Gilbert Rugby :: News September 2009 Archives

GILBERT RUGBY NEWS

September 2009 Archive

Qantas Wallabies raise awareness of Prostate Cancer

Fri 4 September 2009

In Saturday night's Bundaberg Rum Tri Nations clash, the Qantas Wallabies and Springboks will play with a unique Gilbert ball which will carry the blue ribbon and name of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA), as the teams seek to inform Rugby fans of the disease which kills close to 3,000 Australian men each year.

The Limited Edition blue ribbon ball is also on sale and $5 from each ball will be donated to the PCFA to fund research into the cause, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of prostate cancer.

The Wallabies initiative is all part of PCFA's campaign "The Difference Is You!" that will run in media around Australia throughout September aimed at reminding men about how their loss might impact their loved-ones.

"Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia and in 2010 alone, it is estimated that almost 20,000 Australian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer" said Andrew Giles, the CEO of PCFA.

"The Difference is You!" campaign will hopefully encourage men to take responsibility for their own health and speak with their doctor regularly about prostate cancer. It's a simple step, and it can save a life.

"It is recommended that men aged 50-years and over should speak with their doctor annually about prostate cancer. However, if there is a family history of prostate cancer, men should speak with their doctor annually from the age of 40."

Utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper, who will line up at outside centre against South Africa on Saturday night, said the Wallabies were delighted to do their part to raise awareness about Prostrate Cancer.

"Prostate cancer might be a male-only disease, but its effect is far reaching" said Ashley-Cooper. "Consider that almost 20,000 Australian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in one year - then think about the wives and partners, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, grandchildren and friends of these men."

"They are all impacted by a diagnosis of prostate cancer."

"The Wallabies are very proud to do our bit this Saturday night to help raise awareness and remind men in the 40 age bracket how important it is talk to your doctor about Prostate Cancer."

"It's a simple thing to do but it can help save your life."

2010 Super 14 draw released

Tue 8 September 2009

The Bulls of South Africa begin their defence of the Super 14 title with a Friday night match against the Central Cheetahs in Bloemfontein when the 2010 tournament kicks off on February 12.

The match is one of six national derbies on the opening weekend.

The opening day of the new season gets underway in Auckland where the inaugural Super 12 champions, the Blues, host North Island rivals the Hurricanes. The Australian season kicks off in Perth with the Western Force hosting the ACT Brumbies.

The first Saturday of the tournament - February 13 - starts with a South Island derby in Christchurch where the Crusaders welcome the Highlanders while the Reds and Waratahs are immediately in their traditional battle for bragging rights in Brisbane.

The two remaining opening round matches are in South Africa with the Lions hosting the Stormers in Johannesburg while the Chiefs begin the 2010 tournament where they ended in the final of the 2009 edition - with a return to the Republic to take on the Sharks in Durban.

The 16-week competition concludes with semi-finals on the weekend of May 21/22 and the final a week later on May 29.

