Jordan Petaia returns to Australia’s rugby squad
In Australia, winger Jordan Petaia has been included in the national rugby team, the Wallabies, for the first time since the 2023 World Cup. The 26-year-old player was named in a group of 34 athletes for the match against the reigning two-time world champions, South Africa, to be held on September 27 in Perth, ABC News Australia reports.
Return after playing abroad
Petaia left the Queensland Reds after the end of the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season to try his hand at American football. In 2025, he was briefly on the roster of the Los Angeles Chargers, but did not play a single NFL game and was released by the club that same year.
After that, the rugby player signed with French Top 14 side Perpignan and later joined Japanese club Urayasu D-Rocks. Petaia made his Australia debut at the age of 19 at the 2019 World Cup in Japan and scored a try in the match against Uruguay. In total, he has made 31 appearances for the Wallabies and played in two World Cups.
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Changes to the Wallabies squad
Head coach Les Kiss said the staff had considered all available backline players and decided to invite Petaia, who had been outside the Australian system for several years. According to him, the team has not yet decided on the lineup for a specific match, while the call-up will give the rugby player an opportunity to work with the new coaching staff.
Twenty-two-year-old Western Force fly-half Harry McLaughlin-Phillips received his first official call-up to the Wallabies squad. He replaced Carter Gordon, who suffered a fibula fracture in Mendoza. Forward Zane Nonggorr returned to the team after recovering from a minor calf injury. Massimo De Lutiis was not included in the squad to manage his workload after three consecutive Test matches at the start of his international career, while Filipo Daugunu was not called up due to a minor knee injury.
Australia approach the match against South Africa after an unbeaten tour of Argentina, during which the team regained the Puma Trophy. Kiss called South Africa the benchmark team in world rugby and said the Wallabies are motivated to take on this challenge at home.
