Veteran prop James Slipper, Australia’s most-capped rugby player, says he plans a comeback to international rugby and has made himself available for the Wallabies’ three Nations Championship matches in July, with the possibility of playing at next year’s World
Sydney — James Slipper walked back into the conversation for international rugby with a decision that sounds simple at first, and complicated the moment it lands.
The 37-year-old prop says he is planning a comeback to the test level and has made himself available for Australia’s three Nations Championship matches in July. He is also weighing whether he could be part of next year’s Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Slipper, Australia’s most-capped international player, has 151 test appearances. He played Super Rugby for the ACT Brumbies this season and has signed on for 2027. In March, he became the most-capped Super Rugby player after his 203rd match in the southern hemisphere tournament. Before the Brumbies, Slipper played 104 games for the Queensland Reds from 2010 to 2018.
“At this stage, yeah, just for the July series and then there’s a few things again working out behind the scenes, like I want to keep playing next year,” Slipper told media in Sydney on Wednesday.
He admitted that when he announced his international retirement last October, he didn’t feel entirely certain he was done.
“But I probably surprised myself a little bit with how well I played this year,” Slipper said. “I know I probably wasn’t the best prop running around, but I still felt like I was moving well, so it was just a matter of the circumstances of the year led me to this position.”
The timing of his return has a practical edge. Injuries to fellow frontrowers—Tom Robertson, Tom Lambert and Blake Schoupp—left Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt short of frontrowers, and the call went out to Slipper.
If Slipper plays all three tests in July against Ireland, France and Italy, he would move past All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock as rugby’s second most-capped player with 153 tests.
Alun Wyn Jones, a retired lock, holds the overall record at 170 tests—158 for Wales and 12 for the British and Irish Lions.
For Slipper, the World Cup is possible, but it is not a promise. He says availability would depend on whether he can earn a place in a tournament built on form, sharpness, and timing.
“If there’s a reason for me to be available for the World Cup, then I’ll put my hand up,” he said. “I want to make myself probably playing the best rugby I can for the Brumbies . . . but a couple of things need to happen there.
“I need to earn that. I need to be playing well. I’ve got to be a better option than other looseheads in the country at the time. So at no stage am I sitting here thinking I’m going to be a certainty for the World Cup.”
Next year would be Slipper’s fifth Rugby World Cup. His previous World Cup journey included a run to the final in 2015.
James Slipper Wallabies Australia rugby Nations Championship Ireland France Italy Joe Schmidt Super Rugby ACT Brumbies Queensland Reds Rugby World Cup 2027
Wait so he “retired” and now not retired? lol
Good for him I guess but 37 seems way too old for props. Also “three Nations Championship” sounds like something else like soccer?
So basically Joe Schmidt is scrambling because those guys got hurt, and Slipper is like the emergency plug? I swear I read somewhere he’s already signed for 2027 so what’s the deal, just play club until then.
I don’t know rugby that much but the most-capped anything at 151 tests is insane. The article says he’s not the best prop running around which feels like… okay? Props are supposed to run right? Also he’ll be in next year’s World Sydney like that’s just automatic, depending on “behind the scenes” which sounds vague.