*DAY and DATE*	*MATCH*	*VENUE*	*Kick off* local time	*Kick off* GMT time	*Kick-off in New Zealand*	*Kick-off in Australia (NSW/ACT)*	Kick-off in South Africa
*WEEK 1 - No D/L Savings in Perth and Brisbane**
1. Friday 12 February	Blues v Hurricanes	Auckland	19:35	19:35	Fri 12 Feb 19:35	Fri 12 Feb 17:35	Fri 12 Feb 08:35
2. Friday 12 February	Western Force v Brumbies	Perth *	19:05	11:05	Sat 13 Feb 00:05	Fri 12 Feb 22:05	Fri 12 Feb 13:05
3. Friday 12 February	Cheetahs v Bulls	Bloemfontein	19:10	17:10	Sat 13 Feb 06:10	Sat 13 Feb 04:10	Fri 12 Feb 19:10
4. Saturday 13 February	Crusaders v Highlanders	Christchurch	19:35	06:35	Sat 13 Feb 19:35	Sat 13 Feb 17:35	Sat 13 Feb 08:35
5. Saturday 13 February	Reds v Waratahs	Brisbane *	18:40	08:40	Sat 13 Feb 21:40	Sat 13 Feb 19:40	Sat 13 Feb 10:40
6. Saturday 13 February	Lions v Stormers	Johannesburg	17:05	15:05	Sun 14 Feb 04:05	Sun 14 Feb 02:05	Sat 13 Feb 17:05
7. Saturday 13 February	Sharks v Chiefs	Durban	19:10	17:10	Sun 14 Feb 06:10	Sun 14 Feb 04:10	Sat 13 Feb 19:10
*WEEK 2 - No D/L Savings in Brisbane**
8. Friday 19 February	Highlanders v Blues	Dunedin	19:35	06:35	Fri 19 Feb 19:35	Fri 19 Feb 17:35	Fri 19 Feb 08:35
9. Friday 19 February	Reds v Crusaders	Brisbane *	19:45	09:45	Fri 19 Feb 22:45	Fri 19 Feb 20:45	Fri 19 Feb 11:45
10. Friday 19 February	Sharks v Cheetahs	Durban	18:00	16:00	Sat 20 Feb 05:00	Sat 20 Feb 03:00	Fri 19 Feb 18:00
11. Friday 19 February	Lions v Chiefs	Johannesburg	20:00	18:00	Sat 20 Feb 07:00	Sat 20 Feb 05:00	Fri 19 Feb 20:00
12. Saturday 20 February	Hurricanes v Western Force	Wellington	19:35	06:35	Sat 20 Feb 19:35	Sat 20 Feb 17:35	Sat 20 Feb 08:35
13. Saturday 20 February	Bulls v Brumbies	Pretoria	17:05	15:05	Sun 21 Feb 04:05	Sun 21 Feb 02:05	Sat 20 Feb 17:05
14. Saturday 20 February	Stormers v Waratahs	Cape Town	19:10	17:10	Sun 21 Feb 06:10	Sun 21 Feb 04:10	Sat 20 Feb 19:10
*WEEK 3 - No D/L Savings in Perth & Brisbane**
15. Friday 26 February	Crusaders v Sharks	Christchurch	19:35	06:35	Fri 26 Feb 19:35	Fri 26 Feb 17:35	Fri 26 Feb 08:35
16. Friday 26 February	Stormers v Brumbies	Cape Town	19:10	17:10	Sat 27 Feb 06:10	Sat 27 Feb 04:10	Fri 26 Feb 19:10
17. Saturday 27 February	Hurricanes v Lions	Wellington	19:35	06:35	Sat 27 Feb 19:35	Sat 27 Feb 17:35	Sat 27 Feb 08:35
18. Saturday 27 February	Reds v Blues	Brisbane *	18:40	08:40	Sat 27 Feb 21:40	Sat 27 Feb 19:40	Sat 27 Feb 10:40
19. Saturday 27 February	Western Force v Chiefs	Perth *	19:05	11:05	Sun 28 Feb 00:05	Sat 27 Feb 22:05	Sat 27 Feb 13:05
20. Saturday 27 February	Cheetahs v Highlanders	Bloemfontein	17:05	15:05	Sun 28 Feb 04:05	Sun 28 Feb 02:05	Sat 27 Feb 17:05
21. Saturday 27 February	Bulls v Waratahs	Pretoria	19:10	17:10	Sun 28 Feb 06:10	Sun 28 Feb 04:10	Sat 27 Feb 19:10

