The Wallaroos have added to their Managed Group for 2026 with the additions of six players to national contracts for the international season.
Queensland Reds trio Dillyn Blackburn, Evie Sampson and Ava Wereta join Western Force pair Nicole Ledington, Ngamihi Monk and NSW Waratahs outside back Amelia Whitaker as new faces in the Wallaroos program.
Gympie product Blackburn is an emerging back-rower who made her Super Rugby Women’s debut in 2025. The 23-year-old is also captain of Wests Bulldogs in Queensland’s premier competition.
Sampson, a rising scrumhalf, is a Bond Pirates junior who started playing rugby when she was 12. The former dancer has also represented Queensland in OzTag.
New Zealand-born Ledington is a flyhalf who moved to Perth as a teenager, taking up rugby and becoming a mainstay in the Force line-up.
Perth local Monk is a centre who has come through Western Australia’s junior pathway, making her Super Rugby Women’s debut for the Force in 2025.
Wereta, who will train at centre, began playing rugby at the age of 10 for Coomera Crushers before rising through the ranked to an Australia A debut in rugby sevens.
Whitaker is a flashy outside back who made her Super Rugby Women’s debut for the Waratahs in 2025.
The niece of former Wallabies and Waratahs legend Chris Whitaker, Amelia is also coming off a successful campaign with the Australia A Sevens side in Dubai.
General Manager of Women’s Rugby Jilly Collins said: "It is fantastic to officially welcome these six players into the Wallaroos program.
"Dillyn, Evie, Ava, Nicole and Ngamihi all showed great application and a clear commitment to the standards we are setting during our December camp.
"They’ve earned this opportunity through the genuine progress they've made.
"Amelia joins following an impressive debut Waratahs season and strong performances within the National Sevens environment and Australia A Sevens program.
"Her inclusion is a testament to her versatility and elite potential."
The Wallaroos will assemble for two camps in February in preparation for their opening Test match of the season against Fijiana at GIO Stadium in Canberra on March 27.
Dillyn Blackburn
- Position: Backrow
- DOB: 2/12/2002
- Junior Club: Gympie Hammers
- 2025 Super Rugby Club: Queensland Reds
Nicole Ledington
- Position: Flyhalf
- DOB: 24/4/2003
- Junior Club: Kalamunda Rugby
- 2025 Super Rugby Club: Western Force
Ngamihi Monk
- Position: Centre
- DOB: 20/6/2006
- Junior Club: Wanneroo
- 2025 Super Rugby Club: Western Force
Evie Sampson
- Position: Scrumhalf
- DOB: 21/2/2007
- Junior Club: Bond Pirates
- 2025 Super Rugby Club: Queensland Reds
Ava Wereta
- Position: Centre
- DOB: 2/6/2006
- Junior Club: Coomera Crushers
- 2025 Super Rugby Club: Queensland Reds
Amelia Whitaker
- Position: Wing
- DOB: 11/9/2006
- Junior Club: Randwick
- 2025 Super Rugby Club: NSW Waratahs
