Cheryl Soon has been named captain of the Australian Women’s Sevens team for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009, one of 10 players who secured qualification for the event retaining their spot.
Soon, who also captains the Wallaroos Test side, will hope for a repeat of the success that saw Australia beat New Zealand twice in the Oceania qualifier for RWC Sevens in Samoa last July.
The second victory over New Zealand in the final was secured only after Nicole Beck raced away to score the winning try in the last minute to seal a 22-15 victory.
That win saw Australia seeded second of the 16 teams for the first ever RWC women’s competition behind England with North America champions Canada and New Zealand third and fourth.
The two members from the first ever Australian Women’s Sevens side that triumphed in Samoa to miss out are Iliseva Batibasanga and Tobie McGann, although both are named in a shadow squad.
Their places have been taken by newcomers Bo De La Cruz and Shelley Matchem after they impressed during last month’s Hottest 7s in Darwin.
New coach at the helm
The majority of that team may have been selected again for the RWC Sevens, but they will have a new coach at the helm with Jason Stanton having replaced Shawn Mackay.
Mackay, the former Australian men’s Sevens captain, guided Australia to the Oceania title in Samoa, but has stood down to concentrate on playing for the Brumbies in the Super 14.
“It hasn’t been an easy side to select, but hopefully that is a good sign as to how we’ll go,” admitted Stanton. “The girls have worked extremely hard up until now and will continue to do so right up until the tournament starts.”
Australia will face the Netherlands, France and China in Pool A at the RWC Sevens, but while they may be newcomers to the Sevens arena, seven of the squad played at the 15-a-side Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2006.
That experience of Soon, Tricia Brown, Alex Hargreaves, Debby Hogkinson, Tui Orsmby, Ruan Sims and Selena Tranter – the most capped Wallaroo with 24 Tests – will be key for Australia.
The squad will assemble at the Australian Institute for Sport in Canberra on 24 February, where they will prepare alongside the men’s team before leaving for Dubai on 1 March.
Australia Women’s Sevens squad:
Cheryl Soon (Captain), Nicole Beck, Tricia Brown, Bo De la Cruz, Alexandra Hargreaves, Debby Hogkinson, Amanda Judd, Shelley Matchem, Tui Ormsby, Ruan Sims, Rebecca Tavo, Selena Tranter.
