Wallabies unveil 31-man RWC squad

SYDNEY – Wallaby coach Michael Cheika has unveiled his 31-man Rugby World Cup squad which includes an additional 10-man ‘train on’ squad for their test match against the American Eagles in Chicago.

In front of a packed gallery in the Qantas hangar at Sydney Airport, Cheika announced his squad made up of 17 forwards and 14 backs and captained by veteran Brumbies hooker Stephen Moore.

It will be Moore’s third World Cup along with Toulon’s Matt Giteau and vice captain Adam Ashley Cooper. It is also one of the most experienced Wallaby World Cup squads with the team making up over 1200 test matches between them.

Some selection surprises sprung by Cheika was the inclusion of Quade Cooper, Sean McMahon and Toby Smith with the latter two not featuring in any of Australia’s matches during the Bledisloe Cup or Rugby Championship.

The exclusion of James Horwill and Nic White is also surprising however they’ve been selected to form a 10-man train on squad which is, presumably to supplement the main squad should any player get injured.

The Wallabies will have their first week of camp in Sydney this week before departing next week for the United States where they will set up camp at the historic University of Notre Dame. While in the United States, they will play the Eagles for the first time in 40 years.

31-Man 2015 Rugby World Cup Wallabies Squad

Hookers
Stephen Moore – C (96 Tests)
Tatafu Polota-Nau (53 Tests)

Props
Greg Holmes (17 Tests)
Sekope Kepu (56 Tests)
Scott Sio (9 Tests)*
James Slipper (66 Tests)
Toby Smith (uncapped)*

Locks
Kane Douglas (15 Tests)*
Dean Mumm (36 Tests)
Rob Simmons (52 Tests)
Will Skelton (11 Tests)*

Backrow forwards
Scott Fardy (24 Tests)*
Michael Hooper – VC (45 Tests)*
Ben McCalman (40 Tests)
Sean McMahon (3 Tests)*
Wycliff Palu (55 Tests)
David Pocock (50 Tests)

Scrumhalves
Will Genia (59 Tests)
Nick Phipps (31 Tests)

Flyhalves
Quade Cooper (55 Tests)
Bernard Foley (17 Tests)*

Inside backs
Kurtley Beale (52 Tests)
Matt Giteau (95 Tests)
Matt Toomua (25 Tests)*

Outside backs
Adam Ashley-Cooper – VC (108 Tests)
Israel Folau (33 Tests)*
Rob Horne (26 Tests)
Drew Mitchell (65 Tests)
Henry Speight (3 Tests)*
Joe Tomane (15 Tests)*
Tevita Kuridrani (24 Tests)*

*Uncapped at a Rugby World Cup

Extended Wallabies Squad for USA Eagles Test at Soldier Field, Chicago on September 5

Sam Carter, David Dennis, Tetera Faulkner, James Hanson, Scott Higginbotham, James Horwill, Samu Kerevi, Christian Lealiifano, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Nic White