week.”
Qantas Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie congratulated Godwin on his inclusion.
“Kyle is someone who has been on the national radar for some time, but unfortunately hasn’t had much of an opportunity to join the Wallabies environment due to injury,” McKenzie said.
“He now gets his chance to join the squad, and we’ll look forward to learning more about him.”
Tickets for the match against the South Africa at Patersons Stadium in Perth are available via Ticketmaster.
Fans are invited to attend an open training session in Perth on Monday 1 September from 2:30pm at UWA Sports Ground (McGillivray Road, Mount Claremont). There are plenty of giveaways available at the sessions while fans can also have their photo taken with the historic Mandela Plate. Following training, fans have the chance to receive autographs and photos with their favourite players.
The Qantas Wallabies squad for the next stage of the 2014 Castrol EDGE Rugby Championship is:
Player State Age Test Caps
PROP
Ben Alexander ACT Brumbies 29 64
Pek Cowan Western Force 28 8
Sekope Kepu NSW Waratahs 28 43
James Slipper Queensland Reds 25 54
HOOKER
Saia Fainga’a Queensland Reds 27 29
James Hanson Queensland Reds 25 2
Tatafu Polota-Nau NSW Waratahs 29 49
LOCK
Sam Carter ACT Brumbies 24 3
James Horwill Queensland Reds 29 51
Rob Simmons Queensland Reds 25 42
Will Skelton NSW Waratahs 22 3
BACKROW
Scott Fardy ACT Brumbies 30 15
Scott Higginbotham Melbourne Rebels 27 26
Matt Hodgson Western Force 33 6
Michael Hooper (c) NSW Waratahs 22 33
Ben McCalman Western Force 26 32
Wycliff Palu NSW Waratahs 31 53
SCRUMHALF
Luke Burgess Melbourne Rebels 31 37
Nick Phipps NSW Waratahs 25 19
Nic White ACT Brumbies 24 15
FLYHALF
Kurtley Beale NSW Waratahs 25 44
Bernard Foley NSW Waratahs 24 9
CENTRE
Kyle Godwin Western Force 22 Uncapped
Tevita Kuridrani ACT Brumbies 23 12
Christian Leali'ifano ACT Brumbies 26 13
Matt Toomua ACT Brumbies 24 15
BACK-THREE
Adam Ashley-Cooper NSW Waratahs 30 95
Peter Betham NSW Waratahs 25 1
Israel Folau NSW Waratahs 25 20
Rob Horne NSW Waratahs 25 18
The remaining Qantas Wallabies schedule for the 2014 Castrol EDGE Rugby Championship is:
Date Opponent Venue
Saturday, 6 September South Africa Patersons Stadium, Perth
Saturday, 13 September Argentina Cbus Stadium, Gold Coast
Saturday, 27 September (Sun 28 Sept. AEST) South Africa Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
Saturday, 4 October
(Sun 5 Oct. AEST) Argentina Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza
