Michael Cheika – Wallabies coach
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said that overseas-based players will not be part of his Rugby Championship training squad.
Cheika has named a group of 22 players not involved in next week’s Super Rugby finals, but will give foreign-based hopefuls some extra time off.
The Wallabies coach said he spoke to Europe-based stars Matt Giteau, George Smith and Drew Mitchell and they all indicated they were available for The Rugby Championship, starting on 18 July against South Africa in Brisbane.
“They’ll be considered for selection for the 1st game,” Cheika told reporters.
“They’ve just finished seasons over there – they don’t need to come back now.
“If they were to come back… if they were selected, they’d be coming back after the Super Rugby Final when the full team comes together.
“We’re just going to name the guys who are in the train-on for the teams that are out of Super Rugby.”
Several members of the initial train-on squad are injured, with Will Genia (shoulder), James O’Connor (groin) and James Slipper (shoulder) all unable to finish the Reds’ 31 / 5 loss to the Waratahs on Saturday.
Reds coach Richard Graham said he expected Genia and Slipper to be fine but was uncertain about the extent of O’Connor’s injury.
The squad will assemble in Brisbane from Monday 22 June and train out of Ballymore, before their 1st official camp on 5 July in Caloundra on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
Additional players from the Brumbies and Waratahs will be confirmed at the end of their respective Super Rugby seasons.
Wallabies squad: Paul Alo-Emile, Scott Higginbotham, Luke Jones, Sean McMahon, Toby Smith, Quade Cooper, Saia Fainga’a, Will Genia, Liam Gill, James Hanson, James Horwill, Greg Holmes, Karmichael Hunt, Samu Kerevi, James O’Connor, Rob Simmons, James Slipper, Adam Coleman,Nick Cummins, Tetera Faulkner, Ben McCalman, Matt Hodgson.
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