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AAP
Melissa Woods

Injury rules flanker Duck out of Wallaroos tour

Piper Duck (r) has undergone ankle surgery, ruling her out of the Wallaroos' next campaign. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

Piper Duck's bad luck with injury has continued with the star Wallaroos flanker to miss their tour of Ireland and Wales and the WXV 2 tournament in South Africa.

The 23-year-old missed a chunk of playing time in 2023, named Test captain but never taking the field due to a Lisfranc foot injury.

After undergoing ankle surgery last week the Waratahs ace is among forced changes from the Australian line-up that took part in the July Test block.

Coach Jo Yapp announced the 30-player tour squad on Monday, with young prop Allana Sikimeti and hooker Brittany Merlo also ruled out through injury.

Uncapped trio Lucy Dinnen, Ashley Fernandez and Tiarah Minns come into the tour while veteran forward Sally Fuesaina has been recalled.

Fernandez was part of the Pacific Four series campaign but did not play a game while Minns returns after injury.

Halfback Dinnen will be eyeing a Test debut after previously being included in extended squads.

"We are looking forward to playing against different teams in the second half of our season with next year's Rugby World Cup our long-term focus," Yapp said.

"The ability to travel overseas for most of our squad is a new experience and the upcoming matches against Ireland and Wales provides us with valuable match time before WXV in South Africa.

"We have had to make a few forced changes to the travelling squad due to injury which is disappointing, but we are also focused on those next in line and bringing out the best in them."

The squad boasts experience, led by captain Michaela Leonard and vice-captain Trilleen Pomare, who have more than 50 Test caps between them.

The Wallaroos depart for Belfast on September 6, playing against Ireland on September 14 before shifting to Wales for a Test match in Wales on September 20.

Yapp's side will again clash with Wales in the opening round of WXV in Cape Town before matches against South Africa and Scotland.

Wallaroos: Lori Cramer, Biola Dawa, Lucy Dinnen, Ashley Fernandez, Georgina Friedrichs, Sally Fuesaina, Caitlyn Halse, Brianna Hoy, Eva Karpani, Lydia Kavoa, Atasi Lafai, Kaitlan Leaney, Michaela Leonard (c), Ashley Marsters, Arabella McKenzie, Desiree Miller, Tiarah Minns, Faitala Moleka,
Tiarna Molloy, Layne Morgan, Tania Naden, Leilani Nathan, Alapeta Ngauamo, Bridie O'Gorman, Siokapesi Palu, Trilleen Pomare, Cecilia Smith, Maya Stewart, Tabua Tuinakauvadra, Natalie Wright.

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