AUSSIE SEVENS GET FIRST RUN SINCE RIO OLYMPIC GAMES AT CENTRAL COAST SEVENS

Oct 21 • General News, International, Sevens Rugby • 1146 Views • Comments Off on AUSSIE SEVENS GET FIRST RUN SINCE RIO OLYMPIC GAMES AT CENTRAL COAST SEVENS

The Qantas Australian Women’s and Men’s Sevens squads will take to the field for the first time since their history-making Rio Olympics campaigns in August, when they take part in the Central Coast Sevens tournament this weekend.

After the Women’s Sevens team brought home the first ever Olympic Gold medal for Rugby Sevens at Rio, the Central Coast Sevens offers fans an opportunity to see the world’s best players first-hand.

The annual tournament will also give players in both teams a shot at impressing coaches before the HSBC World Series kicks off on December 1. The Aussie women’s squad has been split into two teams – the Australian Pearls Gold and the Australian Pearls Green – while the Aussie Men’s Sevens squad members line up in the men’s draw alongside an Australian development team.

Qantas Australian Men’s Head Coach Andy Friend said he is looking to build a Sevens squad with a mix of experience and youth, after a changing of the guard after the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

“The Central Coast Sevens is a fantastic tournament and for us it gives us an opportunity to look at players across the two teams as we continue to build for the HSBC Sevens World Series,” he said.

“With a period of change for us, this is an exciting time for players to put their hand up for selection and secure a spot in our squad heading into the World Series.”

Qantas Australian Women’s Head Coach, Tim Walsh said, “This tournament is a great opportunity for our Rio Olympics squad to get some valuable game time leading into the World Series.

“For the other players this is an opportunity to impress and lock in a contract renewal or gain a place in our squad and show they have what it takes to be an Australian Women’s Sevens player.”

The UON Central Coast Sevens will kick off today starting with the under 17s youth boys’ and girls’ tournament followed by the international men’s and women’s tournaments over the weekend. See below for team lists.

Aussie Men’s Gold 1
Ed Jenkins
Sam Myers
Conor Mitchell
Tom Connor
Tim Anstee
Stephan Van Der Walt
Simon Kennewell
James Stannard
Josh Coward
Brandon Quinn
Tom Kingston
Sam Cassick

Aussie Men’s Gold 2
Maclean Jones
Brendan Mitchell
Bennett Leslie
Fred Dorrough
Liam McNamara
Charlie Taylor
Mitch Felsman
Joey Fittock
Richard Woolf
George Morseu
Sam Croke
Mataiasi Naivaru
Fred Dorrough

Aussie Women’s Gold
Shannon Parry
Maddie Elliot
Shanice Parker
Brooke Walker
Emma Tonegato
Page McGregor
Charlotte Caslick
Chloe Dalton
Brooke Anderson
Shenae Ciesiolka

Aussie Women’s Green
Hannah Southwell
Sharni Williams
Georgie Friedrichs
Jayme Fressard
Dominque Du Toit
Mahalia Murphy
Samantha Hopkin
Emma Skyes
Millie Boyle
Alicia Quirk
Emilee Cherry