WEEK 4
22 .Friday 05 March	Chiefs v Reds	Hamilton	19:35	06:35	Fri 05 Mar 19:35	Fri 05 Mar 17:35	Fri 05 Mar 08:35
23. Friday 05 March	Brumbies v Lions	Canberra	19:40	08:40	Fri 05 Mar 21:40	Fri 05 Mar 19:40	Fri 05 Mar 10:40
24. Saturday 06 March	Crusaders v Blues	Christchurch	19:35	06:35	Sat 06 Mar 19:35	Sat 06 Mar 17:35	Sat 06 Mar 08:35
25. Saturday 06 March	Waratahs v Sharks	Sydney	19:40	08:40	Sat 06 Mar 21:40	Sat 06 Mar 19:40	Sat 06 Mar 10:40
26. Saturday 06 March	Stormers v Highlanders	Cape Town	17:05	15:05	Sun 07 Mar 04:05	Sun 07 Mar 02:05	Sat 06 Mar 17:05
27. Saturday 06 March	Cheetahs v Hurricanes	Bloemfontein	19:10	17:10	Sun 07 Mar 06:10	Sun 07 Mar 04:10	Sat 06 Mar 19:10
	BYE BULLS/WESTERN FORCE
*WEEK 5 - No D/L Savings in Brisbane**
28. Friday 12 March	Chiefs v Crusaders	Hamilton	19:35	06:35	Fri 12 Mar 19:35	Fri 12 Mar 17:35	Fri 12 Mar 08:35
29. Friday 12 March	Waratahs v Lions	Sydney	19:40	08:40	Fri 12 Mar 21:40	Fri 12 Mar 19:40	Fri 12 Mar 10:40
30. Saturday 13 March	Brumbies v Sharks	Canberra	19:40	08:40	Sat 13 Mar 21:40	Sat 13 Mar 19:40	Sat 13 Mar 10:40
31. Saturday 13 March	Bulls v Highlanders	Pretoria	17:05	15:05	Sun 14 Mar 04:05	Sun 14 Mar 02:05	Sat 13 Mar 17:05
32. Saturday 13 March	Stormers v Hurricanes	Cape Town	19:10	17:10	Sun 14 Mar 06:10	Sun 14 Mar 04:10	Sat 13 Mar 19:10
33. Sunday 14 March	Reds v Western Force	Brisbane *	16:30	06:30	Sun 14 Mar 19:30	Sun 14 Mar 17:30	Sun 14 Mar 08:30
	BYE CHEETAHS/BLUES
*WEEK 6 - No D/L Savings in Perth**
34. Friday 19 March	Blues v Brumbies	Auckland	19:35	06:35	Fri 19 Mar 19:35	Fri 19 Mar 17:35	Fri 19 Mar 08:35
35. Friday 19 March	Bulls v Hurricanes	Pretoria	19:10	17:10	Sat 20 Mar 06:10	Sat 20 Mar 04:10	Fri 19 Mar 19:10
36. Saturday 20 March	Crusaders v Lions	Christchurch	17:30	04:30	Sat 20 Mar 17:30	Sat 20 Mar 15:30	Sat 20 Mar 06:30
37. Saturday 20 March	Highlanders v Sharks	Dunedin	19:35	06:35	Sat 20 Mar 19:35	Sat 20 Mar 17:35	Sat 20 Mar 08:35
38. Saturday 20 March	Western Force v Waratahs	Perth *	19:10	11:10	Sun 21 Mar 00:10	Sat 20 Mar 22:10	Sat 20 Mar 13:10
39. Saturday 20 March	Stormers v Cheetahs	Cape Town	17:05	15:05	Sun 21 Mar 04:05	Sun 21 Mar 02:05	Sat 20 Mar 17:05
	BYE REDS/CHIEFS
*WEEK 7 - No D/L Savings in Perth**
40. Friday 26 March	Highlanders v Lions	Dunedin	19:35	06:35	Fri 26 Mar 19:35	Fri 26 Mar 17:35	Fri 26 Mar 08:35
41. Friday 26 March	Brumbies v Chiefs	Canberra	19:40	08:40	Fri 26 Mar 21:40	Fri 26 Mar 19:40	Fri 26 Mar 10:40
42. Friday 26 March	Cheetahs v Reds	Bloemfontein	19:10	17:10	Sat 27 Mar 06:10	Sat 27 Mar 04:10	Fri 26 Mar 19:10
43. Saturday 27 March	Hurricanes v Sharks	Wellington	19:35	06:35	Sat 27 Mar 19:35	Sat 27 Mar 17:35	Sat 27 Mar 08:35
44. Saturday 27 March	Waratahs v Blues	Sydney	19:40	08:40	Sat 27 Mar 21:40	Sat 27 Mar 19:40	Sat 27 Mar 10:40
45. Saturday 27 March	Western Force v Bulls	Perth *	19:10	11:10	Sun 28 Mar 00:10	Sat 27 Mar 22:10	Sat 27 Mar 13:10
	BYE STORMERS/CRUSADERS

