Will Skelton returns as Dave Rennie confirms his Autumn Nations Series Squad

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has confirmed the squad for Australia’s end of year Tour to Japan and the United Kingdom.

Fresh off the side’s second place finish in the eToro Rugby Championship, Rennie has selected a familiar squad as well as some European-based Wallabies who will join the group in the UK.

Rugby World Cup squad members from 2019, Rory Arnold and Tolu Latu, will join their fellow French-based forward Will Skelton as new members of the 2021 group. The latter last representing the Wallabies in 2016.

The Wallabies recorded their fourth consecutive win last weekend on the Gold Coast and are again bolstered by the added experience from Japan-based trio Quade Cooper, Samu Kerevi and Sean McMahon, who all feature in the 37-man squad.

Rennie has also named four uncapped players with Waratahs centre Izaia Perese recovering from a shoulder injury to be selected alongside club teammate Lalakai Foketi, Brumbies hooker Connal McInerney and Rebels prop Pone Fa'amausili.

Backs Andrew Kellaway and Len Ikitau will continue their impressive debut International seasons with the side set to face Japan for the first time since 2017, when they meet in Oita later this month before travelling to Europe since 2018.

A number of younger Wallabies will remain in Australia to continue their development and complete full preseasons with their Super Rugby clubs. The group will depart from Australia on Wednesday before the first Test of the Tour against the Brave Blossoms in Oita on Saturday October 23.

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said: “Firstly we're extremely grateful to be able to represent Australia on the world stage in the current environment and that's something that's not lost on this group."

"We've been building as a squad over the past 18 months or so and to get a chance to head to the Northern Hemisphere and test ourselves against four really strong International sides is a great opportunity to learn more about ourselves.

"To have a few experienced players from overseas join us will no doubt help our development as we continue to grow and improve as a team, while those back here in Australia will get a decent offseason to make the necessary shifts in their games to excel at Test level."

Wallabies squad for 2021 Spring Tour (Test caps, Club side and age)

Allan Alaalatoa (50, Brumbies, 27)
Rory Arnold (26, Stade Toulousain, 31)
Angus Bell (12, NSW Waratahs, 21)
Quade Cooper (74, Kintetsu Liners, 33)
Filipo Daugunu (6, Queensland Reds, 26)
Pone Fa’amausili* (uncapped, Melbourne Rebels, 24)
Folau Fainga’a (21, Brumbies, 26)
Lalakai Foketi* (uncapped, NSW Waratahs, 26)
Jake Gordon (10, NSW Waratahs, 28)
Reece Hodge (53, Melbourne Rebels, 27)
Michael Hooper (c) (115, NSW Waratahs, 29)
Len Ikitau (9, Brumbies, 23)
Feleti Kaitu’u (3, Western Force, 26)
Andrew Kellaway (9, Melbourne Rebels, 25)
Samu Kerevi (38, Suntory Sungoliath, 28)
Marika Koroibete (42, Melbourne Rebels, 29)
Tolu Latu (19, Stade Francais, 28)
Rob Leota (2, Melbourne Rebels, 24)
Tate McDermott (11, Queensland Reds, 23)
Connal McInerney* (uncapped, Brumbies, 26)
Sean McMahon (27, Suntory Sungoliath, 27)
James O’Connor (57, Queensland Reds, 31)
Hunter Paisami (11, Queensland Reds, 23)
Izaia Perese* (uncapped, NSW Waratahs, 24)
Jordan Petaia (14, Queensland Reds, 21)
Matt Philip (19, Melbourne Rebels, 27)
Tom Robertson (26, Western Force, 26)
Izack Rodda (30, Western Force, 24)
Pete Samu (15, Brumbies, 29)
Will Skelton (18, Stade Rochelais, 29)
James Slipper (110, Brumbies, 32)
Darcy Swain (9, Brumbies, 24)
Lachlan Swinton (6, NSW Waratahs, 24)
Taniela Tupou (35, Queensland Reds, 25)
Rob Valetini (14, Brumbies, 23)
Nic White (43, Brumbies, 31)
Tom Wright (5, Brumbies, 24)
*denotes uncapped

Squad snapshot
• 939 total Test caps
• 4 uncapped players, 8 with under 10 Test caps
• Average age of 26 (youngest – Angus Bell at 21, while Quade Cooper is the oldest at 33, who has 74 Test caps)
• Average of 25 Test caps amongst the squad of 37 players
• Clubs represented: 10 Brumbies, 6 Reds, 6 Waratahs, 6 Rebels, 3 Western Force, 6 overseas based

Wallabies’ fixtures in the 2021 Spring Tour

Japan v Wallabies at Oita Stadium, Oita on Saturday 23 October at 1.45pm JST
Scotland v Wallabies at Murrayfield, Edinburgh on Sunday 7 November at 2.15pm GMT
England v Wallabies at Twickenham, London on Saturday 13 November at 5.30pm GMT
Wales v Wallabies at Principality Stadium, Cardiff on Saturday 20 November at 5.30pm GMT