Qantas Australian Men’s Sevens Head Coach Michael O’Connor has called up Paul Asquith to the squad for the trip to Hong Kong after Allan Fa’alava’au was ruled out for the rest of the 2013/14 HSBC Sevens World Series with a shoulder injury.
Fa’alava’au will fly back to Australia immediately and will undergo surgery on the shoulder he first hurt in Wellington last month.
Fresh from their win in the Plate Final in Tokyo on Sunday, Australia has been drawn in a tricky Pool B alongside Spain, France and new World Series leaders South Africa.
The three-day event (28-30 March) is O’Connor’s favourite on the HSBC World Series calendar.
“I’m really looking forward to Hong Kong. I love this tournament, but sadly it will be my last opportunity as Head Coach of the Australian team to lift a trophy that has eluded us for almost a quarter of a century.
“The team can take a lot of confidence out of our performance in Tokyo having only lost two games, both by narrow margins. This week it will all be about rest, recovery and review then prepare to play the Spanish, French and South Africans in Hong Kong."
In-form Cameron Clark will be looking to replicate his recent form, having been chosen in the Dream Team in Tokyo last weekend. “His defence, particularly against New Zealand, was outstanding,” O’Connor said.
Captain Ed Jenkins will miss Australia’s opener against Spain as he serves the final game of a three-match suspension.
Broadcast Coverage:
Fox Sports Plus
Mar 28 1700-0100 (Red Button)
Mar 29 1200-2245 (Red Button)
Mar 30 1300-2245 (Red Button: 1300-1850, Fox Sports 2: 1850-2300)
Follow the Qantas Men’s and Women’s Sevens teams with updates on Twitter @Aussie7s
Australian Men’s Sevens fixtures in Hong Kong, 28-30 March:
Australia v Spain, Pool B, 10.08pm (AEDT) – 28 March
Australia v France, Pool B, 4.02pm (AEDT) – 29 March
Australia v South Africa, Pool B, 9.54pm (AEDT) – 29 March
Australian Men’s Sevens squad for the 2013 - 2014 HSBC Sevens World Series in Hong Kong:
Ed Jenkins. Club: Sydney University, NSW
Con Foley. Club: University of Queensland, QLD
Jesse Parahi. Club: Northern Suburbs, NSW
Sam Myers. Club: Northern Suburbs, NSW
Paul Asquith. Club: Southern Districts, NSW
Peter Schuster. Club: Northern Suburbs, NSW
Greg Jeloudev. Club: Sydney University, NSW
Cameron Clark. Club: Northern Suburbs, NSW
Nick Malouf. Club: University of Queensland, QLD
Tom Lucas. Club: Sunnybank, QLD
Alex Gibbon. Club: Southern Districts, NSW
Afa Pakalani. Club: Southern Districts, NSW