WEEK 8 *- Easter Weekend. No D/L Savings in Perth. Sunday, 4^th April D/L Savings Ends in Australia and New Zealand**
46. Friday 02 April	Hurricanes v Crusaders	Wellington	19:35	06:35	Fri 02 Apr 19:35	Fri 02 Apr 17:35	Fri 02 Apr 08:35
47. Friday 02 April	Western Force v Stormers	Perth *	18:05	10:05	Fri 02 Apr 23:05	Fri 02 Apr 21:05	Fri 02 Apr 12:05
48. Saturday 03 April	Blues v Bulls	Auckland	17:30	04:30	Sat 03 Apr 17:30	Sat 03 Apr 15:30	Sat 03 Apr 06:30
49. Saturday 03 April	Chiefs v Highlanders	Mt Maunganui	19:35	06:35	Sat 03 Apr 19:35	Sat 03 Apr 17:35	Sat 03 Apr 08:35
50. Saturday 03 April	Waratahs v Cheetahs	Sydney	19:40	08:40	Sat 03 Apr 21:40	Sat 03 Apr 19:40	Sat 03 Apr 10:40
51. Saturday 03 April	Sharks v Reds	Durban	17:05	15:05	Sun 04 Apr 03:05	Sun 04 Apr 02:05	Sat 03 Apr 17:05
	BYE BRUMBIES/LIONS
WEEK 9
52. Friday 09 April	Chiefs v Bulls	Hamilton	19:35	07:35	Fri 09 Apr 19:35	Fri 09 Apr 17:35	Fri 09 Apr 09:35
53. Saturday 10 April	Highlanders v Western Force	Queenstown	14:30	02:30	Sat 10 Apr 14:30	Sat 10 Apr 12:30	Sat 10 Apr 04:30
54. Saturday 10 April	Blues v Stormers	Auckland	17:30	05:30	Sat 10 Apr 17:30	Sat 10 Apr 15:30	Sat 10 Apr 07:30
55. Saturday 10 April	Crusaders v Waratahs	Christchurch	19:35	07:35	Sat 10 Apr 19:35	Sat 10 Apr 17:35	Sat 10 Apr 09:35
56. Saturday 10 April	Brumbies v Cheetahs	Canberra	19:40	09:40	Sat 10 Apr 21:40	Sat 10 Apr 19:40	Sat 10 Apr 11:40
57. Saturday 10 April	Lions v Reds	Johannesburg	19:10	17:10	Sun 11 Apr 05:10	Sun 11 Apr 03:10	Sat 10 Apr 19:10
	BYE SHARKS/HURRICANES
WEEK 10
58. Friday 16 April	Chiefs v Stormers	Hamilton	19:35	07:35	Fri 16 Apr 19:35	Fri 16 Apr 17:35	Fri 16 Apr 09:35
59. Friday 16 April	Brumbies v Hurricanes	Canberra	19:40	09:40	Fri 16 Apr 21:40	Fri 16 Apr 19:40	Fri 16 Apr 11:40
60. Saturday 17 April	Blues v Western Force	Auckland	17:30	05:30	Sat 17 Apr 17:30	Sat 17 Apr 15:30	Sat 17 Apr 07:30
61. Saturday 17 April	Crusaders v Cheetahs	Christchurch	19:35	07:35	Sat 17 Apr 19:35	Sat 17 Apr 17:35	Sat 17 Apr 09:35
62. Saturday 17 April	Reds v Bulls	Brisbane	19:40	11:40	Sat 17 Apr 23:40	Sat 17 Apr 21:40	Sat 17 Apr 13:40
63. Saturday 17 April	Lions v Sharks	Johannesburg	17:05	15:05	Sun 18 Apr 03:05	Sun 18 Apr 01:05	Sat 17 Apr 17:05
	BYE WARATAHS/HIGHLANDERS
WEEK 11
64. Friday 23 April	Chiefs v Cheetahs	Hamilton	19:35	07:35	Fri 23 Apr 19:35	Fri 23 Apr 17:35	Fri 23 Apr 09:35
65. Friday 23 April	Reds v Stormers	Brisbane	19:40	09:40	Fri 23 Apr 21:40	Fri 23 Apr 19:40	Fri 23 Apr 11:40
66. Friday 23 April	Western Force v Crusaders	Perth	19:45	11:45	Fri 23 Apr 23:45	Fri 23 Apr 21:45	Fri 23 Apr 13:45
67. Saturday 24 April	Highlanders v Hurricanes	Dunedin	19:35	07:35	Sat 24 Apr 19:35	Sat 24 Apr 17:35	Sat 24 Apr 09:35
68. Saturday 24 April	Waratahs v Brumbies	Sydney (ANZ)	19:40	09:40	Sat 24 Apr 21:40	Sat 24 Apr 19:40	Sat 24 Apr 11:40
69. Saturday 24 April	Bulls v Lions	Pretoria	15:00	13:00	Sun 25 Apr 01:00	Sat 24 Apr 23:00	Sat 24 Apr 15:00
70. Saturday 24 April	Sharks v Blues	Durban	17:05	15:05	Sun 25 Apr 03:05	Sun 25 Apr 01:05	Sat 24 Apr 17:05

