Petaia back from Wallabies wilderness as Kiss announces squad to play Springboks

Wallaby No 930 Jordan Petaia has been selected in his first Wallabies squad since the 2023 Rugby World Cup, named as part of a 34-man group for the upcoming Flight Centre Series Test against South Africa at Perth’s Optus Stadium.

Petaia (26) made his Wallabies debut as a 19-year-old at the 2019 Rugby World Cup scoring a memorable try against Uruguay and has since pulled on the gold jersey a total of 31 times.

The versatile back, who has been plying his trade in France and Japan since the end of the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season after seven seasons at the Queensland Reds, is one of three new faces in the squad that won back the Puma Trophy in an undefeated tour of Argentina earlier this month.

Another of those is Western Force recruit Harry McLaughlin-Phillips who has been named in his first official Wallabies squad, replacing Carter Gordon who suffered a fractured fibula in Mendoza. Born in Toowoomba and raised in Gunnedah, the 22-year-old flyhalf was part of the Australia U20s at the 2023 and 2024 World Rugby U20 Championships and has featured for the Queensland Reds on more than 35 occasions.

Queenslander Zane Nonggorr is back in the squad after completing a successful return to the field in Saturday’s 2026 Super Rugby AUS opener having picked up a minor calf strain in Japan. He replaces Wallaby No 1 000 Massimo De Lutiis in the group who is being managed having featured in three straight Tests to kick off his international career, with Filipo Daugunu also managed due to a minor knee complaint.

Elsewhere the squad remains consistent with those who have featured under Les Kiss so far in his first four matches as head coach, with the group set to assemble in Perth on Friday ahead of their Test against the back-to-back Rugby World Cup winning Springboks on Sunday September 27.

Kiss said: “We’ve learned a bit more about ourselves as a group over the last four Tests and we know we still have a lot to work on to get to where we want to be."

“South Africa have been the benchmark team in World Rugby for a long time, and we’re motivated by the challenge of meeting them in our own backyard in two weeks’ time.”

Wallabies squad for the Fight Centre Series Test against South Africa in Perth

(Wallaby number, first Australian Rugby club, Super Rugby Pacific club, Test caps)

Forwards: Allan Alaalatoa (#896, West Harbour Juniors, ACT Brumbies, 93), Angus Bell (#940, Hunters Hill Rugby Club, NSW Waratahs, 57), Charlie Cale (#976, Beecroft Junior Rugby Club, ACT Brumbies, 6), Josh Canham (#987, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club, Queensland Reds, 8), Tom Hooper (#964, Bathurst Bulldogs, Exeter Chiefs (UK), 24), Isaac Kailea (#975, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club, NSW Waratahs, 9), Fraser McReight (#937, Albany Creek Brumbies, Queensland Reds, 46), Josh Nasser (#979, Easts Rugby (Brisbane), Queensland Reds, 16), Zane Nonggorr (#966, Gold Coast Eagles, Queensland Reds, 20), Brandon Paenga-Amosa (#918, Southern Districts, Western Force, 30), Billy Pollard (#958, Lindfield Junior Rugby Club, ACT Brumbies, 24), Aidan Ross (#994, Bond University, Queensland Reds, 6), Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (#914, Randwick, Queensland Reds, 47), Lachlan Shaw (#996, University of Queensland, ACT Brumbies, 4), Carlo Tizzano (#982, University of Western Australia, Western Force, 16), Taniela Tupou (#917, Brothers Rugby (Brisbane), Racing 92 (France), 73), Rob Valetini (#929, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club, ACT Brumbies, 68), Jeremy Williams (#973, Wahroonga Tigers, Western Force, 32), Harry Wilson (c) (#933, Gunnedah Red Devils, Queensland Reds, 42).

Backs: Jock Campbell (#959, Inverell Highlanders, Queensland Reds, 6), Ben Donaldson (#962, Clovelly Eagles, Western Force, 25), Isaac Henry (#999, Kenmore Bears, Queensland Reds, 4), Len Ikitau (#944, Tuggeranong Vikings, ACT Brumbies, 54), Max Jorgensen (#984, Balmain Wolves, NSW Waratahs, 27), Ryan Lonergan (#993, Tuggeranong Vikings, ACT Brumbies, 12), Tate McDermott (#936, Flinders Rugby Club, Queensland Reds, 56), Harry McLaughlin-Phillips (uncapped, Gunnedah Red Devils, Western Force, 0), Declan Meredith (#997, Barron Trinity Bulls, ACT Brumbies, 3), Hunter Paisami (#932, Harlequin Junior Rugby Club, Queensland Reds, 38), Jordan Petaia (#930, Wests Bulldogs, Urayasu D-Rocks (Japan), 31), Harry Potter (#989, Moorabbin Rams, NSW Waratahs, 15), Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (#988, The Kings School, NSW Waratahs, 23), Kalani Thomas (#995, Springfield Hawks, Queensland Reds, 2), Tom Wright (#939, Clovelly Eagles, ACT Brumbies, 50).