Jock Campbell ends 1,300-day Wallabies exile to start against Ireland in Nations Championship opener

Jock Campbell will start at fullback for the Wallabies against Ireland in Sydney on Saturday, ending an international absence of more than 1,300 days as Australia open the inaugural Nations Championship. Coach Joe Schmidt’s selection caught many off guard, with Campbell earning his recall on the back of a standout Super Rugby Pacific season with the Queensland Reds.

The 31-year-old lines up in the outside backs alongside wingers Dylan Pietsch and Max Jorgensen. Tom Wright, who suffered an injury just three minutes into a Test against the Springboks in Cape Town roughly eight months ago, returns to the international fold from the bench. Ben Donaldson and Tate McDermott are the other backs in reserve as Schmidt opts for a 5-3 forward-to-back split on the bench.

Ryan Lonergan has been handed his first Wallabies start at scrum-half, partnering Queensland Reds fly-half Carter Gordon in the halves. Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii continue their established midfield combination.

In the forwards, Josh Nasser starts at hooker between loosehead Angus Bell — a 50-Test prop — and 88-Test tighthead Allan Alaalatoa. Western Force captain Jermey Williams and Queensland Reds lock Josh Canham form the second row, while Rob Valetini edges out Tom Hooper at blindside flanker to complete the back row alongside Fraser McReight and captain Harry Wilson.

ACT Brumbies lock Lachlan Shwa is in line to make his Test debut off the bench, with fellow uncapped players Miles Amatosero and Declan Meredith also named in the squad this week.

“The group has reconnected quickly and we’ve worked hard over the past week to prepare as best we can for what is an exciting challenge against the number three team in World Rugby,” Schmidt said. “Kicking off 2026 at a sold-out Allianz Stadium gives the group a huge lift and we are fully focused on earning every bit of that home crowd support on Saturday.”

The match is the first fixture of the Nations Championship, a year-long competition featuring the 12 best men’s Test sides. Australia will also host France and Italy during the July window. The Wallabies have not beaten Ireland since 2018.