Uni 7s: Squads announced for second series

Thu, Aug 2, 2018, 12:01 AM
AAP
by AAP
UQ are the reigning champions. Photo: Karen Watson
UQ are the reigning champions. Photo: Karen Watson

The 2018 Aon Uni 7s Series is just three weeks away.

In its second year, the newly-expanded tournament will feature 10 universities from around Australia in a five-leg series.

National players are yet to be officially allocated to their teams for the tournament but there are some familiar names among the squads for the 2018 season.

Take a look at this year's lineups right here.

SQUADS

University of Queensland

UQ were the inaugural Uni7s champions. Photo: Karen WatsonDefending champions UQ have plenty of women returning for season two, to be led by Marioulla Belessis.

Former Aussie Sevens prospect Shena Ciesiolka will also run out for the Queensland side that will be looking to make it back-to-back titles.

Coach Reg Tayler said the team was prepared for a more difficult season in the expanded competition.

"We definitely think it’s going to be a bigger challenge this year," he said.

"Five tournaments, not four, there’ll be six games every tournament.

"Last year we used 16 players out of our 24 with the natural attrition of injuries and whatnot. We’re expecting to use a lot more, so depth’s going to be key."

UQ squad for 2018 Uni 7s

Annie Arnott 

Marioulla Belessis

Taylor Burke

Arnika Cave

Shenae Ciesiolka

Phoebe Cuskelly

Terri-Anne Egan

Erica Fowler

Tash Flynn

Meg Gemmell

Georgia Hannaway

Sam Hopkin

Grace Kaihau

Plevni Kievit

Jannicke lJdens

Lucy Lockhart

Haj Mosby

Kate Muscat

Kobe Nona

Mackenzie Sadler

Morgan Te Oka

Bodil Van Wijnbergen

Sarafina Vosuqa

Rachel Walsh

Macquarie Uni Rays


The Rays will be led by co-captains Maddison Anderson and Emily Chancellor in 2018 as they look to keep improving.

One of two Sydney sides in 2018, they'll have a bit more competition for local bragging rights in season two.

Rays squad for Uni 7s

Emily Chancellor (cc)

Maddison Anderson (cc)

Katalina Amosa

Madison Ashby

Tatum Bird

Olivia Brooks

Kennedy Cherrington

Quincy Dodd

Sarah Halvorsen

Katie Harrison

Aliyah Helu

Abby Holmes

Renae Jolly

Arabella McKenzie

Layne Morgan

Faith Nathan

Aaliyah Paki

Sariah Paki

Botille Vetter-Welsh

Montana Walters

Mia Wood

Tia Hinds (youth development player)

University of Sydney


Sydney Uni is new to the Uni7s competition this season but they bring plenty of rugby pedigree in their competition debut.

They have some experienced XVs and Sevens players in thier ranks but also a Ninja Warrior semi-finalists in Emma Woods.

The Sydney side will be looking to make an impact in its first season in the series, that is for sure.

"While we will be the new kids on the block this year we have set our sights on top four finishes at each tournament," coach Stephen Bennie said.

"We definitely have the squad to do this but the question will be if our preparation will have been enough in the short window of time we have had with the girls.

"We have a great staff with former Aussie Star Greg Jeluodev assisting the team and Tim Rowlands our S&C who has done a season with the Rays in 2017."

University of Sydney squad for Aon Uni7s 2018

Claudia Bell

Tiarne Cavanagh

Freya Clayhills

Susannah Cooke

Majada Darcy

Kimberley Davey

Kobe Dymock

Ashleigh Fong

Holly Gavin

Sydney * Gregson

Kirrily Laws

Tamyka Laws

Jemima McCalman

Claudia McLaren

Chantelle* Miell

Jordan   Parsonage

Leanne Toomalatai

Brittney Vanderhart

Matilda*Vaughan Fowler

Barbara Waddell

Emma Wade

Olivia White

Jakiya Widfield

University of Adelaide

The goal for the University of Adelaide goes beyond their competition standings, coach James O'Keefe says.

"The leadership team within the squad have set some pretty high standards for the whole group this year," he said.

"We all have an aligned common goal which we will be looking to achieve throughout the series.

"Success from our perspective, is not necessarily winning. We have developed a strong community and sense of belonging, which has not only developed the players athletic ability but also their character off the field.

University of Adelaide squad for Aon Uni7s 2018

Brianna Nathan

Alice Gregory

Kelly Rowe

Lauren Kildare

Taj Heald

Eleanor Konopka

Lauren Potter

Olivia Bernadel-Huey

Rebekah Jones

Rhiannon Busch

Alice Priestly

Asoiva (Eva) Karpani

Zakiya Kereopa

Clair Alvino

Zahn Anthony

Gemma Monaghan

Madeleine Smith

Hoang-Cuc Nguyen

Lauren Meyer

Zara Lee

Joanna Hawke

Cindy Chang

Mahalia Murphy

University of Canberra

Louise Burrows has not lost her passion for rugby. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart WalmsleyWallaroos veteran Louise Burrows will be a high-profile addition to the University of Canberra's side this season.

Coach David Grimmons said he felt UC would pack a bigger punch across the park in the second yead of the competition.

“We’ve selected a squad that will challenge for honours,” Grimmond said. “Almost half the girls who played last year are back again and they’re stronger with that experience under their belts.

