The Qantas Wallabies have today announced a 32-man Training Squad for the 2005 Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series, and looking ahead to the Rugby World Cup in 2007.
Currently in camp in Sydney to begin preparations for the opening Test of the season, against Samoa at Telstra Stadium on Saturday 11 June, the Training Squad was announced at today's launch of the 2005 Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series.
NSW Waratahs Number 6 Rocky Elsom and Queensland forward Hugh McMeniman are the two newcomers to the squad, while Brumbies Number 8 Scott Fava and Reds winger Ben Tune will return to Camp Wallaby for the first time since 2003 and 2002 respectively.
Elsom, at 22 years of age and McMeniman, 21, are two of 16 players in the Training Squad aged 25 years or less, while for Tune, the return to Wallaby reckoning comes after playing the last of his 46 Tests against Argentina on the Spring Tour in 2002.
National Coach Eddie Jones says it's a quality squad with a blend of youth and experience, and the newcomers have been selected on the back of some good form in the Super 12.
"The co-operation and communication we've had with the Super 12 teams during the season has been outstanding and I'm delighted with the quality of players we've been able to select," said Jones.
"There is a good balance between experience and young players and Elsom, McMeniman, Fava and Tune all deserve their place after some good performances in the Super 12."
Jones went on to say how important the formation of this squad, selected for the upcoming Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series is in preparing for the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France.
"We've selected a Training Squad for this winter but, ultimately, the formation of this squad is just the next step in our overall preparation for the 2007 Rugby World Cup."
"The next two years are extremely important for us towards 2007. We don't experiment with Test caps but we do understand the importance of developing a strong squad of talented players towards France in 2007."
Injured Wallaby captain George Gregan has been named in the Training Squad for what will be his 12th season of international Rugby, while Chris Whitaker and Nathan Sharpe, who have both captained the Wallabies in the professional era have also been included.
"As a team we know there are a number of challenges this season, with plenty of hard work and commitment ahead to prepare for the nine Tests," said Gregan.
"Personally, it's still very early in the recovery stage of my injury, which is coming along well, but from a squad perspective, the blokes are really excited to be back in camp and for those new players it is a great honour to be selected as part of this Wallaby Training Squad."
The Qantas Wallabies will play nine Tests this winter including six in Australia, against Samoa, Italy, France, South Africa twice and New Zealand for the Bledisloe Cup in Sydney on Saturday 13 August.
The three away matches include two against the Springboks in South Africa and then the return Bledisloe Cup clash with New Zealand in Auckland.
The opening Test of the Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series is against Samoa at Telstra Stadium in Sydney on Saturday 11 June, at the family friendly kick off time of 3:00pm.
Towards 2007
History - In the three-year build up to the 2003 Rugby World Cup, from 2001 to the Final against England, the Wallabies played 35 Tests and used a total of 52 players.
Tests - The Qantas Wallabies will play 32 Tests before the start of the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France.
France - The Wallabies plan to visit France every season ahead of the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
Experience - There are 21 players in the 2005 Wallaby Training Squad who were involved in the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
Youth - Half of the 32-man squad are aged 25 years or less, with Hugh McMeniman the youngest at 21.
QANTAS WALLABIES 32 MAN TRAINING SQUAD FOR THE 2005 BUNDABERG RUM RUGBY SERIES
PLAYER
S12 Team
DOB
Height cm
Weight
kilos
TOTAL TEST CAPS
TOTAL TEST POINTS
Baxter, Al
NSW
21.1.77
190
116
19
Cannon, Brendan
NSW
5.4.73
188
108
33
10
Chisholm, Mark
ACT
18.9.81
197
112
1
Dunning, Matt
NSW
19.12.78
182
116
13
Elsom, Rocky
NSW
14.02.83
197
106
Fava, Scott
ACT
19.01.76
189
103
Flatley, Elton
QLD
7.5.77
178
90
37
182
Gerrard, Mark
ACT
4.9.82
192
99
Giteau, Matt
ACT
29.9.82
178
85
21
101
Gregan, George
ACT
19.4.73
173
79
106
89
Henderson, Nic
ACT
1.5.81
186
112
1
Henjak, Matt
ACT
25.11.81
181
88
2
Hoiles, Stephen
NSW
13.10.81
190
98
2
Larkham, Stephen
ACT
29.5.74
189
88
77
97
Latham, Chris
QLD
8.9.75
192
100
51
130
Lyons, David
NSW
15.6.80
192
117
33
10
McMeniman, Hugh
QLD
01.11.83
200
110
Mitchell, Drew
QLD
26.3.83
180
85
Mortlock, Stirling
ACT
20.5.77
191
100
35
200
Paul, Jeremy
ACT
14.3.77
184
104
56
50
Rathbone, Clyde
ACT
23.7.81
180
97
11
30
Roe, John
QLD
10.4.77
188
105
7
5
Rogers, Mat
NSW
1.2.76
182
85
23
77
Sailor, Wendell
QLD
16.7.74
191
106
28
45
Sharpe, Nathan
QLD
26.2.78
200
115
28
5
Smith, George
ACT
14.7.80
180
103
47
25
Tune, Ben
QLD
28.12.76
185
96
46
120
Tuqiri, Lote
NSW
23.9.79
191
103
26
75
Turinui, Morgan
NSW
5.1.82
181
100
7
15
Waugh, Phil
NSW
22.9.79
175
100
33
20
Whitaker, Chris
NSW
19.10.74
179
84
20
10
Young, Bill
ACT
4.3.74
188
110
37
Unavailable for selection due to injury:
Harrison, Justin
NSW
20.4.74
203
110
34
5
Vickerman, Daniel
NSW
4.6.79
204
115
26