Australia pick former league and Aussie Rules star Karmichael Hunt

Australia coach Michael Cheika confirmed he would not select overseas-based players in his initial Rugby Championship squad, which included former league and Aussie Rules star Karmichael Hunt.

Cheika named a group of 22 players from the Rebels, Force and Reds teams not involved in the Super Rugby play-offs, but opted to give foreign-based hopefuls some extra time off.

Former Kangaroos rugby league international Hunt, who has also played Australian Rules Football, could make his international union debut in the tournament ahead of the World Cup in England later this year.

Hunt has been plying his 15-man trade with the Reds while Rebels pair Paul Alo-Emile and Toby Smith and the Force's Adam Coleman are the other uncapped players named in the initial party.

Reds team-mates Quade Cooper and James O'Connor were other high-profile inclusions.

Wallabies coach Cheika contacted European-based stars Matt Giteau, George Smith and Drew Mitchell before the announcement and revealed they had all indicated they were available for the 2015 Rugby Championship, starting on July 18 against South Africa in Brisbane.

They've just finished seasons over there - they don't need to come back now

"They'll be considered for selection for the first game," said Cheika of the star trio. "They've just finished seasons over there - they don't need to come back now.

"If they were to come back... if they were selected, they'd be coming back after the Super Rugby final when the full team comes together.

"We're just going to name the guys who are in the train-on for the teams that are out of Super Rugby."

Several expected members of the Wallaby squad are injured, with scrum-half Will Genia (shoulder), utility back James O'Connor (groin) and prop James Slipper (shoulder) all unable to finish the Reds' 31-5 derby defeat to the Waratahs on Saturday.

Reds coach Richard Graham said he expected Genia and Slipper to be fine but was uncertain about the extent of O'Connor's injury.

The initial Australia squad are due to assemble at Ballymore, in Brisbane from June 22, before their first official camp on July 5 in Caloundra on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

Additional players from the Brumbies and Waratahs will be confirmed at the end of their respective Super Rugby seasons.

Australia train-on squad:

Paul Alo-Emile, Scott Higginbotham, Luke Jones, Sean McMahon, Toby Smith, Quade Cooper, Saia Fainga’a, Will Genia, Liam Gill, James Hanson, James Horwill, Greg Holmes, Karmichael Hunt, Samu Kerevi, James O’Connor, Rob Simmons, James Slipper, Adam Coleman, Nick Cummins, Tetera Faulkner, Ben McCalman, Matt Hodgson

Watch Australia v South Africa on Sky Sports 3 from 11am on July 18