'We're very confident in the plan': Wallabies squad named as coaching handover explained
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Queensland Reds prop Massimo De Lutiis is the only uncapped player in a 40-man Wallabies squad that will assemble in Sydney from January 5-7.
The Wallabies said the camp will serve a number of purposes, including a debrief of the 2025 Test season as well as completing national physical and medical testing as players return from annual leave.
The Wallabies will not assemble again until after Super Rugby Pacific.
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Massimo De Lutiis of the Queensland Reds. Queensland Reds
De Lutiis has earned his way back into the squad after a fractured wrist ended his Super Rugby season early and ruled out his chances of a Test debut.
Tom Lynagh and Ben Donaldson are among four flyhalves named after missing the disappointing Spring Tour.
The camp does not include overseas players such as Angus Bell, Taniela Tupou, James O'Connor, Will Skelton and Len Ikitau.
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Angus Bell roars. Stan
"The couple of days we have together in early January will provide a final opportunity to look back on, and to learn from, a demanding 2025 Test campaign," Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said.
"It also provides a chance to complete some national testing and check in with the players from a medical perspective before they return to their Super Rugby Pacific clubs ahead of the 2026 season."
Schmidt will coach the first three Tests of the season before handing the reins to Reds boss Kiss, whose first assignment will be against Eddie Jones' Japan.
Joe Schmidt and Les Kiss pose during a media opportunity at Allianz Stadium. Getty
"Given the growth the team has had under Joe, and the similarities between Joe and Les, we're very comfortable with the plan," Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh told The Sydney Morning Herald.
"We think Joe has been doing an excellent job in terms of embedding behaviours and the culture within the squad, and we're very confident Les will pick up from where Joe leaves it at the back end of July.
"Joe has clearly got a very long history with Les, and they're talking frequently. So publicly and outward facing it might look like Les is quite hands-off, but the conversations happening with Joe and Les are fairly detailed.
"Equally, we're conscious we don't want to blur lines of Les's responsibility to win the Super Rugby Championship with the Reds before he joins the Wallaby environment... we're very confident in the plan, and Joe's got the reins until he doesn't."
Wallabies squad: Allan Alaalatoa, Josh Canham, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Massimo De Lutiis, Matt Faessler, Nick Frost, Isaac Kailea, Fraser McReight, Josh Nasser, Zane Nonggorr, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Billy Pollard, Tom Robertson, Aidan Ross, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Pete Samu, Darcy Swain, Carlo Tizzano, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Harry Wilson, Filipo Daugunu, Ben Donaldson, Tane Edmed, Josh Flook, Carter Gordon, Jake Gordon, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Ryan Lonergan, Tom Lynagh, Tate McDermott, Hunter Paisami, Dylan Pietsch, Harry Potter, Hamish Stewart, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Khalani Thomas, Corey Toole, Tom Wright
