RUGBY SEVENS: The Qantas Australian Women’s Sevens Squad for the Oceania Sevens Championship has been named with two players from the Inaugural Aon University Sevens Series, Lauren Brown (Griffith University) and Page McGregor (Macquarie University) to be given their first Caps for Australia.
Head Coach Tim Walsh has named his strongest possible squad as Australia looks to defend its Oceania Rugby Sevens Championship title, as the team continues to build towards the HSBC Sevens World Series kicking off in Dubai.
Brown comes in for the injured Demi Hayes (foot) with Cassie Staples also unavailable for selection due to personal commitments.
Australia has been placed in Pool B alongside Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Cook Islands are in Pool A.
Qantas Australian Women’s Sevens Head Coach Tim Walsh said: "The squad has been preparing well leading into Oceania which included the welcome distraction of our Head Quarters relocation.
“For Page and Lauren to be joining us for this tournament emphasises the depth we have built from the Aon University Sevens Series.
“We love playing in Fiji and find it a great place to prepare for the World Series opener in Dubai.
“This tournament is going to be challenging, with three of the four best teams in the world competing.”
SQUAD
1.Shannon Parry (C), 23 caps, Griffith University
2. Sharni Williams (C), 22 caps,University of Canberra
3. Vani Pelite, 13 caps, University of Adelaide
4. Emma Tonegato, 17 caps, University of Adelaide
5. Lauren Brown*, Griffith University
6. Charlotte Caslick, 22 caps, Bond University
7. Alicia Quirk, 22 caps, University of New England
8. Emma Sykes, 5 caps, University of Queensland
9. Page McGregor*, Macquarie University
10. Mahalia Murphy, 7 caps, University of Adelaide
11. Dominque Du Toit, 5 caps, Macquarie University
12. Emilee Cherry, 24 caps, University of Queensland
*Uncapped
FIXTURES
Oceania Sevena - Women's
Friday November 11
Australia vs Tonga, 10am AEDT
Australia vs Samoa, 1pm AEDT
Australia vs Fiji, 4pm AEDT
