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In the wake of the Wallabies’ loss to Scotland, Aussie rugby fans might be in need of some cheering up by the Sevens fraternity.
In excellent and well-deserved news at the World Rugby Awards, try-scoring machine Maddison Levi was named World Rugby women’s Sevens Player of the Year and not surprisingly was named in the HSBC SVNS Women’s Dream Team for 2023/24.
In addition, NRL-bound Nathan Lawson was named in the HSBC SVNS Men’s Dream Team.
In big recognition news, rugby sevens great Emilee Barton was inducted into World Rugby’s Hall of Fame. Her teammates used to refer to her as the GOAT and at least she now has some tangible justification.
Barton becomes the 20th Australian to be officially inducted, just the second Australian woman since Cheryl McAfee.
Australian Rugby Sevens
The old saying ‘a change is as good as a holiday’ hopefully rings true for the Aussie Sevens squads. Rugby Australia have named the Aussie Sevens squads for the 2024/25 season and the teams heading to Dubai – a tournament the women’s side have won four years in a row.
Both the women’s and men’s squads have a couple of new faces to keep an eye on and coaching changes too.
The Aussie Sevens men’s team has a new coach in former Kiwi Sevens assistant coach Liam Barry and no doubt will be appointing a new assistant coach with Chucky Stannard off to the Western Force.
Available to Barry are two youngsters heading to Dubai. Keep an eye out for Australia U20s star Aden Ekanayake and NSW young gun Sid Harvey – both named for their debuts.
There are also a couple of other newbies in the squad: Conor Hickey and Jayden Blake. There appears to be no Josh Turner or Tim Clements for the upcoming season; both have been long-term members of the squad.
While Tim Walsh is still on board as the women’s coach, Emilee Barton has stepped down as the assistant coach and Tom Carter has headed over to a new role with the NSW Waratahs. So no doubt there will be an announcement or two there.
Nathan Lawson. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
The women have new players heading to Dubai in Kahli Henwood and Kiiahla Duff, who should be making their SVNS Series debuts. Looking at the squad list, it appears long-time squad member Lily Dick may no longer be a part of the team. She debuted way back in 2018. Unfortunately, she did her ACL in the last tournament of the season in Madrid – not a great way to finish up.
Note: Both men’s and women’s Dubai teams are missing players due to injury.
Australia Women’s Sevens team for HSBC SVNS Dubai 2024/25
3. Faith Nathan
5. Teagan Levi
7. Charlotte Caslick
9. Tia Hinds
10. Isabella Nasser
11. Demi Hayes
12. Maddison Levi
13. Heidi Dennis
14. Bridget Clark
15. Kahli Henwood*
23. Ruby Nicholas
28. Kiiahla Duff*
65. Sariah Paki
*denotes debutant
Remaining 2024/2025 squad members:
Madison Ashby, Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea, Kaitlin Shave, Amahli Hala, Sidney Taylor, Bienne Terita.
Australia Men’s Sevens team for HSBC SVNS Dubai 2024/2025
1. Henry Hutchison
2. Ben Dowling
3. Henry Palmer
6. Henry Paterson
7. James McGregor
9. Matt Gonzalez
10. Ben Dalton
12. Nathan Lawson
14. James Turner
15. Sid Harvey*
23. Aden Ekanayake*
25. Hayden Sargeant
87. Michael Icely
*denotes debutant
Remaining 2024/2025 squad members:
Maurice Longbottom, Hadley Tonga, Dietrich Roache, Dally Bird, Conor Hickey, Jayden Blake.
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