Sean McMahon set to join Australia squad

Australia flanker Sean McMahon is set to join the Wallabies Rugby Championship squad next week ahead of the fourth round.

Having been part of Melbourne Rebels side between 2014 and 2017 with 46 appearances for them, McMahon headed overseas to join Suntory Sungoliath which made him ineligible to represent Australia under the 'Giteau Law' which only allows players with 60 or more Test caps plying trade overseas to be eligible for national selection.

Nevertheless, the ongoing Covid-19 has forced Australia to relax the 'Giteau Law' which will allow Dave Rennie to select two overseas bound players with Japanese-based centre Samu Kerevi already being part of the squad.

McMahon has played 26 Tests for Australia between 2014 and 2017 and was part of their 2015 World Cup campaign where he started in two Tests.

Earlier, Rennie recalled Quade Cooper in the starting line-up for the third round clash against the Springboks on Sunday which will be his first appearance for the Wallabies in four years.

Australia currently are languishing at the bottom of the Rugby Championship table with back to back defeats against New Zealand in Auckland and Perth in the opening two rounds of the competition.