WEEK 12
71. Friday 30 April	Highlanders v Waratahs	Invercargill	19:35	07:35	Fri 30 Apr 19:35	Fri 30 Apr 17:35	Fri 30 Apr 09:35
72. Friday 30 April	Stormers v Crusaders	Cape Town	19:10	17:10	Sat 01 May 05:10	Sat 01 May 03:10	Fri 30 Apr 19:10
73. Saturday 01 May	Hurricanes v Chiefs	Wellington	19:35	07:35	Sat 01 May 19:35	Sat 01 May 17:35	Sat 01 May 09:35
74. Saturday 01 May	Brumbies v Reds	Canberra	19:40	09:40	Sat 01 May 21:40	Sat 01 May 19:40	Sat 01 May 11:40
75. Saturday 01 May	Cheetahs v Blues	Bloemfontein	15:00	13:00	Sun 02 May 01:00	Sat 01 May 23:00	Sat 01 May 15:00
76. Saturday 01 May	Lions v Western Force	Johannesburg	17:05	15:05	Sun 02 May 03:05	Sun 02 May 01:05	Sat 01 May 17:05
77. Saturday 01 May	Bulls v Sharks	Pretoria	19:10	17:10	Sun 02 May 05:10	Sun 02 May 03:10	Sat 01 May 19:10
WEEK 13
78. Friday 07 May	Hurricanes v Reds	Wellington	19:35	07:35	Fri 07 May 19:35	Fri 07 May 17:35	Fri 07 May 09:35
79. Friday 07 May	Lions v Blues	Johannesburg	19:10	17:10	Sat 08 May 05:10	Sat 08 May 03:10	Fri 07 May 19:10
80. Saturday 08 May	Chiefs v Waratahs	Hamilton	19:35	07:35	Sat 08 May 19:35	Sat 08 May 17:35	Sat 08 May 09:35
81. Saturday 08 May	Brumbies v Highlanders	Canberra	19:40	09:40	Sat 08 May 21:40	Sat 08 May 19:40	Sat 08 May 11:40
82. Saturday 08 May	Bulls v Crusaders	Pretoria	15:00	13:00	Sun 09 May 01:00	Sat 08 May 23:00	Sat 08 May 15:00
83. Saturday 08 May	Cheetahs v Western Force	Bloemfontein	17:05	15:05	Sun 09 May 03:05	Sun 09 May 01:05	Sat 08 May 17:05
84. Saturday 08 May	Sharks v Stormers	Durban	19:10	17:10	Sun 09 May 05:10	Sun 09 May 03:10	Sat 08 May 19:10
WEEK 14
85. Friday 14 May	Blues v Chiefs	Auckland	19:35	07:35	Fri 14 May 19:35	Fri 14 May 17:35	Fri 14 May 09:35
86. Friday 14 May	Waratahs v Hurricanes	Sydney	19:40	09:40	Fri 14 May 21:40	Fri 14 May 19:40	Fri 14 May 11:40
87. Friday 14 May	Sharks v Western Force	Durban	19:10	17:10	Sat 15 May 05:10	Sat 15 May 03:10	Fri 14 May 19:10
88. Saturday 15 May	Crusaders v Brumbies	Christchurch	19:35	07:35	Sat 15 May 19:35	Sat 15 May 17:35	Sat 15 May 09:35
89. Saturday 15 May	Reds v Highlanders	Brisbane	19:40	09:40	Sat 15 May 21:40	Sat 15 May 19:40	Sat 15 May 11:40
90. Saturday 15 May	Cheetahs v Lions	Kimberley	15:00	13:00	Sun 16 May 01:00	Sat 15 May 23:00	Sat 15 May 15:00
91. Saturday 15 May	Stormers v Bulls	Cape Town	17:05	15:05	Sun 16 May 03:05	Sun 16 May 01:05	Sat 15 May 17:05
Week 15 - SEMI FINAL
92. Friday 21 May	TBC	TBC	TBC
93. Saturday 22 May	TBC	TBC	TBC
Week 16 - FINAL
94. Saturday 29 May	TBC	TBC	TBC

