The 21-year-old Suaalii (pictured above) is a former Australian Schoolboys representative whose move from Sydney Roosters in the NRL to rugby union's New South Wales Waratahs has made headline news. When asked why he was joining union from league, Suaalii said: "To play in a Grand Slam tour, a Lions tour and a home World Cup in 2027, I feel like that’s just always been so appealing to myself." He is one of five new faces in a 34-man squad that also welcomes back Samu Kerevi and Will Skelton, both of whom missed this year's Rugby Championship.
Kerevi and Skelton have not featured for the Wallabies this season after the latter captained the group in France last year. Suaalii is one of three uncapped players, with Waratahs fly-half Tane Edmed and Western Force winger Harry Potter - who won the Premiership title with Leicester Tigers in 2022 - also in line to make their debuts.
In what is the 40th anniversary of their victorious 1984 Grand Slam tour, the Wallabies face a Home Nations campaign this November in the Autumn Nations Series, taking on England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland over four consecutive weekends - with every game live on TNT Sports.
The Wallabies finished bottom of The Rugby Championship this year, winning one match from six, and will hope the return of some key players will bolster their chances of a late 2024 resurgence. They may also take encouragement from their clean sweep of Wales over the summer, winning Tests in Sydney (25-16) and Melbourne (36-28).
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said: “The squad has had a chance to regenerate over the last few weeks. At the same time, it was good to catch up with a wider group of players in the two-day training hubs we had in Canberra and Brisbane last week.”
“We have a relatively consistent group but will integrate a few new players on tour.
“Trying to balance opportunities for players, some recent squad members will get much needed game time with Australia XV, which also enables us to broaden our cohort of players in what will be highly competitive fixtures.”
Wallabies squad (Wallaby number, first Australian Rugby club)
Forwards (19)
Allan Alaalatoa (#896, West Harbour Juniors)
Angus Bell (#940, Hunters Hill Rugby Club)
Matt Faessler (#969, USQ Saints)
Nick Frost (#953, Hornsby Lions)
Langi Gleeson (#960, Harbord Harlequins)
Isaac Kailea (#975, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club)
Fraser McReight (#937, Albany Creek Brumbies)
Brandon Paenga-Amosa (#918, Southern Districts)
Billy Pollard (#958, Lindfield Junior Rugby Club)
Tom Robertson (#898, Dubbo Kangaroos)
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (#914, Randwick)
Will Skelton (#883, Wentworthville Magpies)
James Slipper (#843, Bond Pirates)
Carlo Tizzano (#982,University of Western Australia)
Taniela Tupou (#917, Brothers Rugby)
Seru Uru (#985, Wests Bulldogs)
Rob Valetini (#929, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club)
Jeremy Williams (#973, Wahroonga Tigers)
Harry Wilson (#933, Gunnedah Red Devils)
Backs (15)
Ben Donaldson (#962, Clovelly Eagles)
Tane Edmed (uncapped, West Harbour Juniors)
Jake Gordon (#925, Canterbury Juniors)
Len Ikitau (#944, Tuggeranong Vikings)
Max Jorgensen (#984, Balmain Wolves)
Andrew Kellaway (#943, Hunters Hill Rugby Club)
Samu Kerevi (#892, Souths Magpies)
Noah Lolesio (#934, Tuggeranong Vikings)
Tate McDermott (#936, Flinders Rugby Club)
Hunter Paisami (#932, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club)
Dylan Pietsch (#978, Leeton Phantoms)
Harry Potter (uncapped, Moorabbin Rams)
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (uncapped, The Kings School)
Nic White (#875, Maitland Blacks)
Tom Wright (#939, Clovelly Eagles)