“There’s a lot of new talent in the mix, too, which has made us stronger and more versatile. We’ve gained players from a variety of other sports who have made the transition to sevens very smoothly.

“We had a lot of women interested in playing this year which shows how popular this form of the game is. It’s a great sign for rugby, but it did give us a few selection headaches.

“We’ve settled on a squad of 25 and are hard at work preparing for another tilt at the title.”

UC squad for Aon Uni7s 2018

Tania Afamasaga

Shelley Bradshaw

Kirra Burke

Louise Burrows

Bridgette Cunningham

Biola Dawa

Kasey Dragisic

Ngawai Eyles

Courtney Frankl

Jane Garraway

Abby Gustaitis

Regan Hart

Ash Kara

Michaela Leonard

Paremo March

Ema Masi

Yasmin Meakes

Kiara Meredith-Brown

Claudia Obst

Georgia O’Niell

Steph Pollard

Darcy Read

Tayla Stanford

Bree Toze

Sammie Wood

University of New England

UNE squad for Uni7s 2018

Ashlee Knight

Ashleigh Walker

Isabella Tisch-Lienert

Inge Visser

Maya Stewart

Bobbi Law

Britney Duff

Grace Hamilton

Tahlia Goldsmith

Rhiannon Byers

Mardi Watts

Shana Povey-Hyatt

Sharnee Magner

Carola Kreis

Natalie Devine

Olivia Creswick

Emily Adams

Monique McCoy

Tenayah Woodward

Lauren Linton

Teagan Miller

Lauren Nott

Leah Wilson

Maddison Fryer

University of Tasmania

Tasmania will be hosting the first leg of the 2018 series and coach Luke Burgess says they're ready to kick off with a bang.

“We’re really looking forward to the 2018 Aon Uni 7s season," he said.

“We improved out of sight throughout the competition last year and the team is looking to continue to develop this season.

“We’re also looking forward to bringing the first round to Hobart at our home in round one and I know Tasmania will get right behind their UTAS Women in 2018.”

UTas squad for Aon Uni 7s 2018

Molly Baxter (vice captain)

Caitlyn Ryan

Vivvi Hokinen

Alice Robinson

Lauryn Cooper (captain)

Courtney Cook

Michaelyne Arumbi

Georgia Stewart

Samantha Harris

Meesa Albert

Wynonah Conway

Rebecca Hyland

Sonia Steckler

Eilidh Sinclair

Verity Reid

Ebony Altimira

Georgia Sayers

Catrina Tranent

Isabella Hardy

Sydnee Watanabe

Kiki Morgan

Bond University

Bond Uni squad for 2018 Aon Uni 7s

Kathy Baker

Emily Bass

Tyler Birch

Millie Boyle

Lauren Brown

Hayley Butterworth

Charlotte Caslick 

Jessica Elliston

Taylor Fenton 

Katelyn Grimmett

Even Higgins

Sophie Holyman

Trinity Mamoe

Bailey Marshall

Georgina Page

Tarni Peep

Amber Pilley

Keri-Jade Robertson

Stephanie Rutherford

Madison Schuck

Gabby Senft

Gemma Walker

Chloe Watt

University of Melbourne

The University of Melbourne is another new addition to the competition and the first team from Victoria.

General manager of rugby Jason Jones said the team was beginning to gel, with a host of first-time players involved.

“It’s been a breath of fresh air for everyone involved, not only in the rugby department, but also all sporting and support staff at Melbourne University," he said.

"The first couple of weeks were fairly challenging with most players never having played a game of rugby, or seen a game of sevens, but to the players and coaching staff’s credit the improvement over the last 4-6 weeks has been significant.

“The culture within the team that has been created already makes me feel that the program will be successful, irrespective of the scoreboard in our first season.

"We have players transitioning from other sports like AFL, athletics, hockey and basketball who are loving the experience and who add real value to the rugby program. Already a couple of girls stand out as potential representative players provided they continue to learn and train hard."

University of Melbourne squad for Aon Uni 7s 2018 

Jessica Anderson

Annie Buntine

Danielle Crosswell

Halley Derera

Amitty Edgeworth

Karin Gunatilake

Reni Hicks

Jordan Hollaway-Clarke

Casey Homewood

Tiahna Jade Oxenham

Emma Larsson Strom

Maggie Lind

Milla Marston

Sophie McDonald

Sophia Power

Lydia Quedley

Jess Roberts

Maddy Seeley

Tangata Tupou

Emily Wellings

Tamara Whiteside

Amy Williams

Emma Wunsch

Griffith University

Eliza Flynn

Charlotte  Kennington

Rhiannon Revell-Blair

Anthea Moodie

Ellen Field

Sophie Bell

Georgia Devlin

Alana Elisaia

Eloise Schlect

Ivy Kaleta

Laura Waldie

Portia Bourke

Shannon Mato

Diaz Seumanutafa

Ivania Wong

Sophie Quirk

Kahli Henwood

Yolanda Gittens

Kiri Lingman

Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea

Samantha Treherne

Katie Curtis

Lily Dick

Stephanie Rutherford

FIXTURES

Aon Uni 7s 2018 Sevens series

Round 1 - August 25-26

University of Tasmania, Hobart

Round 2 - September 8-9

University of Canberra, Canberra

Round 3 - September 22-23

University of Queensland, Brisbane

Round 4 - October 6-7

Bond University, Gold Coast

Round 5 - October 20-21

The University of Adelaide, Adelaide

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