Five ACT Brumbies named in Wallaroos squad

Brumbies Super W co-captain Michaela Leonard and Wallaroos representative Michelle Milward are included, while Tayla Stanford joins fellow uncapped prospects Gabby Petersen and Grace Kemp, the Canberra Royals No. 8 who has emerged as one of the most promising players in the country, in a 39-woman squad.

The Wallaroos will descend upon the AIS on Monday for their opening camp of the year, with officials now working on a revised Test schedule for 2021.

Nestor's side had their sights on the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand later this year but World Rugby is set to push the tournament back to 2022 due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It's great to have five of our Super W representatives in the first Wallaroos squad of the year," Brumbies Super W program manager Damien Tyson said.

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"These five, along with the rest of our squad, have worked really hard during what's been a challenging year for everyone and they truly deserve their opportunity.

"It's disappointing that the Rugby World Cup won't be going ahead this year but it gives these players and the rest of our squad more time to improve and impress at a national level."

NSW Waratahs star Mahalia Murphy looms as one of the major inclusions after returning from a stint with St George Illawarra in the NRLW last year.

2021 Wallaroos Training Squad: Iliseva Batibasaga (NSW Waratahs), Emily Chancellor (NSW Waratahs), Bree-Anna Cheatham (Queensland Reds), Georgia Cormick (Melbourne Rebels), Lori Cramer (NSW Waratahs), Piper Duck (NSW Waratahs), Anita Faimasui-Brown (NSW Waratahs), Georgina Friedrichs (NSW Waratahs), Aleena Greenhalgh (Queensland Reds), Grace Hamilton (NSW Waratahs), Ariana Hira-Herangi (Western Force), Fiona Jones (NSW Waratahs), Eva Karpani (NSW Waratahs), Grace Kemp (ACT Brumbies), Atasi Lafai (NSW Waratahs), Michaela Leonard (ACT Brumbies), Lucy Lockhart (Queensland Reds), Nareta Marsters (Queensland Reds), Lillyann Mason (NSW Waratahs), Jemima McCalman (NSW Waratahs), Arabella McKenzie (NSW Waratahs), Michelle Milward (ACT Brumbies), Tiarah Minns (Melbourne Rebels), Averyl Mitchell (Queensland Reds), Layne Morgan (NSW Waratahs), Mahalia Murphy (NSW Waratahs), Sera Naiqama (NSW Waratahs), Bridie O'Gorman (NSW Waratahs), Liz Patu (Queensland Reds), Gabby Petersen (ACT Brumbies), Pauline Piliae (NSW Waratahs), Trilleen Pomare (Western Force), Oneata Schwalger (NSW Waratahs), Christina Sekona (Queensland Reds), Cecilia Smith (Queensland Reds), Tayla Stanford (ACT Brumbies), Maya Stewart (NSW Waratahs), Adiana Talakai (NSW Waratahs), Ashleigh Walker (Melbourne Rebels).

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