Will Skelton is also available but after playing for La Rochelle on Sunday, is not due to return to the squad until next week ahead of the Wallabies’ clash with Ireland in Dublin. It was Skelton’s first appearance for La Rochelle since September, and his first game back from a concussion sustained while playing for the Wallabies against New Zealand in Perth on October 4.
Gordon, who played one NRL match for the Titans, will be thrown in the deep end having not played a game of rugby since mid-2024, and having last played in a Test in September 2023.
Schmidt opted to take Gordon on tour ahead of Ben Donaldson and Tom Lynagh, the latter of whom started against the Lions but who was listed as injured for this tour.
Carter Gordon playing for the Wallabies in 2023.Credit: Getty
The other man who has worn the No.10 this year, O’Connor, was also not included in the squad this week despite being available to join from his English club Leicester.
Schmidt is determined to build depth and spoke about it after losing to England at the weekend.
“I think we’ve demonstrated ability with a full squad that we can knock teams over, and we’ve got to build the depth in behind that squad,” Schmidt said.
“This tour is really part of that. Italy will be very tough. They were one score away from England at half-time last time they played them.”
Carter Gordon playing for the Titans against the Tigers.Credit: NRL Photos
Gordon debuted for the Wallabies in 2023 and went to the Rugby World Cup in France as the team’s primary No.10 under Eddie Jones. He was dropped mid-tournament, however, after being hooked in the loss against Fiji.
The Queenslander last played a game of rugby in June 2024, when the Rebels bowed out of the Super Rugby quarter-finals.
Gordon made a switch to rugby league two months later, but after a handful of early games in the Queensland Cup for the Tweed Seagulls, he suffered a serious spinal leak issue, which required surgery.
Gordon missed the majority of the NRL season as he recovered, before returning in the Queensland Cup and then debuting for the Titans in the team’s last round in September. He played nine games of league in total but was keen to return to the 15-game ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup, citing “unfinished business” in the Wallabies jersey.
More to come
