Young guns Anna Park, Evie Sampson and Charli Nicola are being sized up for debuts when Queensland launches the new ISPS Handa Next Gen 7s series on Sunday.
The four-stop series will open at Sunshine Coast Stadium where the best emerging talent from across the country will showcase the seven-a-side game.
The three-team 2025 series has been given a major lift with the inclusion of an ACT Brumbies squad to add variety to the Queensland vs NSW head-to-head matches of last year.
Adding starpower to the series will be the inclusion of top-tier Australian stars for the latter rounds of the series.
For Queensland, that means the inclusion of home-grown Olympians Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea, Amahli Hala and Teagan Levi plus Sydney speedster Faith Nathan, who has been allocated to Queensland for this series.
Today’s squad unveilings add real focus to the rounds set for the Sunshine Coast, Sydney (August 17), Canberra (August 31) and finals Saturday at Ballymore Stadium (September 13).
“The Next Gen 7s series is great game exposure for our girls and it will be the first step up for some up-and-coming players,” said Queensland coach Shannon Parry, the 2016 Rio Olympics gold medallist.
“At the back end of the series, it will be good for girls to play with and against our top Australian stars at a higher level and, at the same time, realise they are also just regular players.”
Sampson is mixing halfback duties with premiers Bond University in the 15-a-side game with her ball-playing role in sevens.
For Park, this is a rewarding step up from last year’s schoolgirl deeds with The Glennie School in Toowoomba. She is a hard-running edge player and good defender.
Nicola’s exciting transition from touch to sevens is in its infancy. Her footwork and vision are made for a centre-wing role when she represents Queensland for the first time.
Youngsters like Madi Pomerenke, in Year 12 at Wynnum State High, and Australia A's Ava Wereta are also in the side alongside 2023 Wallaroo Carys Dallinger.
Hala took the step up to a full contract with the Australian sevens squad after her polished displays for Queensland in the 2024 Next Gen 7s series.
That thrilling series over three weekends was only decided in the final minutes of the 12th game between Queensland and winners NSW.
Defending champions NSW will have plenty of firepower of their own with Sevens players Piper Simons, Bridget Clark, Kiiahla Duff and Sariah Paki included in the squad alongside Wallaroos youngster Waiaria Ellis.
"The ISPS Handa NextGen 7s series exposes future talent to a high-level competition alongside athletes who have competed at the highest level," said Lachlan Parkinson, Rugby Australia’s new Head of Women’s Pathways.
"The inclusion of the ACT Brumbies this year and players from affiliated states shows the growth in the program and the strong pathways available for players and coaches to select future teams including for the Australia A tour in Dubai.
“It also allows for some of our players in the national program to return to the field as part of their injury comebacks and to get minutes under their belt following an extended off-season.”
2025 NEXT GEN 7s SQUADS
Queensland Reds
- Abbi Spooner
- Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea
- Amahli Hala
- Amy Lorenz
- Anna Park
- Ava Wereta
- Carys Dallinger
- Charli Nikola
- Dani Martens
- Emmisyn Wynyard
- Evie Sampson
- Faith Nathan
- Kaelyn Passi
- Kianna Maclean
- Madi Collins
- Madison Pomerenke
- Matilda Richards
- Nikeisha Ngaru
- Reese Orcher
- Rhani Hagan
- Tahli Devine
- Tahlia Evans
- Taleah Ackland
- Teagan Levi
- Sophie Duff
- Zoe Waters
NSW Waratahs
- Amelia Whitaker
- Anaia Cruickshank
- Anika McCarthy
- Bridget Clark
- Chanel Williams
- Charli Hardgrave
- Coco Marsters
- Damita Betham
- Darci Turinui
- Darcie Prosser-Shaw
- Edie Burke
- Keira Callaghan
- Khyliah Gray
- Kiiahla Duff
- Lacey Cross
- Logan Lemusu
- Lola Harvison
- Lusiana Vesikula
- Milla Elaro
- Piper Simons
- Poppi Flanders
- Sariah Paki
- Talia Berryman
- Tatum Bird
- Waiaria Ellis
ACT Brumbies
- Aaliyah Lomas
- Adelaide Norris
- Ashlea Bishop
- Biola Dawa
- Bonnie Brewer
- Brooklyn Teki-Joyce (Rugby WA)*
- Chioma Enyi
- Ella Ryan
- Emily Hudson
- Fofoa Tulimafono (Rugby VIC)*
- Gabrielle Petersen
- Georgie Hayes
- Jenna Aiono (Rugby VIC)*
- Kahli Henwood
- Kaitlin Shave
- Kyah Little
- Lily Bone
- Madison Higgins-Ashby
- Makenna Ravouvou
- Nicole Ledington (Rugby WA)*
- Paula Lee Going
- Reese Vidle
- Ruby Nicholas
- Sidney Taylor
- Zoe Quigley
ISPS HANDA NEXT GEN 7s SCHEDULE (All Games Live on rugby.com.au)
Round 1 - Sunday 3 August - Sunshine Coast Stadium
9.30am: Reds v Brumbies
11.00am: Waratahs v Reds
12.30pm: Brumbies v Waratahs
2.00pm: Reds v Brumbies
3.30pm: Waratahs v Reds
Round 2 - Sunday 17 August – Forshaw Rugby Park, Sydney
9.30am: Waratahs v Brumbies
11.00am: Reds v Waratahs
12.30pm: Brumbies v Reds
2.00pm: Waratahs v Brumbies
3.30pm: Reds v Waratahs
Round 3 - Sunday 31 August 2025 - Brumbies HQ, Canberra
9.30am: Brumbies v Reds
11.00am: Waratahs v Brumbies
12.30pm: Reds v Waratahs
2.00pm: Brumbies v Reds
3.30pm: Waratahs v Brumbies
Round 4 (Finals) - Saturday 13 September - Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
9.30am: 1st position table v 2nd position table
11.00am: 2nd position table v 3rd position table
12.30pm: 1st position table v 3rd position table
2.00pm: 2nd position finals table v 3rd position finals table
3.30pm: 1st position finals table v winner of 2 v 3
