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Sad news for Sammie Wood, out through injury, but fantastic reward for Alapeta Ngauamo with a Squad call up at 35!
Captain Michaela Leonard, evergreen Trilleen Pomare and 2024 Debutant Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke are all retained.
The original 2024 Squad structure was 30 positions with a 10 player "Development Squad".
Tamika Jones is named in this 38 player full Squad and for mine is fully justified selection next week with the hardness in contact she brings, particularly in the hunt for "Breakdown" dominance Coach Yapp seeks.
Also, acknowledging the return of Pinjarra born Qld Red Sarah Dougherty to the Squad,
Yapp looking for growth as Wallaroos training squad locked in for July Tests
Mon, Jun 24, 2024, 9:49 AM
Nathan Williamson
Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp is hoping to build off their Pacific Four campaign as she locks in a 38 player training squad.
The squad will assemble in Canberra on Tuesday ahead of Tests against Fijiana and New Zealand.
“It’s been a great opportunity to get some really good insight in the last block and now moving forward, we know exactly what we need to do," she told Rugby.com.au
“We have a much better understanding of the players in the squad and each other so we’ve taken those learnings and had an opportunity to put that into the camp.
“It’ll be an exciting opportunity down at Canberra with the 38 players coming in. We’re going to have a hit out on Saturday, which will enable another opportunity for a competitive game."
Queensland Reds flyhalf Carys Dallinger is amongst the inclusions, called in after missing the Pacific Four series.
“She’s had a tough season with consistency and with a couple of injuries," Yapp notes.
“We were quite clear on those areas and she obviously needed to be filly fit so she’d worked on those focus points and we’re excited to see her come back in and see what she can bring.”
Dallinger is joined by Reds half Sarah Dougherty after Force scrumhalf Sam Wood was ruled out with a back injury.
“Sammie has been dealing with a niggling back for a while now and it hasn’t settled," Yapp explained.
“She’s a young player so we want to get this opportunity to get her right rather than push her so she’s fit going into the August camp."
NSW Waratahs lock Anabelle Codey and Reds front-rower Madison Schuck have also been added, with the squad set to be trimmed before next week's Fijiana Test in Sydney.
Rebels flanker Ash Marsters has been named as she deals with a knee injury suffered during the defeat to the USA.
Breakdown remains a key area of work-on for the squad as they hunt for their first win of the year.
“(Breakdown) has been a big focus for us in those managed groups over the last couple of weeks," Yapp added.
“…I think where we let ourselves down was more that attacking breakdown with our work on the floor and speed to get there and clean out the threats."
WALLAROOS TRAINING SQUAD FOR JULY SERIES
Allana Sikimeti (ACT Brumbies)
Alapeta Ngauamo (Western Force)
Annabelle Codey (NSW Waratahs)
Arabella McKenzie (NSW Waratahs)
Ashlea Bishop (ACT Brumbies)
Ashley Fernandez (ACT Brumbies)
Ashley Marsters (Melbourne Rebels)
Atasi Lafai (NSW Waratahs)
Biola Dawa (ACT Brumbies)
Brianna Hoy (NSW Waratahs)
Bridie O'Gorman (NSW Waratahs)
Caitlyn Halse (NSW Waratahs)
Carys Dallinger (Queensland Reds)
Cecilia Smith (Queensland Reds)
Desiree Miller (NSW Waratahs)
Eva Karpani (NSW Waratahs)
Faitala Moleka (ACT Brumbies)
Georgina Friedrichs (NSW Waratahs)
Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke (Western Force)
Kaitlan Leaney (NSW Waratahs)
Layne Morgan (NSW Waratahs)
Leilani Nathan (NSW Waratahs)
Lori Cramer (Queensland Reds)
Lydia Kavoa (ACT Brumbies)
Madison Schuck (Queensland Reds)
Maya Stewart (NSW Waratahs)
Melanie Wilks (Queensland Reds)
Michaela Leonard (Western Force)
Natalie Wright (Queensland Reds)
Piper Duck (NSW Waratahs)
Sarah Dougherty (Queensland Reds)
Siokapesi Palu (ACT Brumbies)
Skye Churchill (NSW Waratahs)
Tabua Tuinakauvadra (ACT Brumbies)
Tamika Jones (Western Force)
Tania Naden (ACT Brumbies)
Tiarna Molloy (Queensland Reds)
Trilleen Pomare (Western Force)
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