Giteau headlines Wallabies' Rugby Championship squad

  • 29/07/2016
Matt Giteau during last year's Rugby World Cup against Scotland (Getty Images)
Matt Giteau during last year's Rugby World Cup against Scotland (Getty Images)

Veteran playmaker Matt Giteau will return from Toulon to play for the Wallabies in next month's Rugby Championship.

The 33-year-old is one of a host of talented players to go back to Australia from overseas, alongside Drew Mitchell, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Will Genia and Quade Cooper.

Waratahs prop Tom Robertson headlines the four new inclusions which include fellow prop Allan Alaalatoa, back Reece Hodge and back-rower Lopeti Timani.

With the return of Giteau and Genia, Christian Lealifano and Joe Powell have missed out respectively.

Other noticeable absentees include prop Greg Holmes, flanker Liam Gill and lock Sam Carter.

Another lock, Rory Arnold, has missed out due to injury.

Australia's first game of the Rugby Championship is against the All Blacks on August 20 in Sydney.

Giteau is one of three Australian players in the team who have played over 100 games for the squad. 

After missing out due to injury, 58 test veteran Wycliff Palu has decided to retire from international rugby. Palu played in three world cups for the Wallabies. 

Australia's training squad: Allan Alaalatoa, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Adam Coleman, Quade Cooper, Kane Douglas, Scott Fardy, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley, Nick Frisby, Will Genia, Matt Giteau, James Hanson, Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Michael Hooper, Rob Horne, Sekope Kepu, Samu Kerevi, Tevita Kuridrani, Ben McCalman, Sean McMahon, Drew Mitchell, Luke Morahan, Stephen Moore (C), Dean Mumm, Nick Phipps, David Pocock, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Tom Robertson, Rob Simmons, Scott Sio, Will Skelton, James Slipper, Toby Smith, Lopeti Timani, Matt Toomua.

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