Jake Gordon Returns As Joe Schmidt Names Wallabies Squad For Bledisloe Cup
Jake Gordon Returns As Joe Schmidt Names Wallabies Squad For Bledisloe Cup
Jake Gordon returns from injury as Joe Schmidt names a 34-man Wallabies squad for the Bledisloe Cup opener against New Zealand at Eden Park on Sept. 27.
Scrumhalf Jake Gordon has returned from injury to bolster the Wallabies’ 34-man squad ahead of the opening Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand on September 27 at Eden Park.
Gordon trained with the group last week and is the only new addition to the squad that faced Argentina in Townsville and Sydney. His inclusion comes as a timely boost with Australia looking to rebound in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship after splitting their fixtures against Los Pumas.
- Subscribe To FloRugby To Watch Every Match Of The 2025 Rugby Championship
- United Rugby Championship Schedule: Here's Every URC Fixture
- PREM Rugby Lives Here: Gallagher Premiership To Stream On FloRugby
Locks Nick Frost (tight back) and Len Ikitau (knee laceration), who both sat out the second Test against Argentina, remain in the squad, providing stability in the tight five and midfield, respectively.
Captain James Slipper is on the cusp of history, set to become the first Wallaby to reach 150 Test appearances. The veteran prop would join Wales’ Alun-Wyn Jones and New Zealand’s Sam Whitelock as the only players to achieve the milestone.
Meanwhile, Queensland scrumhalf Tate McDermott is in line to earn his 50th cap, having debuted in 2020. Canberra halfback Ryan Lonergan, yet to play a Test, is the lone uncapped player in the group.
The Wallabies squad, which features 19 forwards and 15 backs, will depart for Auckland on Sunday.
Coach Joe Schmidt said the break between fixtures had given his players a chance to reset after a demanding international schedule.
“After an intense period from the British and Irish Lions Series to South Africa, and then two Tests against Los Pumas. It’s been ideal for the players to take a breath before heading into Auckland,” Schmidt said. “We know the Rugby Championship has been incredibly competitive, and we’ll need to be better than last time to have any chance against a fired-up All Blacks side.”
Australia sits atop the standings on 11 points, one ahead of South Africa and New Zealand, with Argentina a further point back. The final two rounds of the competition will determine who lifts the title, with no margin for error in a tight four-way race.
Wallabies squad for Bledisloe Cup Series against New Zealand
Forwards (19): Allan Alaalatoa (#896, West Harbour Juniors, ACT Brumbies, 83); Angus Bell (#940, Hunters Hill Rugby Club, NSW Waratahs, 43); Josh Canham (#987, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club, Queensland Reds, 1); Nick Champion De Crespigny (#991, Canberra Grammar School, Western Force, 2); Nick Frost (#953, Hornsby Lions, ACT Brumbies, 32); Tom Hooper (#964, Bathurst Bulldogs, ACT Brumbies, 17); Fraser McReight (#937, Albany Creek Brumbies, Queensland Reds, 33); Josh Nasser (#979, Easts Rugby (Brisbane), Queensland Reds, 7); Zane Nonggorr (#966, Gold Coast Eagles, Queensland Reds, 16); Brandon Paenga-Amosa (#918, Southern Districts, Western Force, 24); Billy Pollard (#958, Lindfield Junior Rugby Club, ACT Brumbies, 14); Tom Robertson (#898, Dubbo Kangaroos, Western Force, 35); Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (#914, Randwick, Queensland Reds, 42); James Slipper (#843, Bond Pirates, ACT Brumbies, 149); Carlo Tizzano (#982, University of Western Australia, Western Force, 10); Taniela Tupou (#917, Brothers Rugby (Brisbane), NSW Waratahs, 63); Rob Valetini (#929, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club, ACT Brumbies, 56); Jeremy Williams (#973, Wahroonga Tigers, Western Force, 18); Harry Wilson (#933, Gunnedah Red Devils, Queensland Reds, 29).
Backs (15): Filipo Daugunu (#931, Wests Bulldogs, Queensland Reds, 13); Tane Edmed (#990, West Harbour Juniors, NSW Waratahs, 3); Jake Gordon (#925, Canterbury Juniors, NSW Waratahs, 31); Len Ikitau (#944, Tuggeranong Vikings, ACT Brumbies, 46); Max Jorgensen (#984, Balmain Wolves, NSW Waratahs, 15); Andrew Kellaway (#943, Hunters Hill Rugby Club, NSW Waratahs, 45); Ryan Lonergan (uncapped, Tuggeranong Vikings, ACT Brumbies, 0); Tom Lynagh (#977, University of Queensland, Queensland Reds, 7); Tate McDermott (#936, Flinders Rugby Club, Queensland Reds, 49); James O’Connor (#832, St Joseph’s College, Nudgee, Leicester (England), 68); Hunter Paisami (#932, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club, Queensland Reds, 32); Harry Potter (#989, Moorabbin Rams, Western Force, 5); Hamish Stewart (#986, Toowoomba Bears, Western Force, 2); Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (#988, The Kings School, NSW Waratahs, 12); Corey Toole (#992, Wagga Waratahs, ACT Brumbies, 3).
How To Watch Rugby Matches In The United States On FloRugby
The URC will stream all its matches on FloRugby and the FloSports app in the United States. FloRugby and FloSports also are the U.S. home to:
FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays.