AUSTRALIAN MEN’S SEVENS PROGRAM ANNOUNCES CENTRALISED CONTRACTS FOR 2015
Photo: Marc Sing Key
The Qantas Australian Men’s Sevens program has announced its list of contracted players for 2015.
Along with the Women, 2015 will represent the second year that the Men’s Sevens program will be centrally based at Narrabeen on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
The list of 20 contracted players includes recent additions to the squad Michael Wells and Brad Wilkin, while speedy outside back Shannon Walker has also agreed a new deal with the Sevens program.
Australia’s most-capped Sevens player Ed Jenkins will represent the country for a seventh year having made his World Series debut in February 2008.
Men’s Sevens Head Coach Geraint John said: “I have talked before about performing consistently well at tournaments across the World Series. If we are to achieve that and be successful then I believe it is imperative that we are consistent with the group of players I work with day in, day out. The players are enjoying working at our centralised base in Narrabeen and I am enjoying working with them.
“We still have plenty of work to do and there are many goals to achieve, but as you can see from our last two performances in Dubai and Port Elizabeth, there are positive signs. In fact, if you look at the last five Sevens tournaments we have participated in, this group finished second at Twickenham in May, third at the Commonwealth Games, runners-up in Dubai and a third place finish in South Africa – so that consistency is coming.
“I have read the media speculation with regards to Shannon Walker, but I am delighted he has re-signed – as I am with all of the players. We still have a bit of work to do to get Shannon back to full fitness and available for selection, but on his day he is a match winner and he has that x-factor.”
After promising tournaments in Dubai and Port Elizabeth in December, Australia currently sit fourth in the 2014/15 HSBC Sevens World Series ahead of the next leg in Wellington in February. Along with hosts Brazil, only the top four countries in this season’s World Series automatically qualify for the Olympic Games at Rio 2016.
Full list of contracted Qantas Australian Men’s Rugby Sevens players for 2015:
Paul Asquith (aged 21). Club: Southern Districts, NSW. Place of Birth: Wollongong, NSW
Cameron Clark (aged 21). Club: Northern Suburbs, NSW. Hometown: Sydney, NSW
Tom Cusack (aged 21). Club: Canberra Royals, ACT. Place of Birth: Canberra, ACT
Allan Fa’alava’au (aged 21). Club: Endeavour Hills, VIC. Place of Birth: Auckland, NZ
Con Foley (aged 22). Club: University of Queensland, QLD. Hometown: Fairfield, QLD
Pama Fou (aged 24). Club: Souths, QLD. Hometown: Brisbane, QLD
Alex Gibbon (aged 22). Club: Southern Districts, NSW. Place of Birth: Lismore, NSW
Lewis Holland (aged 22). Club: Queanbeyan Whites. Place of Birth: Queanbeyan, NSW
Greg Jeloudev (aged 24). Club: Sydney University. Place of Birth: Sydney, NSW
Ed Jenkins (aged 28). Club: Sydney University, NSW. Place of Birth: Sydney, NSW
Tom Lucas (aged 21). Club: Sunnybank, QLD. Place of Birth: Rockhampton, QLD
Nick Malouf (aged 21). Club: University of Queensland, QLD. Hometown: Brisbane, QLD
Sam Myers (aged 24). Club: Northern Suburbs, NSW. Place of Birth: Forbes, NSW
Afa Pakalani (aged 25). Club: Southern Districts, NSW. Place of Birth: Tongatapu, Tonga
Jesse Parahi (aged 25). Club: Avoca Beach, NSW. Place of Birth: Sydney, NSW
Peter Schuster (aged 24). Club: Northern Suburbs, NSW. Place of Birth: Sydney, NSW
James Stannard (aged 31). Club: Souths, QLD. Place of Birth: Brisbane, QLD
Shannon Walker (aged 26). Club: Easts, QLD. Place of Birth: Kyogle, NSW
Michael Wells (aged 21). Club: Northern Suburbs, NSW. Place of Birth: Sydney, NSW
Bradley Wilkin (aged 19). Club: Easts, QLD. Place of Birth: Wellington, QLD
*Ages as at 20 January 2015
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