Force quartet named in Australia A squad for Samoa game

Tue, Sep 3, 2024, 10:01 AM
Western Force Media

https://westernforce.rugby/news/forc...oa-game-202493

Western Force quartet Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke, Brooklyn Teki-Joyce, Rosie Ebbage and Samantha Wood have been named in the 26-player Australia A squad for the upcoming game with Samoa.

The match comes in partnership with Lakapi Samoa and the Australian government along with PacificAus Sports as the Australians get the chance to impress against the 18th-ranked Samoans, the first time Australia A will face them.

Australia A will hold a camp in Brisbane before playing Samoa on Monday 16 September at Apia Park, with Force women’s head coach Dylan Parsons to join the tour as assistant coach in a further endorsement of the Club's women's program.

Kalamunda hooker Malcolm Heke and scrum-half Wood both made their Wallaroos debuts earlier this year and will enjoy another dose of international rugby. Coach Jo Yapp has opted to ease Wood back into action as the young scrum-half overcomes a back issue.

Wests Scarborough utility Teki-Joyce, 22, is drafted into the national frame for the first time, having played all six 2024 Super W games and scored one try.

Lock Ebbage, 22, joined the Force from the NSW Waratahs ahead of the 2024 Super W season and has also earned her maiden call-up.

"Securing the Australia A opportunity is critical to providing more of our players with international rugby experience," Rugby Australia national women's high performance manager Jaime Fernandez said.

"When combined with the team playing in the upcoming World Rugby WXV2 tournament, 56 players will be actively engaged in international fixtures throughout 2024, growing the depth of our talent pool.

"Continuing to provide opportunities such as this is an important pathway and engagement activity for players, highlighting the global game that is Rugby."

Australia A squad

Annabelle Codey (Eastern Suburbs)

Ashlea Bishop (Canberra Royals)

Brooklyn Teki Joyce (Wests Scarborough)

Caitlin Urwin (University of Queensland)

Carys Dallinger (Easts Tigers Brisbane)

Deni Ross (Wests Bulldogs)

Faliki Pohiva (Manly Mermaids)

Gabrielle Peterson (Tuggeranong Vikings)

Georgia Chapple (Hunter Wildfires)

Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke (Kalamunda Districts Rugby Club)

Hollie Cameron (Sydney University)

Jasmin Huriwai (Queanbeyan Whites)

Katrina Barker (Warringah Rats)

Lily Bone (Queanbeyan Whites)

Liz Patu (Wests Bulldogs)

Loretta Mailangi (Gungahlin Eagles)

Martha Fua (Gungahlin Eagles)

Melanie Wilks (Bond University)

Nancy Volkman (Sydney University)

Rosie Ebbage (Easts Tigers Brisbane)

Ruby Anderson (Sydney University)

Samantha Wood (Kalamunda Districts Rugby Club)

Saxbii Shaw (Dubbo Roos)

Sera Naiqama (Sydney University)

Skye Churchill (Eastern Suburbs)

Waiaria Ellis (Manly Mermaids)

Historic Australia A Women fixture against Samoa announced as teenage sensation Ellis headlines squad

Tue, Sep 3, 2024, 9:59 AM
Nathan Williamson

Rugby Australia has confirmed an Australia A women's side will travel to Samoa to face their national side on September 16 at Apia Park.

The match comes in partnership with Lakapi Samoa and the Australian government along with PacificAus Sports as the Australians get the chance to impress against the 18th-ranked Samoans, the first time Australia A will face them.

It's a mix of youth and experience in the squad with 16-year-old Waiaria Ellis continuing her meteoric rise after her selection for her first taste of international Rugby.

Ellis became the joint youngest player to play for the Waratahs in 2024 and has impressed Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp during her time with the main squad over the past weeks.

"She's been training with us and she's such a young and exciting prospect," Yapp told Rugby.com.au.

"To see her in that program is going to be really cool."

The Australia A squad is stacked with talent, including the return of all-time Wallaroos cap leader Liz Patu.

Reigning Rugby Australia rookie of the year Carys Dallinger and experienced trio Sera Naiqama, Annabelle Codey and Katrina Barker are amongst several in the squad with Test experience.

Recent Test debutants Samantha Wood and Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke have also been included, with Yapp opting to ease Wood back into action as the young scrumhalf overcomes a back issue.