Piper Flynn could make her Wallaroos debut against France after Australia named her among the replacements for their WXV Global Series match. Rugby Australia announced the squad on September 17, 2026.
The 23-year-old Queensland Reds winger is uncapped, meaning she has not yet played a senior international match. She will earn her first cap if she enters the game in Aix-en-Provence.
Flynn is one of four players added to the matchday squad. Tiarah Minns, Tabua Tuinakauvadra and Ava Wereta also return as Australia prepare for the next stage of their European trip.
Piper Flynn’s Wallaroos Opportunity Against France
Flynn comes from the Gold Coast and plays for the Queensland Reds. The squad announcement lists her club as Surfers Paradise Rugby and gives her the number 22 shirt among the reserves.
Her selection follows two recent debuts. Reds teammate Jemma Bemrose and NSW Waratahs winger Amelia Whitaker both played their first Tests against England the previous weekend.
However, being named on the bench is not the same as making a debut. Flynn must take the field before her first international appearance becomes official.
The Rugby Australia team announcement confirms her selection and the full 23-player squad.
France vs Wallaroos: Venue and Kickoff
| Match detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Competition | WXV Global Series |
| Fixture | France vs Australia |
| Venue | Stade Maurice David, Aix-en-Provence |
| Australia eastern time | Sunday, September 20, 1:45am AEST |
| Nigeria time | Saturday, September 19, 4:45pm WAT |
| France local time | Saturday, September 19, 5:45pm CEST |
The different dates come from the time difference. Australia’s eastern standard time is nine hours ahead of Nigeria, so an early Sunday kickoff in Australia falls on Saturday afternoon in Nigeria.
Rugby Australia lists Stan Sport as the Australian broadcaster. Viewers elsewhere should check local coverage, as access differs by country.
Four Additions to the Matchday Squad
Minns and Tuinakauvadra return after injuries kept them out for much of the Super Rugby Women’s season. Wereta is back after taking part in the Pacific Four series in April.
Meanwhile, Whitaker keeps her place on the wing after her debut against England. Piper Duck and Allana Sikimeti move into the starting side.
The starting team
Forwards: Allana Sikimeti, Brittany Merlo, Faliki Pohiva, Kaitlan Leaney, Michaela Leonard, Pia Tapsell, Piper Duck and captain Siokapesi Palu Sekona.
Backs: Samantha Wood, Waiaria Ellis, Desiree Miller, Faitala Moleka, Georgina Friedrichs, Amelia Whitaker and Caitlyn Halse.
The replacements
Tania Naden, Brianna Hoy, Eva Karpani, Tiarah Minns, Tabua Tuinakauvadra, Tia Hinds, Piper Flynn and Ava Wereta make up the bench.
In rugby union, 15 players start for each team. The eight replacements give the coaches options to respond to injuries, fatigue and the way the match develops.
An Injury Ends Malcolm Heke’s Series
Hera-Barb Malcolm Heke has returned to Australia after suffering a knee injury in training. Rugby Australia says she will miss the rest of the series.
The announcement does not provide a return date. Her absence is separate from the opportunity for Flynn, who is joining the matchday group as a possible debutant.
Australia’s Record Against France
The Wallaroos have faced France six times and won twice, according to the team announcement. Australia won their most recent meeting, during the 2023 WXV series in New Zealand.
That history gives the fixture context, but it does not decide this match. The selected players still have to handle France’s challenge on the field.
After France, Australia are scheduled to face Scotland in Edinburgh on September 27, with kickoff listed as 1:10am AEST. Check the official announcement for fixture updates.
For Piper Flynn, the immediate question is whether she will come off the bench and earn her first cap. For the team, the focus is the next Test in their WXV campaign.
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Featured image: an earlier Wallaroos squad training at the Women’s Rugby World Cup on July 31, 2014. This is a team archive photo, not a portrait of Piper Flynn or the 2026 squad. Photo: Pierre-Yves Beaudouin / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized.
