Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell and Dean Mumm have all been included in Australia‘s 40-man training squad for the Rugby Championship.
The Toulon pair, who have not played for the Test rugby for more than three years, are eligible again after a change in selection policy while Mumm has rejoined the Waratahs this summer to push for a place following a sensational season with the Exeter Chiefs.
Wasps-bound George Smith, another benefiting from the rule change, is not included but head coach Michael Cheika has not ruled him out just yet.
James O’Connor misses out but Glasgow-signing Taqele Naiyaravoro is in the 40-man squad on the back of a breakthrough season for the Waratahs in the Super Rugby.
“I’ve spoken with George and I’ve got a pretty clear role of how he might fit in here,” said Cheika.
Australia face South Africa in their opening Rugby Championship game in Brisbane on July 18 before travelling to Argentina a week later.
Wallabies Squad: Rory Arnold (Brumbies), Adam Ashley-Cooper (Waratahs), Kurtley Beale (Waratahs), Quade Cooper (Reds), Dave Dennis (Waratahs), James Hanson (Reds/Rebels), Scott Fardy (Brumbies), Tetera Faulkner (Force), Israel Folau (Waratahs), Bernard Foley (Waratahs), Will Genia (Reds), Matt Giteau (Toulon), Scott Higginbotham (Rebels), Greg Holmes (Reds), Michael Hooper (Waratahs), Rob Horne (Waratahs), James Horwill (Reds), Samu Kerevi (Reds), Sekope Kepu (Waratahs), Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies), Christian Lealiifano (Brumbies), Stephen Moore (Brumbies), Drew Mitchell (Toulon), Wyclif Palu (Waratahs), Ben McCalman (Force), Sean McMahon (Rebels), Dean Mumm (Waratahs), Taqele Naiyaravoro (Waratahs), Nick Phipps (NSW Waratahs), David Pocock (Brumbies), Tatafu Polota-Nau (Waratahs), Scott Sio (Brumbies), Rob Simmons (Reds), Will Skelton (Waratahs), James Slipper (Reds), Toby Smith (Rebels), Henry Speight (Brumbies), Matt Toomua (Brumbies), Joe Tomane (Brumbies), Nic White (Brumbies).