Will Skelton a Wallaby again after Joe Schmidt names his squad for Fiji test

France-based lock Will Skelton is back in the Wallabies after coach Joe Schmidt named a 36-player squad to meet Fiji on July 6.

The one-off match in Newcastle will serve as a warm-up for players before the squad to meet the inbound British & Irish Lions is named.

Rugby Australia announced that Western Force back-rower Nick Champion de Crespigny, 28, is in the squad after returning to Australia from France where he played for Top 14 club Castres.

Brumbies flyer Corey Toole is the other uncapped player in the squad.

Former Wallabies captains Dave Porecki and Skelton also earned call-ups to a squad with a 20-16 split in favour of forwards.

Porecki was named for the first time since the 2023 Rugby World Cup, while Skelton is the lone overseas player named in the squad.

Force lock Darcy Swain will play for the Force in Perth against the Lions on June 28 before he joins the Wallabies squad, as will team-mates de Crespigny, Dylan Pietsch, Tom Robertson and Nic White.

“Selection is always tight, and there’ll be players who are excited and those who are disappointed,” a statement from Schmidt said.

“As coaches there was a lot of healthy, robust discussion and we think we’ve selected a group that will work hard and connect well as a squad.

“There’s some continuity from last year, plus a few new or returning players, who have forced their way into the mix through strong performances in Super Rugby Pacific.

“This squad’s immediate focus is Fiji, and we will need to hit the ground running having not been together since early January.”

Tane Edmed, David Feliuai, Darby Lancaster, Ryan Lonergan, Isaac Kailea, Matt Philip and Rory Scott will join the Wallabies squad as wider training cover for those players who are set to feature for the Force.

The Lions kick off their Australian tour with a warm-up game against Argentina in Dublin this Saturday.