Queensland Reds young gun Shalom Sauaso has bolted into the first Wallaroos squad of 2024 after an impressive debut Super Rugby Women's season.
One of the youngest players to make their Super W debut at just 16-years-old, Sauaso was one of the Reds best players of the season, making a mark on both the wing and in centres where she showed some impressive ball running skills.
New Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp has looked to experience for her first squad in charge with 20 players from last year's O'Reilly Cup and WXV campaigns named with another nine potential debutants added to the list.
Waratahs try scoring duo Desiree Miller and Maya Stewart headline the line-up after they found the try line five times in their side's Super W grand final victory with expectations they'll do the same in the Wallaroos opening Pacific Four clash with Canada. They've been joined by 11 of their Waratahs teammates, including young fullback Caitlyn Halse.
"The Super Rugby Women's competition has been really competitive and has given us a great opportunity to not only observe our managed group but up and coming players too," Yapp said.
"We feel the squad we have selected for the Pacific Four series gives us a good mix of experience and youth. We are really looking forward to getting into camp and kick starting the competition against Canada.
Meanwhile, Western Force lock Michaela Leonard has been handed the captaincy role ahead of Piper Duck who had been named the long-term captain at the start of last year's campaign but was ruled out for the entire Test season through a foot and ankle injury.
Finding a balance of youth and experience Yapp has also called up 32-year-old Sally Fuesaina from the Brumbies to make her potential Wallaroos debut, while Force scrumhalf Samantha Wood has been rewarded for her standout season with a maiden call-up. But young Waratahs back-row Skye Chruchill has missed out on a call-up despite a breakout season covering Emily Chancellor's role following a season ending ACL injury.
Reds wing Ivania Wong has also failed to earn a place in the squad after earning 15 caps since her debut in 2022, instead Yapp has turned to Brumbies' Biola Dawa as her third option alongside Miller and Stewart. In fact only three Reds players have made the squad following a poor Super W season that saw the team win just one match, while the Rebels saw just two players in Ash Marsters and Tiarah Minns selected.
Meanwhile, several Wallaroos mainstays have failed to make the cut with Sera Naiqama, Emily Robinson, Grace Hamilton and Annabelle Codey missing from the squad with Reds fly-half and Australian Rugby Rookie of the Year Carys Dallinger also failing to earn selection.
In a move to help develop more fringe players the Wallaroos have also called up a 10-player development squad that will train with the main squad for six days in the lead up to the opening Test match, including the youngest Waratahs player ever Waiaria Ellis.
Not available for selection due to injury includes Chancellor, Bree-Anna Cheatham, Jasmin Huriwai and Adiana Talakai.
Wallaroos squad: Allana Sikimeti*, Asoiva (Eva) Karpani, Brianna Hoy, Bridie O'Gorman, Sally Fuesaina*, Herb-Barb Malcom Heke*, Tania Naden, Kaitlan Leaney, Michaela Leonard, Tiarah Minss*, Ashley Marsters, Atasi Lafai, Leilani Nathan, Lydia Kavoa*, Siokapesi Palu, Piper Duck, Tabua Tuinakauvadra, Layne Morgan, Samantha Wood*, Arabella McKenzie, Faitala Moleka, Cecilia Smith, Georgina Friedrichs, Shalom Sauaso*, Trillen Pomare, Biola Dawa, Desiree Miller, Maya Stewart, Caitlyn Halse*, Lori Cramer.
Development squad: Ashley Fernandez, Ashlea Bishop, Brittany Merlo, Janita Kareta, Melanie Wilks, Natalie Wright, Skye Churchill, Tamika Jones, Tiarna Molloy, Waiaria Ellis.