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English-born Harry Potter is heading back north as the main bolter in Joe Schmidt’s 34-man squad for the Wallabies’ four-Test Spring Tour.
Potter, 26, was born in London but moved to Australia as a youngster. He headed back there after playing senior rugby at Sydney University and rose to prominence with Leicester Tigers before going to Perth to pursue a Wallabies jersey.
“I’m very much Australian,” Potter, who qualifies for both nations, told RugbyPass last year. “I feel passionately about the Wallabies and Australian rugby and I wanted to get back to Australia and see what I could make.”
Potter is one of three potential debutants in the 34, along with Waratahs playmaker Tane Edmed, who has leapt above Tom Lynagh in the pecking order.
Tane Edmed at a players of national interest training session in Canberra. Photo: Rugby Australia
Cross code star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has gone straight to the Wallabies, as reported by The Roar earlier Tuesday, for games against England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
Schmidt said the short runway before the Lions arrive next year meant it was important to fast-track Suaalii into the Test contention, and he hoped he would earn a place in the team on tour.
An Australian XV squad of 30 players – to play Bristol Bears and England A – was named at the same time.
Liam Wright, the first captain under Schmidt this year, has missed out on both with a recurrence of a shoulder injury, while Tim Ryan is sidelined with an ankle injury.
Dave Porecki has been left out for “family reasons” with twins due. Hunter Paisami is also expecting a baby but has been named for now.
Corey Toole, Hamish Stewart and Josh Flook, who represented the Wallabies this year, are named in the Australian XV with the callup of Potter and Samu Kerevi as one of two overseas picks, along with World Cup skipper Will Skelton.
Marika Koroibete may have played his final Test for the Wallabies. Schmidt confirmed he was not injured but sought a rest.
Tom Hooper, Josh Canham and Angus Blyth are other Wallabies relegated to the second string.
Brumbies hooker Billy Pollard and Queensland forward Seru Uru return to the top squad, which is comprised of 19 forwards and 15 backs.
The squad will assemble in Sydney this weekend before departing on Thursday next week.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said in a statement: “The squad has had a chance to regenerate over the last few weeks. At the same time, it was good to catch up with a wider group of players in the two-day training hubs we had in Canberra and Brisbane last week.
(Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
“We have a relatively consistent group but will integrate a few new players on tour.
“Trying to balance opportunities for players, some recent squad members will get much needed game time with Australia XV, which also enables us to broaden our cohort of players in what will be highly competitive fixtures.”
There are 14 Wallabies in the 30-man second squad which is made up of 17 forwards and 13 backs.
Massimo De Lutiis, 20, has been selected in his first senior national representative group, having re-signed with the Queensland Reds last week.
His club teammate and Junior Wallabies playmaker Harry McLaughlin-Phillips has also been named, as has Brumbies hooker Lachlan Lonergan who continues his comeback from an ankle injury he sustained during the Super Rugby Pacific season.
The side will be led by Rod Seib, along with Queensland assistant Zane Hilton and former Melbourne Rebels defence coach Brad Harris.
Seib said in a statement: “To have 14 Wallabies as part of the group illustrates the depth that’s currently being created in Australian Rugby.
“This tour represents a great opportunity for this group of players and staff to test themselves against two high-quality Northern Hemisphere opponents and is a challenge we’re all looking forward to.”
Wallabies squad (Wallaby number, first Australian Rugby club)
Forwards (19)
Allan Alaalatoa (#896, West Harbour Juniors)
Angus Bell (#940, Hunters Hill Rugby Club)
Matt Faessler (#969, USQ Saints)
Nick Frost (#953, Hornsby Lions)
Langi Gleeson (#960, Harbord Harlequins)
Isaac Kailea (#975, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club)
Fraser McReight (#937, Albany Creek Brumbies)
Brandon Paenga-Amosa (#918, Southern Districts)
Billy Pollard (#958, Lindfield Junior Rugby Club)
Tom Robertson (#898, Dubbo Kangaroos)
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (#914, Randwick)
Will Skelton (#883, Wentworthville Magpies)
James Slipper (#843, Bond Pirates)
Carlo Tizzano (#982,University of Western Australia)
Taniela Tupou (#917, Brothers Rugby)
Seru Uru (#985, Wests Bulldogs)
Rob Valetini (#929, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club)
Jeremy Williams (#973, Wahroonga Tigers)
Harry Wilson (#933, Gunnedah Red Devils)
Backs (15)
Ben Donaldson (#962, Clovelly Eagles)
Tane Edmed (uncapped, West Harbour Juniors)
Jake Gordon (#925, Canterbury Juniors)
Len Ikitau (#944, Tuggeranong Vikings)
Max Jorgensen (#984, Balmain Wolves)
Andrew Kellaway (#943, Hunters Hill Rugby Club)
Samu Kerevi (#892, Souths Magpies)
Noah Lolesio (#934, Tuggeranong Vikings)
Tate McDermott (#936, Flinders Rugby Club)
Hunter Paisami (#932, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club)
Dylan Pietsch (#978, Leeton Phantoms)
Harry Potter (uncapped, Moorabbin Rams)
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (uncapped, The Kings School)
Nic White (#875, Maitland Blacks)
Tom Wright (#939, Clovelly Eagles)
Australia XV squad
Forwards (17)
Angus Blyth (Queensland Reds)
Joe Brial (Queensland Reds)
John Bryant (Queensland Reds)
Josh Canham (Queensland Reds)
Massimo de Lutiis (Queensland Reds)
Tom Hooper (ACT Brumbies)
Harry Hoopert (Western Force)
Tom Horton (Western Force)
Tom Lambert (NSW Waratahs)
Lachlan Lonergan (ACT Brumbies)
Josh Nasser (Queensland Reds)
Zane Nonggorr (Queensland Reds)
Luke Reimer (ACT Brumbies)
Rory Scott (ACT Brumbies)
Ryan Smith (Queensland Reds)
Darcy Swain (Western Force)
Rhys Van Nek (ACT Brumbies)
Backs (13)
Lachie Anderson (Queensland Reds)
Jock Campbell (Queensland Reds)
Issak Fines-Leleiwasa (Western Force)
Josh Flook (Queensland Reds)
Darby Lancaster (NSW Waratahs)
Ryan Lonergan (ACT Brumbies)
Tom Lynagh (Queensland Reds)
Harry McLaughlin-Phillips (Queensland Reds)
Andy Muirhead (ACT Brumbies)
Ollie Sapsford (ACT Brumbies)
Hamish Stewart (Western Force)
Corey Toole (ACT Brumbies)
Joey Walton (NSW Waratahs)
Unavailable for selection
Kurtley Beale (Achilles)
Charlie Cale (Shoulder)
Filipo Daugunu (Leg)
David Feliuai (Family reasons)
Lalakai Foketi (Suspension)
Alex Hodgman (Family reasons)
Harry Johnson-Holmes (Achilles)
Bayley Kuenzle (Knee)
Rob Leota (Calf)
David Porecki (Family reasons)
Tim Ryan (Ankle)
Blake Schoupp (Shoulder)
Liam Wright (Shoulder)