SAS Australia is back with a whole new cast of recruits ready to take on the ex-Special Forces operative’s gruelling physical and psychological challenges.
For the first time in SAS Australia history, we will see the recruits leave Australia and complete their challenges in the hot and arid Middle East.
As always, the recruits will be eating, sleeping and training together, with no special exceptions made for their celebrity status or gender.
It’s time to meet your 2023 SAS Australia recruits.
Meet The 2023 SAS Australia Cast
Abbey Holmes
Abbey Holmes is a 32-year-old AFL field commentator and former AFL Women’s (AFLW) player. SAS Australia isn’t Holme’s first foray into reality television, with Holmes having competed on the sixth season of Australian Survivor and Australian Survivor All Stars.
Anthony Mundine
Anthony Mundine is a world champion boxer and former National Rugby League (NRL) player. In 2000, Mundine was named the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Person of the Year.
Boyd Cordner
Boyd Cordner is a retired NRL star. The 30-year-old was hailed a hero by the public for his decision to leave his rugby league career after repeated concussions.
Cassie Sainsbury
Cassie Sainsbury is a convicted drug smuggler who was dubbed Cocaine Cassie by the media. The 28-year-old was caught trying to smuggle 5.8kg of cocaine out of Columbia in April 2017 and spent the subsequent four years in a Columbian jail.
Dr Craig Challen
Dr Craig Challen is a 57-year-old technical diver and cave explorer. Challen, along with his diving partner, played a significant role in the Tham Luang cave rescue. In 2019 Challen was named joint winner of Australian of the Year.
Craig McLachlan
Craig McLachlan, 57, is an actor who was charged with 13 counts of indecent and common law assault, stemming from his time starring in the Melbourne production of the Rocky Horror Show in 2014.
He was found not guilty on all charges in 2020. McLachlan later launched defamation proceedings against Fairfax (now Nine), the ABC, and one of his four accusers, Christie Whelan Browne, for defamation, before unexpectedly dropping the case two weeks before the trial was due to begin, and before witnesses were due to testify against him.
Browne has expressed her deep disappointment in McLachlan being cast, saying on Twitter: “How do we feel about someone who was charged on multiple sexual assault charges being put back on TV and being referred to simply as a ‘controversial figure?’ I am so f–king sick of this s–t.”
Jason Akermanis
Jason Akermanis is a 46-year-old former AFL player and Brownlow Medallist who played for the Brisbane Bears, Brisbane Lions and Western Bulldogs.
Lindy Klim
Lindy Klim is a 45-year-old model, entrepreneur and Balinese Princess. Klim’s uncle was the King of Denpasar and she grew up in the palace before moving to Tasmania at the age of three. Klim is also known for her former relationship with Olympic swimmer Michael Klim, who she shares three children with.
Mahalia Murphy
Mahalia Murphy is a 29-year-old rugby star from Western Sydney. The athlete has represented Australia in both the rugby union and rugby league, and currently plays for the Bulldogs.
Matthew Mitcham
Matthew Mitcham is a 35-year-old Olympic Gold Diver. Mitcham made headlines in 2008 when he became the first male Australian to win the event since 1924.
Mitcham has spoken openly about his addictions to alcohol and crystal meth in a bid to cope with mental illness during his diving career, but has been clean since retiring from the sport in 2016.
These days, the Olympic medal holder spends his time helping athletes with goal-setting and working in the diversity and inclusion space. He married his husband, Luke Rutherford, in 2020.
Peter Bol
Peter Bol is a 29-year-old Olympic runner who holds the national record for the 800-metre sprint. He was embroiled in controversy after testing positive to the performance-enhancing drug EPO in January this year, and was banned from training and competing.
However, in February the Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) lifted his ban, when his B sample returned an “atypical finding”, meaning it was neither positive nor negative for EPO. “I am innocent and have not taken this substance as I was accused,” Bol said when his ban was lifted. “I have NEVER in my life purchased, researched, possessed, administered or used synthetic EPO, or any other prohibted substance, and never will.” SIA’s investigation is ongoing.
Stephanie Rice
Stephanie Rice is an Olympic gold swimmer who won three Olympic gold medals at Beijing in 2008. The 34-year-old is also an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) recipient and holds a place in the International Swimming Hall of Fame and the Sports Australia Hall of Fame.
Tim Robards
Tim Robards is a 40-year-old sports chiropractor, reality star and actor. Robards is best known as a former (and Australia’s first ever) Bachelor and has since played a role in Neighbours. His wife Anna Heinrich was also the breakout star of last year’s season.
Zima Anderson
Zima Anderson is a 25-year-old actress who is known for Neighbours and Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries.
The new season of SAS Australia premieres later this year on Channel Seven and 7plus.
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