'Good luck to you': Wallabies rookie Harry Potter delivers 'unique' challenge to journos

Harry Potter is returning to the city of his birth with a thick Australian accent and a burning desire to wear Wallabies gold.

The 26-year-old was the bolter in Joe Schmidt's Spring Tour squad after an injury plagued debut season with the Western Force.

The outside back was born in London, raised in Melbourne after moving at 10-years-old and then further educated at Sydney University.

Watch the Wallabies and All Blacks tour Europe this November on Stan Sport. Stream every match of the Autumn Nations Series ad free, live and exclusive

Potter was a member of the Melbourne Rebels squad in 2020 but did not play a game before returning to England to take a contract with the Leicester Tigers, who are now coached by Michael Cheika.

He won the Premiership in 2022 but Potter still considered Australia home and had no hesitation in joining the Force when coach Simon Cron came calling.

Potter is also eligible to play for England but is confident he's made the right decision after dodging bluebottles at Coogee Beach during his maiden Wallabies camp.

READ MORE: Fan booted from World Series after ugly clash with star

READ MORE: 'I'm a diehard Dragons fan. Reality just slapped me in the face'

READ MORE: Two halfbacks Dragons could poach to replace Hunt

"I was here for school, I watched the Wallabies play from year seven, right up until going to uni and certainly feel like I was here for a more influential part of my life," Potter told reporters on Wednesday ahead of the squad's flight bound for London on Thursday.

"And I'm speaking with more of an Aussie accent than I am an English accent. Which doesn't make you feel too English to be honest, mate.

"So it's a pleasure to be with the Wallabies and, yeah, certainly I feel very Australian... there was no call to any England camps or anything like that.

NEW PODCAST! Sean Maloney, Stephen Hoiles and Michael Hooper reflect on the Bledisloe Cup and preview the Spring Tour

"And that was the reason I came over to Australia, because I wanted to play for the Wallabies."

Potter was born six months after the release of the first novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 1997.

He is used to bad puns but his profile will rise significantly if he takes the field for his Test debut in Australia's Grand Slam tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland.

"It's a good challenge for journalists to see if they can think of a unique or original Harry Potter pun," Potter quipped.

"They are few and far between, but good luck to you."

Does he get sick of the wizard chat?

"No I don't really, to be honest, like it's been 26 years of it. So it's pretty funny, I reckon, and yeah, I tip my hat if you think of something original.

"I think 'You're a winger, Harry' was actually not bad... Slips (James Slipper) asked me what I like to be called, and I told him a few things, and he then decided 'Wizard' was probably the best idea."

The Wallabies open their tour against England on November 10 (AEDT).

A Test debut at Twickenham - against many players he is very familiar with - would be a dream.

"I'd love to play that game, yeah, perhaps a bit of a long shot after being in the squad for four days now," Potter said.

"But first game of the tour, it's going to be massive. I'm sure Twickenham is going to sell out if it hasn't already. And, coming up against England at Twickenham, it's got to be up there with No.1 Test matches to play on the the calendar."

Potter has played the majority of his rugby on the wing but is equally adept at outside centre.

Schmidt noted his versatility as a major plus and Potter said No.13 loomed as his long-term preference.

He is competing for game time with another uncapped flier in Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.

"He's been great coming in, like, so keen to learn and a great addition to the squad," Potter said.

"He's been awesome, did a bit of contact today, and he's certainly hard to put down.

"So he's certainly going to add a lot and, yeah, excited to watch him get his hands on the ball when the time comes."