Burgess keeping it real and local in Tassie

Sat, Aug 5, 2017, 3:00 AM
Jill Scanlon
by Jill Scanlon
Shanice Parker will add some star power to the Uni of Tasmania sevens team. Photo: Getty Images
Shanice Parker will add some star power to the Uni of Tasmania sevens team. Photo: Getty Images

The University of Tasmania has selected a 24-player squad for the inaugural Aon Uni7s series which is made up of Launceston locals and regional players from across the state.

The team consists of 50 percent students who will join with the club representatives and a marquee Aussie Sevens player, to take on the more experienced opposition from the northern states.

Coached by former Wallaby scrumhalf Luke Burgess, the squad trains five times a week with strength, conditioning and nutrition experts all part of the preparation equation.

Shanice Parker is carrying the Aussie Sevens flag with national team-mates Georgie Friedrichs and Ellia Green, who were originally listed as part of the UTAS campaign, out due to injury.

There is no doubt this inexperienced squad will face a tough task against more experienced teams, but the University is looking to use this Uni7s series as a catalyst for development of the women’s game in the island state.

UTAS is keen for this new competition to underline the creation and development of pathways for elite female athletes and has taken the opportunity to also align this sporting opportunity with the academic areas of business, education and exercise science, using those disciplines as part of the units overall growth and development.

UTAS Stadium will host the opening tournament on August 25-26 and the University is expecting a large turnout from the locals.

SQUAD

University of Tasmania

Michaelyne Arumbi

Hannah Butcher

Wynona Conway

Tahni Champion-Peakman 

Lauryn Cooper 

Eugenia Dennison

Jess Dobbie

Michaela Emblem

Kristina Farrelly

Lucy Featherstone

Ebony Hicks 

Viivi Hokkinen

Rebecca Hyland

Rioko Learmont 

Kira Maass

Kiki Morgan

Lauren Murty

Shanice Parker

Brielle Quigley 

Alice Robinson 

Caitlin Ryan

Eloise Struwe

Sydnee Watanabe

Olivia White

 
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