Gordon, 24, was added to the Wallabies squad in the absence of flyhalfs Tom Lynagh, who started against the British and Irish Lions, and Noah Lolesio, who has not played since suffering an injury in the opening win over Fiji.
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Gordon had been lured back from NRL club Gold Coast Titans and his signing with the Queensland Reds and Rugby Australia was announced on Monday, hours before Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt unveiled a 34-man squad for the five-Test tour of the north.
“Carter Gordon will have the opportunity to integrate back into the Wallabies environment,” Schmidt said. “We have taken a long-term view with Tom Lynagh, who is still only 22. He has had some injury frustrations since the third Test against the Lions in early August and will follow an individualized program, guided by both the Wallabies and the Queensland staff, that will allow him to recover to full fitness.”
Gordon made his debut for the Wallabies in 2023 and played eight tests before moving to rugby league, where he had limited playing time in the top flight and decided to return to the 15-player code.
Schmidt stayed with most of the Wallabies team involved in the Rugby Championship. He did not select overseas players, including veteran fly-half James O’Connor, but was considering options to add players when the trials fall within the World Rugby international window.
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Full-backs Dylan Pietsch and Andrew Kellaway were chosen after recovering from injuries.
Former All Blacks prop Aidan Ross and scrum-half Kalani Thomas are the only non-capped players in the team.
The Wallabies will play Japan in Tokyo on October 24, followed by matches against England in London on November 2, Italy in Udine on November 9, Ireland in Dublin on November 16 and France in Paris on November 23.
Equipment:
Backups: Filipo Daugunu, Tane Edmed, Josh Flook, Carter Gordon, Jake Gordon, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Ryan Lonergan, Hunter Paisami, Dylan Pietsch, Harry Potter, Hamish Stewart, Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i, Kalani Thomas, Corey Toole.
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Forwards: Allan Ala’alatoa, Angus Bell, Josh Canham, Nick Champion De Crespigny, Matt Faessler, Nick Frost, Fraser McReight, Josh Nasser, Zane Nonggorr, Billy Pollard, Tom Robertson, Aidan Ross, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Pete Samu, Carlo Tizzano, Taniela Tupou, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Harry Wilson.
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AP Rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby