Four Melbourne Rebels have been named in Jason Gilmore’s 34-man Australia A squad for the upcoming three-match tour against Japan XV in Japan.
Reigning Rebels Players’ Player recipient, Brad Wilkin joins James Tuttle and Matt Gibbon, while Pone Fa'amausili has also been selected.
The core of the group remains from the one that finished second in the Pacific Nations Cup with wins over Fiji and Tonga back in July.
In exciting news for Australian Rugby fans, fullback Tom Banks has recovered from a broken arm and will make his return to the field in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Fresh off the back of securing the Hospital Cup for Wests, Filipo Daugunu and Seru Uru have both been named, the latter named Man of the Match in the Queensland club rugby decider.
Speedster Mark Nawaqanitawase re-joins the group after being part of the Australia Sevens Commonwealth Games campaign in Birmingham.
New Waratahs signing and promising schoolboy, Max Jorgensen has been named in the squad as a development player.
The tour provides an opportunity for those to push their Test cases ahead of the Wallabies End of Year Tour and gain invaluable experience and game time against International opposition.
Australia A coach Jason Gilmore said: “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.”
“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.”
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
