Australia’s women’s Sevens are marking a new era in Dubai, with a handful of new faces to line up for their first 2016-17 World Series tournament.
In their first World Series outing since winning the Olympic gold medal in August, Tim Walsh has named five players who didn’t feature in Rio, including debutant Emma Sykes, for the tournament.
Australia is the defending champion in the Dubai contest and will be shooting for a third victory a the tournament, after winning in 2013 as well.
Joining Sykes in her maiden World Series outing are Brooke Anderson, Mahalia Murphy, Georgie Friedrichs and Tiana Penitani.
Olympic champions Sharni Williams, Shannon Parry, Chloe Dalton, Emilee Cherry, Alicia Quirk, Emma Tonegato and Charlotte Caslick will all feature in the tournament as Australia starts its World Series defence.
Walsh said he wanted his players to show that success wouldn’t change their ferocity or competitiveness.
“This squad represents a new dawn for the Aussie 7s Women’s team with our young players being given an opportunity to put their best foot forward on the World Series stage,” he said.
“Our preparation has been excellent, with convincing wins at both the Central Coast Sevens and Oceania Sevens tournaments. The team is really looking forward to representing their country on the World Series again.
“The entire squad understands our recent success will make us the team to beat going into the World Series and this is a challenge we are really looking forward to overcoming.”
Australia will face South Africa, Russia and the USA in their pool in the season’s opening tournament, kicking off on December 1.
Australia Women's Sevens draw
December 1, 8:50pm AEDT - Australia vs South Africa
December 1, 11:46pm AEDT - Australia vs Russia
December 2, 2:43am AEDT - Australia vs USA
Aussie women's Dubai team
Sharni Williams (c)
Shannon Parry (c)
Chloe Dalton
Tiana Penitani
Brooke Anderson
Georgie Friedrichs
Emilee Cherry
Charlotte Caslick
Emma Sykes
Alicia Quirk
Mahalia Murphy
Emma Tonegato
