WA duo Ledington & Teki-Joyce named for Wallaroos debuts

Western Force pair Nicole Ledington and Brooklyn Teki-Joyce
have been named to make their Wallaroos debuts in the opening Test match of the
season against Fijiana in Canberra on Friday (1:55pm AWST).

The Aranmore College graduates are among six debutantes for
the game, along with Australian Sevens star Sidney Taylor at outside centre, plus
Piper Simons, back-rower Lily Bone and hooker Brittany Merlo, who are all in
line for maiden Test appearances.

Teki-Joyce, Ledington and Bone all joined the Wallaroos
national program this year after impressive performances in Super Rugby Women’s
in 2025.

Wests Scarborough winger Teki-Joyce, 23, had scored two
tries on her Australia A debut against Samoa in 2024, and backed that up with a
strong 2025 campaign.

Kalamunda fly-half Ledington has been a mainstay at the
Force, clocking up 20 appearances and joining the Club’s leadership group in
2025.

There are another three Force players named in the 23, with
Sammy Wood starting at scrum-half and Cecilia Smith at inside-centre. Michaela
Leonard is among the reserves.

Wallaroos captain Siokapesi Palu Sekona leads the new-look
side, which includes 17 players who featured at last year’s Women’s Rugby World
Cup.

The Wallaroos will look to defend the Vuvale Bowl after
winning the inaugural title 43-7 in Suva last year.

Wallaroos interim coach Sam Needs said: “We’ve had a great
12 days in camp so far and that made selections across the board a healthy
headache for the coaches.

“We are really pleased to be able to give six players
potential debuts this weekend and are excited to see them take the next step in
their rugby journeys.

“Fijiana will provide a strong and physical challenge for us
ahead of the Pacific Four series and we are looking forward to our first Test
of the year.”

The Wallaroos have played Fijiana on four occasions for a
4-0 record while the Test match will be the second time GIO Stadium has hosted
a fixture following the side’s win over USA in Canberra last year.

The Wallaroos will hold a final training session on Thursday
before taking on the Fijians prior to the Swyft Super Rugby match between the
ACT Brumbies and NSW Waratahs on Friday.

Watch every Wallaroos Test match in 2026, live and ad-free
on Stan Sport or Channel Nine and 9GEM live.

WALLAROOS TEAM TO PLAY FIJIANA

1. Brianna Hoy (#203 – NSW Waratahs/Coffs Harbour Snappers)
– 9 caps

2. Adiana Talakai (#182 – NSW Waratahs/Sydney University) –
21 caps

3. Bridie O’Gorman (#180 – NSW Waratahs/Sydney University) –
37 caps

4. Kaitlan Leaney (#179 – NSW Waratahs/SCU Marlins) – 35
caps

5. Ashley Fernandez (#221 – ACT Brumbies/Uni-North Owls) – 6
caps

6. Siokapesi Palu Sekona (c) (#194 – ACT Brumbies/Rockdale
Rangers) – 23 caps

7. Emily Chancellor (#158 – NSW Waratahs/Sydney University)
– 34 caps

8. Piper Duck (#185 – NSW Waratahs/Tumut Bullettes) – 22
caps

9. Samantha Wood (#207 – Western Force/Kalamunda Rugby Club)
– 11 caps

10. Nicole Ledington (Western Force/Kalamunda Rugby Club)* –
debut

11. Brooklyn Teki-Joyce (Western Force/West Scarborough)* –
debut

12. Cecilia Smith (#190 – Western Force/Leeton Dianas) – 28
caps

13. Sidney Taylor (Queensland Reds/Wests Bulldogs)* – debut

14. Maya Stewart (#196 – NSW Waratahs/Nelson Bay Gropers) –
22 caps

15. Faitala Moleka (#199 – ACT Brumbies/Blacktown Scorpions)
– 26 caps

Reserves

16. Brittany Merlo (NSW Waratahs/Sydney University)* – debut

17. Faliki Pohiva (#219 – NSW Waratahs/Blacktown Scorpions)
– 7 caps

18. Eva Karpani (#171 – Queensland Reds/Southern Suburbs) –
41 caps

19. Michaela Leonard (#168 – Western Force/Tuggeranong
Vikings) – 42 caps

20. Lily Bone (ACT Brumbies/Orange City)* – debut

21. Piper Simons (NSW Waratahs/Gordon Rugby Club)* – debut

22. Georgina Friedrichs (#178 – NSW Waratahs/Wests Bulldogs)
– 38 caps

23. Desiree Miller (#204 – NSW Waratahs/Eastern Suburbs) –
23 caps

Unavailable for selection due to injury

•            Tania
Naden (knee)

•            Waiaria
Ellis (shoulder)

•            Katalina
Amosa (knee)

WALLAROOS 2026 TEST SCHEDULE

•            March 27:
Wallaroos v Fijiana at GIO Stadium, Canberra – 4:55pm AEDT (Vuvale Bowl)

•            April 11:
Canada v Wallaroos at Heart Health Park, Sacramento, USA – 12:00pm AEST
(Pacific Four series)

•            April
17:  USA v Wallaroos at CPKC Stadium,
Kansas City, USA – 11:00am AEST (Pacific Four series)

•            April 25:
Wallaroos v New Zealand at Sunshine Coast Stadium – 7:45pm AEST (Pacific Four
series/O’Reilly Cup)

•            August 22:
New Zealand v Wallaroos at Go Media Stadium, Auckland (O’Reilly Cup)