Online Reporter
SCRUMHALF Nic White has put his retirement on ice to join Australia’s Rugby Championship squad for the tour of South Africa following an injury to regular No. 9 Jake Gordon.
The 35-year-old White announced the third and final British & Irish Lions Test in Sydney was to be his last international match but yesterday he was included in Joe Schmidt’s 35-man squad for South Africa.
“White (is) putting his hand up to help the group again due to Gordon’s injury, just a week after announcing his plans to retire,” Rugby Australia said in a press release.
Uncapped scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan will join 73-Test White in the squad for next week’s clash against world champions South Africa in Johannesburg and the second Test in Cape Town on August 23.
Flyhalf Tom Lynagh will miss the tour, though, after being struck high by Lions hooker Dan Sheehan in the Wallabies’ 22-12 win in Sydney and subsequently failing a head injury assessment.
Squad:
Forwards: Angus Bell, Nick Champion De Crespigny, Billy Pollard, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Carlo Tizzano, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, James Slipper, Jeremy Williams, Josh Nasser, Langi Gleeson, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Nick Frost, Rob Valetini, Taniela Tupou, Tom Hooper, Tom Robertson, Will Skelton, Zane Nonggorr, Aidan Ross
Backs: Ben Donaldson, Tane Edmed, Josh Flook, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Ryan Lonergan, Tate McDermott, James O’Connor, Hunter Paisami, Dylan Pietsch, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Corey Toole, Nic White, Tom Wright — Reuters.