2010 BUNDABERG RUM RUGBY SERIES INBOUND TOUR PROGRAM

Mon 21 September 2009

Australian Rugby Union has today announced the 2010 Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series Test schedule with the Qantas Wallabies facing a series of challenges over a four-Test campaign in June.

The BRRS will open with a match against 2007 Rugby World Cup quarter-finalist Fiji at Canberra Stadium on Saturday, 5 June.

The following week will see the Qantas Wallabies kick off a two-Test showdown with England at Subiaco Oval in Perth.

The second game against the 2003 Rugby World Cup champions will be played at ANZ Stadium in Sydney on Saturday, 19 June.

The BRRS continues in Brisbane on Saturday, 26 June, when the Qantas Wallabies play Six Nations and Grand Slam champions Ireland - now the premier team in Europe.

A draw for the Bundaberg Rum Tri Nations will also be unveiled before the end of the month.

"It is an exciting schedule, a challenging program, before the Qantas Wallabies head into the Bundaberg Rum Tri Nations," said ARU Managing Director and CEO John O'Neill.

"Fiji reached the quarter finals of the 2007 Rugby World Cup and Ireland won the Grand Slam earlier this year under their inspirational captain Brian O'Driscoll. It will be great to have them back on our shores.

"England finished second on the Six Nations ladder and had a comprehensive win over France during the tournament.

"So the quality of competition awaiting the Qantas Wallabies in 2010 is not to be under estimated.

"We should also have a reasonable gauge of where we stand against Ireland and England when the Qantas Wallabies play both those countries during their Grand Slam tour in November.

"It will be the first Grand Slam attempt since the 1984 side marched unbeaten through the UK and Ireland in the four Tests they played.

"Fittingly, this Grand Slam tour will come on the 25^th anniversary of that magnificent achievement."

2010 BUNDABERG RUM RUGBY SERIES JUNE TESTS

DATE	MATCH	VENUE
Saturday, 5 June	Qantas Wallabies v Fiji	Canberra Stadium
Saturday, 12 June	Qantas Wallabies v England	Subiaco Oval, Perth
Saturday, 19 June	Qantas Wallabies v England	ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Saturday, 26 June	Qantas Wallabies v Ireland	Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

QANTAS WALLABIES SPRING TOUR TRAINING SQUAD NAMED

Mon 28 September 2009

Ten uncapped players have today been named in the Qantas Wallabies Training Squad that will assemble in Sydney on 5 October.

The newcomers include Western Force winger Nick Cummins, NSW Waratahs midfield back Rob Horne, Queensland Reds and Australian Sevens halfback Richard Kingi, Brumbies blindside flanker Mitchell Chapman, NSW Waratahs lock Dave Dennis, NSW Waratahs and Australia Under-20 hooker Damien Fitzpatrick, ACT Brumbies prop Salesi Ma'afu and the as yet uncapped at state level Sydney University utility forward Ben McCalman.

NSW Waratahs utility back Kurtley Beale and Western Force blindside flanker Matt Hodgson are also included.

