Nine Queenslanders have been named in the Australian Women’s Sevens team ahead of round four of the HSBC Women’s Sevens World Series in Kitakyushu, Japan.
Five Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) Women’s Sevens Academy have been named – Brooke Walker, Dominique Du Toit, Demi Hayes, Georgie Friedrichs and Emma Sykes – as well as Olympic Gold Medalists Shannon Parry, Emilee Cherry, Evania Pelite and Charlotte Caslick.
Young guns Hayes and Du Toit come into the side alongside Walker with Head Coach Tim Walsh to omit one player prior to kickoff.
Australia will be looking to be improve on their second-place finish at last round’s USA Sevens, after falling to New Zealand in the final.
Australia currently sit in second place on the HSBC Women’s Sevens World Series Ladder, six points adrift of New Zealand with three rounds left to go.
Qantas Australian Men’s Sevens Head Coach, Tim Walsh said: “We’re just over halfway and we are looking forward to finishing the season strongly but also blooding some younger players and getting their experience up.
“We’ve made a few tactical changes to really bring up some other players in key positions and I’m looking forward to seeing those younger players putting up their hand.
“We are in a position now where we are really pushing for the title again. The pressure is now on New Zealand and all is takes is one slip up and we’re in.
“We’re just focusing on our job and I think the results will take care of themselves.
“The Women’s Six Nations players coming back into Sevens will strengthen those European teams which will change the dynamic of the competition.”
Australia has Fiji, Ireland and Brazil in Pool B with matches kicking off on Saturday 22 April.
Qantas Australian Women’s fixtures, Kitakyushu, Japan:
Saturday 22 April
Australia v Brazil, 12.36pm AEST
Australia v Ireland, 3.20pm AEST
Australia v Fiji, 6.04pm AEST
Australian Women’s Sevens squad for Kitakyushu:
Shannon Parry (c), 20 caps, Brisbane QLD
Mahalia Murphy, 6 caps, Sydney NSW
Chloe Dalton, 13 caps, Sydney NSW
Demi Hayes, 1 caps, Glenmorgan QLD (QAS graduate)
Georgina Friedrichs, 4 caps, Toowoomba, QLD (QAS graduate)
Evania Pelite, 11 caps, Caboolture QLD
Charlotte Caslick, 19 caps, Brisbane QLD
Alicia Quirk, 19 caps, Wagga Wagga NSW
Emma Sykes, 3 caps, Sunshine Coast QLD (QAS graduate)
Brooke Walker, 3 caps, Gold Coast QLD (QAS graduate)
Emilee Cherry, 21 caps, Roma QLD
Dominque Du Toit, 2 caps, Toowoomba QLD (QAS graduate)
Ellia Green, 17 caps, Hometown: Melbourne VIC
*One player to be named as 13th non-playing touring member.
