Olympic champions Australia announce team for Rugby World Cup Sevens

The Australian Women’s side, and Olympic Champions, will again be co-captained by Shannon Parry and Sharni Williams, with the latter overcoming an ankle injury that has ruled her out since the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

The Australian Women, who were recently crowned the 2017/18 World Rugby Sevens Series champions, have named their strongest possible squad with only Dominique du Toit unavailable because of a collarbone injury.

Both the Men’s and Women’s sides finished fifth at the World Cup in Russia five years ago but the Women have tasted World Cup Sevens success before, when they lifted the trophy in 2009 at the inaugural Women’s event in Dubai.

The Australian Men have featured at all six of the previous Rugby World Cup Sevens, having finished second on two occasions (1993, 2001) and third in 2005.

Australian Women’s Sevens squad for the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 (in alphabetical order):

Lauren Brown*, 3 caps, QLD and Griffith University

Charlotte Caslick, 29 caps, QLD and Bond University

Emilee Cherry, 32 caps, QLD and University of Queensland

Ellia Green*, 21 caps, VIC and University of Tasmania

Demi Hayes*, 8 caps, QLD and Griffith University

Page McGregor*, 3 caps, NSW and Macquarie University

Yasmin Meakes*, 3 caps, ACT and University of Canberra

Shannon Parry (c), 31 caps, QLD and Griffith University

Evania Pelite*, 20 caps, QLD and University of Adelaide

Alicia Quirk*, 26 caps, NSW and University of New England

Cassie Staples*, 7 caps, NSW and University of Canberra

Emma Tonegato*, 24 caps, NSW and University of Adelaide

Sharni Williams (c), 27 caps, ACT and University of Canberra

 *Rugby World Cup Sevens debut

Australian Women’s coach John Manenti said: “Obviously being knockout, it’s really hard to plan. You can have any number of teams depending on how you go and how they go.

“You can’t buy experience and the fact that most of the squad have been through it and done it over the years, and more recently in Paris last month, that will put them in good stead.

“There is sure to be close games in the World Cup and I think experience will help us through that when they come,” Manenti said.

Australian Women’s Sevens fixture at AT&T Park, San Francisco on Saturday 21 July:

Australia v Papua New Guinea at 4:28am AEST

If Australia wins its first clash against Papua New Guinea, they will progress through to the top eight playoff.

Australian Men’s Sevens squad for the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 (in alphabetical order):

Lachlan Anderson*, 17 caps, Eastwood NSW

Tim Anstee*, 20 caps, Eastwood NSW

Lewis Holland (c), 40 caps, Queanbeyan

Henry Hutchison*, 17 caps, Randwick NSW

Boyd Killingworth*, 19 caps, Warringah NSW

Maurice Longbottom*, 8 caps, Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development Team

Tom Lucas*, 27 caps, Sunnybank QLD

Liam McNamara*, 8 caps, Sunnybank QLD

Sam Myers*, 37 caps, Norths NSW

Ben O’Donnell*, 10 caps, Randwick NSW

Jesse Parahi, 44 caps, Norths NSW

John Porch*, 19 caps, Norths NSW

Brandon Quinn*, 9 caps, Gordon NSW

 *Rugby World Cup Sevens debut

Australian Men’s coach Tim Walsh said: “Every game is a battle for the right to compete to be the world’s best. From the outset, every game has a real pressure about it and so it’s all about embracing and owning those key moments.

“The format is different and being adaptive and agile is the environment of international Sevens. Teams will be well equipped and prepared in anticipation for this prestigious event.  There has to be a winner and loser and potentially, every moment of every game could be the difference.

“We are used to playing six games over two days and not four games over three days, so in order to replicate the Rugby World Cup format we have adjusted our training and strategies to assist with our mental preparation. More so than ever our ‘Process driven and Performance based’ thinking, is relevant.

“Liam (McNamara) has had a tough run with injuries over the last while but really came back strong in Paris last month to force my hand. He’s a great ball player with awareness, time and composure so I’m looking forward to seeing him play to his potential,” Walsh said.

Australian Men’s Sevens fixture at AT&T Park, San Francisco on Saturday 21 July:

Australia v Winner M3 (France/Jamaica) at 12:47pm AEST

If Australia wins its first clash, they will progress through to the top eight playoff.

For the full RWC Sevens fixtures, please click HERE.