Wallabies Coach Michael Cheika has named his 34-man Wallabies squad for the June series, with a string of debutants and some surprise omissions.

Big names like Scott Fardy, Rob Simmons, Kane Douglas, Rob Horne and Will Skelton have all missed out. Meanwhile, young up and comers including Force backer and UWA Rugby Club player, Richard Hardwick, make up the fresh-faced Wallabies side announced for the June series.

The squad features just 10 players from the 23-man Wallabies squad for the 2015 World Cup final. Speaking on Fox Sports Kick and Chase where he announced the squad, Cheika said “We’ve got to back our young players that are coming through and are putting form on the board,” “This is a strategy we want to pursue.”

Hardwick makes his way into the back row where  Cheika says Hardwick will be Michael Hooper’s back-up at openside flanker for the June series.

The trio of Tests will see the Wallabies take on Fiji, Italy and Scotland throughout June

Media references

Mia Herriman

UWA Sport Marketing Communications and Events

6488 4309

marketing@sport.uwa.edu.au