Rugby league convert Joseph Sua’ali’i featured in the Australia squad named on Tuesday for the four-test tour of Britain and Ireland next month.
Beside Sua’ali’i, who has yet to play professional rugby union, the other uncapped players in the 34-man squad were also backs, New South Wales Waratahs flyhalf Tane Edmed and Western Force winger Harry Potter.
Japan-based center Samu Kerevi and France-based lock Will Skelton were also picked after last appearing for the Wallabies in the Rugby World Cup a year ago in France.
The 21-year-old Sua’ali’i signed a reported A$5.3 million ($3.5 million) contract with the Australian Rugby Union last year. But he didn’t officially switch codes until last week, after helping the Sydney Roosters reach the National Rugby League playoffs for a third straight year.
He’s contracted to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. Sua’ali’i hasn’t played rugby union since 2018 but he’s played rugby league to the highest level.
He played for Samoa when it reached its first final at the 2022 Rugby League World Cup in England, and appeared in the State of Origin this year.
“Having had him at the (training) hub in Canberra last week, he’s a kid who works hard on his game and very quick to pick things up,” Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said on Tuesday.
“We just want to make sure that we give him the best runway possible to try and get involved in the Wallabies. Part of it is that we play the (British and Irish) Lions next year so if he doesn’t debut on this tour, there’s a very little window — maybe one opportunity — to play before the Lions (tour) and that would be it.
“We feel a little bit of pressure to be able to fast-track him.”
Sua’ali’i has played center and wing but Schmidt wouldn’t say where he will put him.
“I’ve seen enough of him play as a rugby league player in the midfield and have got really good feedback from others players about him in the schools system,” he said.
The Wallabies leave next week on the 40th anniversary of their one and only Grand Slam tour of the home nations.
They’ll recreate it with tests against England on Nov. 9, Wales on Nov. 17, Scotland on Nov. 24, and Ireland on Nov. 30.
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