Queensland teenager Jordan Petaia is a surprise inclusion in Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika’s squad for this week’s training camp in Cessnock.
Cheika will trim the squad later in the week ahead of the August 18 Bledisloe Cup opener with New Zealand in Sydney.
Petaia has been training with the wider Wallabies group in recent weeks and impressed playing in Friday’s trial for Cheika’s side.
The 18-year-old became Queensland’s youngest Super Rugby debutant when he played his first Reds game earlier this year and hasn’t looked back.
Playing mainly on the wing, Petaia slotted into 13 after Samu Kerevi was injured.
Though it seems unlikely he would feature in the Bledisloe in a fortnight’s time, the teen hasn’t put a foot wrong yet and the outside centre spot is one that is still fairly open with injuries to Kerevi and Tevita Kuridrani.
His strong showing playing in Cheika’s team in last Friday’s Wallabies trial earned him a spot in the 36-man Wallabies squad to head to Cessnock.
Cheika said there were no guarantees for the youngster but the national coach wouldn’t close the door on keeping Petaia in camp.
“I’m not into the headline for him and for his own benefit,” he told Rugby Australia’s official website.
“He understands he’s earned a chance to be with the squad and get a taste of it.
“The opportunities are limitless, according to how he develops.
“I’m not going to say he’s here in this point or at another point because that’s really up to him.
“It’s also for us to get to understand a player and certainly if he’s good enough there’s no restriction on age.
“I’ve only just got to know him a little bit in the last 10 days so let’s see how this week pans out.”
Tatafu Polota-Nau will return to the squad for the first time since moving to the UK, one of four hookers in the 36-man group travelling to the Hunter Valley.
Polota-Nau is eligible to play for the Wallabies under ‘Giteau’s Law’ but was left out of the June Series squad after a long Premiership season.
Cheika said he had spoken to the hooker last month ahead of the Rugby Championship, with a view to ensuring Polota-Nau was fresh for both club and country.
“I’ll see him in the next couple of hours. We’ve been liaising over the phone,” he revealed.
“I saw him when he was in Sydney, maybe a month ago or so when we finalised exactly what would be happening and we’re working together with Leicester as well to make sure these players don’t get burnt to a crisp either and from our end and theirs and they’ve been excellent in that.
“I think you’ve got to commend them for the way that they’ve approached it with their players. It shows why they’re one of the top clubs in Europe and have been for many, many years.”
He is joined by Leicester team-mate Matt Toomua, whose recent signing with the Rebels and Rugby Australia made him Wallabies eligible.
Wallabies captain Michael Hooper has been named in the squad as he recovers from a hamstring injury but it is unclear whether he will be fit for the first Test on August 18.
Wallabies squad:
Forwards: Jermaine Ainsley, Allan Alaalatoa, Rory Arnold, Adam Coleman, Folau Faingaa, Ned Hanigan, Michael Hooper (c), Sekope Kepu, Tolu Latu, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, David Pocock, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Tom Robertson, Izack Rodda, Pete Samu, Rob Simmons, Scott Sio, Caleb Timu, Lukhan Tui, Taniela Tupou
Backs: Tom Banks, Kurtley Beale, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Marika Koroibete, Jack Maddocks, Billy Meakes, Sefa Naivalu, Jordan Petaia, Nick Phipps, Joe Powell, Curtis Rona, Matt Toomua