Morahan in ‘best possible’ Aussie Sevens team
Australia men’s Sevens coach Michael O’Connor has announced a squad full of experience for the second round of the HSBC Sevens World Series in Dubai on 29-30 November.
Nine players who starred at round one on the Gold Coast return, with Wallaby Luke Morahan, Lewis Holland and Greg Jeloudev also in the strong side.
Shannon Walker, Jesse Parahi, Cameron Clark and Sean McMahon also travel, as does the country’s Men’s Sevens Player of the Year Con Foley and regular captain Ed Jenkins, named player of the tournament on the Gold Coast.
“We’ve put together our best possible squad,” said O’Connor. “Sometimes it’s difficult with players out with injury, but this time we’ve managed to put together a good collection of players.
“It’s a well-balanced team.. In my opinion, it’s the best squad we could have going into the next round.”
Australia face pool matches against Wales, Scotland and Spain in Dubai, with O’Connor taking nothing for granted.
“I never make predictions about these tournaments; it’s certainly not an easy field. I don’t think we can take away from the sides we play as they’re all very good.”
Quantas men’s Sevens, Dubai: Paul Asquith, Cameron Clark, Con Foley, Lewis Holland, Greg Jeloudev, Ed Jenkins (c), Tom Lucas, Nick Malouf, Sean McMahon, Luke Morahan, Jesse Parahi, Shannon Walker
Wallaby Sevens stars commit to contracts until 2015
Australia’s Rugby Sevens programme only recently received a timely and substantial boost with the announcement that seven of the country’s most talented players have signed on until the end of 2015 to help lead the country’s quest to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
In recent times coach Michael O’Connor has often been left frustrated by a quick player turn-over rate, which has left him needing to build a new squad from scratch each season. These contracts should spell an end to that.
Con Foley, Nick Malouf, Cameron Clark, Jesse Parahi, Peter Schuster, Allan Fa’alava’au and Tom Cusack will all continue the journey on the Sevens pathway, while other players on current contracts, including captain Ed Jenkins, Shannon Walker, Pama Fou and Lewis Holland, will be up for renewal from 2014.
Courtesy of IRB
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