Australia A confirm squad for Japan Tour

Wed, Sep 21, 2022, 1:56 AM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson
The Wallabies and All Blacks played out an all-time classic in Melbourne

Australia A coach Jason Gilmore has named a 34-player squad for the upcoming tour of Japan in October.

Wallabies fullback Tom Banks is the key inclusion, making his return from a broken arm suffered in the first Test of 2022 against England.

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Banks is one of 12 capped Wallabies included as well as current squad members Jock Campbell and Langi Gleeson.

This includes the likes of Suliasi Vunivalu, Pone Fa'amausili and Lachlan Lonergan, with the three-match series designed to give extra game time to players as they push their case for the end-of-season tour.

“It’s great to have these three matches coming up to continue the development and give our players more game time against high-level international opposition," Gilmore said in a statement.

“With Dave Rennie’s guidance, we’ve picked the best possible players who are available and everyone’s really excited to put the work in on the training paddock and perform well over in Japan.”

NSW Waratahs new recruit Max Jorgensen has been named as the development player for the series, with the promising schoolboy signing with the club on Tuesday.

He is joined by Sevens flyer Mark Nawaqantiawase, returning to the 15-a-side game after featuring at the Commonwealth Games.

Brumbies lock Darcy Swain has also been selected, set to learn his fate at a SANZAAR Judiciary hearing on Wednesday evening.

Australia A made its long-anticipated return during July's Pacific Nations Cup, finishing second behind Samoa.

It will be the first time a Japan XV will take on the development side since 2008, set to kick off on Saturday, October 1 at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo.

The action will then head to Best Denki Stadium in Fukuoka on October 8 before concluding in Osaka on October 14.

Australia A squad for Japan Tour

Richie Asiata, Queensland Reds

Tom Banks, ACT Brumbies

Ollie Callan, Western Force

Jock Campbell, Queensland Reds

Hudson Creighton, ACT Brumbies

Filipo Daugunu, Queensland Reds

Ben Donaldson, NSW Waratahs

Tane Edmed, NSW Waratahs

Pone Fa'amausili, Melbourne Rebels

Nick Frost, ACT Brumbies

Matt Gibbon, Melbourne Rebels

Langi Gleeson, NSW Waratahs

Ned Hanigan, NSW Waratahs

Isaac Henry, Queensland Reds

Archer Holz, NSW Waratahs

Harry Hoopert, Queensland Reds

Max Jorgensen*, NSW Waratahs

Bayley Kuenzle, Western Force

Lachlan Lonergan, ACT Brumbies

Ryan Lonergan, ACT Brumbies

Mark Nawaqanitawase, NSW Waratahs

Caderyn Neville, ACT Brumbies

Dylan Pietsch, NSW Waratahs

Billy Pollard, ACT Brumbies

Tom Robertson, Western Force

Rory Scott, ACT Brumbies

Ryan Smith, Queensland Reds

Hamish Stewart, Western Force

Darcy Swain, ACT Brumbies

James Tuttle, Melbourne Rebels

Seru Uru, Queensland Reds

Suli Vunivalu, Queensland Reds

Brad Wilkin, Melbourne Rebels

Teddy Wilson, NSW Waratahs

*denotes Development Player

Australia A vs Japan XV Tour

Saturday, October 1, at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo

Saturday, October 8, at Best Denki Stadium in Fukuoka

Friday, October 14, at Yodoko Sakura Stadium in Osaka

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