Veteran flanker Michael Hooper has been named joint-Wallabies captain alongside Brumbies prop James Slipper in Eddie Jones' squad for the Rugby Championship.
Jones has selected five overseas-based players - more than the three usually permitted by Rugby Australia - with potential debutant Richie Arnold joining Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Will Skelton and Quade Cooper in the squad.
There's no room for five-eighth Bernard Foley, with Jones instead opting for Melbourne starlet Carter Gordon and outside back utilities Ben Donaldson and Reece Hodge.
Jones has picked eight uncapped players for the squad to face South Africa, New Zealand and Argentina, the biggest bolter being Brumbies lock Tom Hooper, who enjoyed an impressive end to the Super Rugby Pacific season on return from a foot injury.
Jones says they have worked hard with the leadership group since January, and it will be important they continue to have strong support from the players around them.
Hooper, who captained the Wallabies at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, said it was “an absolute honour to lead the squad alongside Slips’.
Slipper, who took over the captaincy when Hooper took a break in 2022, said he was “really proud to lead my country and am looking forward to working with Hoops and Eddie to bring this group together and win trophies”.
The Wallabies squad:
Forwards
Allan Alaalatoa, Richie Arnold, Matt Faessler, Nick Frost, Matt Gibbon, Jed Holloway, Michael Hooper (co-captain), Tom Hooper, Rob Leota, Fraser McReight, Zane Nonggorr, David Porecki, Pete Samu, Will Skelton, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Jordan Uelese, Rob Valetini.
Backs
Quade Cooper, Lalakai Foketi, Carter Gordon, Reece Hodge, Len Ikitau, Marika Koroibete, Ryan Lonergan, Tate McDermott, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Izaia Perese, Suliasi Vunivalu, Nic White, Tom Wright.
Utilities
Ben Donaldson,Josh Kemeny, Dylan Pietsch,
Rehab group
Angus Bell, Langi Gleeson, Andrew Kellaway, Samu Kerevi, Jordan Petaia, Matt Philip.
Source: Stuff.co