While he was a member of the Qantas Wallabies squad for the Bundaberg Rum Tri Nations, and travelled to the final game in Wellington as the squad's 23^rd man, Beale has yet to appear for Australia in a Test match.

Neither has Hodgson, although he did feature in the non-cap 55-7 win over the Barbarians which opened this year's Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series, and has trained as a full member of the Wallabies squad all season.

Other features see props Matt Dunning and Sekope Kepu return to the fold, after missing the start of the season due to injuries sustained in the final game of last year's Spring Tour against the Barbarians at Wembley.

Winger Digby Ioane is also back after being forced out of the Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series due to the need for a shoulder reconstruction following an injury he sustained playing for the Queensland Reds in the Investec Super 14.

The players are all part of an extended 43-man group that will assemble at Coogee next Monday in preparation for the Qantas Wallabies' historic tour of Japan, Great Britain and Ireland.

The squad will undergo four days of training in Sydney before the announcement of the final 35-man party on 9 October.

The Spring Tour includes Australia's first bid for a Grand Slam of the four Home Unions of the UK and Ireland since the 1984 side successfully beat Wales, Ireland, England and Scotland - the first Wallabies side to achieve this feat.

The trip kicks off with the final Bledisloe Cup Test of the season, when Australia and New Zealand play an historic match at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, on 31 October.

This game, which is just the second Bledisloe Cup Test to be staged outside of Australia or New Zealand, follows on from last year's successful Bledisloe Cup Test in Hong Kong.

In announcing the extended 43-man squad, Qantas Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said: "It's a starting point.

"The four-day training camp gives us the opportunity to bring the group together, assess where the guys are at, and also look at some new options."

With Australia's Northern Hemisphere itinerary likely to include two mid-week matches, alongside the scheduled five Tests, Deans says the four days together will be an important opportunity to lay down a foundation ahead of the tour.

"It's an important tour for us as a group, and for Australian Rugby as a whole. While not all of the players who come into camp with us next week will go on the tour, those who get left behind will still have the knowledge of our processes, and have spent some time in the environment, which will be invaluable should we have injuries and require reinforcements."

Deans says the uncapped players had all been on the selectors' radar for a while, having kicked on from their Super Rugby seasons with their various involvements in other representative teams, and in club rugby.

The selectors and the Qantas Wallabies coaching staff all attended yesterday's (NSW) Shute Shield club rugby grand final at the Sydney Football Stadium, prior to finalising the make-up of the training squad.

The Qantas Wallabies squad departs for its Spring Tour on 24 October, tackling the All Blacks in the final Bledisloe Cup Test of the year, prior to playing England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales on consecutive weekends through November.

The Qantas Wallabies Training Squad is: James O'Connor (Western Force), Lachie Turner (NSW Waratahs), Kurtley Beale (NSW Waratahs), Drew Mitchell (Western Force), Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds), Nick Cummins (Western Force), Peter Hynes (Queensland Reds), Ryan Cross (Western Force), Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies), Rob Horne (NSW Waratahs), Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies), Matt Giteau (Western Force), Quade Cooper (Queensland Reds), Berrick Barnes (Queensland Reds), Josh Valentine (Western Force), Will Genia (Queensland Reds), Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs), Richard Kingi (Queensland Reds), Wycliff Palu (NSW Waratahs), George Smith (Brumbies), David Pocock (Western Force), Phil Waugh (NSW Waratahs), Stephen Hoiles (Brumbies), Matt Hodgson (Western Force), Rocky Elsom (Brumbies), Dean Mumm (NSW Waratahs), Richard Brown (Western Force), Mitchell Chapman (Brumbies), Ben McCalman (Sydney University - unsigned), Mark Chisholm (Brumbies), James Horwill (Queensland Reds), Nathan Sharpe (Western Force), Dave Dennis (NSW Waratahs), Al Baxter (NSW Waratahs), Matt Dunning (NSW Waratahs), Pekahou Cowan (Western Force), Sekope Kepu (NSW Waratahs), Salesi Ma'afu (Brumbies), Ben Alexander (Brumbies), Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs), Damien Fitzpatrick (NSW Waratahs), Stephen Moore (Brumbies), Tatafu Polota-Nau (NSW Waratahs).