Wallabies name five new faces in Spring Tour Squad

The Wallabies have today named five new faces for the up-coming Spring Tour of France and the UK, with November Tests against the French, England, Ireland and Wales.

Flanker Leroy Houston, centre and winger Digby Ioane, hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau, outside back Cameron Shepherd and lock Adam Wallace Harrison will all join Wallaby Captain George Gregan in the 31-man squad to depart Australia later this month.

As well as the five new faces, uncapped forwards Scott Fava, David Fitter and Greg Holmes have also been named, having already trained with the Wallabies this season, while Lloyd Johansson, Rocky Elsom and Hugh McMeniman will all make their first Senior Tour with the Wallabies.

Lock Nathan Sharpe will also make his first UK Tour with the Wallabies and will join Phil Waugh and Morgan Turinui as one of three vice captains in the squad.

Number 8 David Lyons, Clyde Rathbone and winger Ben Tune are included in a group of 14 players unavailable for selection due to injury, being rested or suspension.

National Coach Eddie Jones says the new faces will bring plenty of excitement and enthusiasm to the team, ahead of four Tests in four weeks, against the top four teams from this year's Six Nations.

"We've selected eight players who are uncapped at Test level and a further eight with less than ten caps to their name. When you balance this with the experience of Captain George Gregan and a dozen players who have been regulars in the Test squad for the last four years, it certainly makes for an exciting mix," said Jones.

"France, England, Ireland and Wales are all strong opposition, especially at home. It will be a challenging Tour, and one everyone is looking forward to."

"The players have been working hard already over the last four weeks and we'll now come into camp and continue those preparations for the first Test against France in Marseille on November 5."

Three of the new-comers, Houston, Ioane and Polota-Nau all represented the Australian Under 21s in Argentina this year, and never got the chance to play Super 12 rugby, while Houston, who will turn 19 in the second week of the Tour, will be the youngest member of the 2005 Spring Tour Squad.

The Wallabies will assemble in Sydney tomorrow for a four day camp, before heading to their base in Coffs Harbour next week and departing for France and the UK on Wednesday 26 October.

Note: Uncapped players in bold.

Unavailable for selection due to injury

Elton Flatley, Daniel Heenan, Stephen Hoiles, Alex Kanaar, Stephen Larkham, David Lyons, Stirling Mortlock, Jeremy Paul, Clyde Rathbone, Radike Samo, Ben Tune, Josh Valentine, Daniel Vickerman, Bill Young.

Seven players named in Australia A Squad

Recent Test debutants Adam Ashley-Cooper and Lachlan MacKay, second row Alistair Campbell, openside flanker David Croft, 19-year-old flyhalf Scott Daruda, prop Nic Henderson and scrumhalf Brett Sheehan, will all depart for France the day before the Wallabies start their 2005 Spring Tour.

With Australia A to be coached by Eddie Jones and the Wallaby Coaching staff, the players will join the Wallabies in Montpellier before travelling to Bordeaux for the one-off match.

Wallaby Coach Eddie Jones says the Australia A game will be a good opportunity for players in both squads.

"Playing the French Barbarians in Paris last year was a really good experience and valuable for a number of players. It's something we're looking to replicate this year," said Jones.

"The seven players in this squad will link up with blokes from the 31-man Spring Tour squad and prepare for the important one-off match. As a team, they'll come together less than a week before the fixture, so it will be a good challenge and a great experience."

The Australia A Squad will then return to Australia on Thursday 3 November.

More details on the schedule are available here.

Related Article:

Wallabies name 45-man Training Squad (Thurs Sep 15)