Rio gold medallist Alicia Quirk will make a welcome return for the Australian women's Sevens team for round two of the Sevens World Series in Dubai next week.
Quirk, who suffered a knee injury at the Sevens Rugby World Cup in July, has returned to fitness and been named in the 12-woman squad, alongside teenage debutants Lily Dick and Sariah Paki.
Still missing stars Emilee Cherry and Emma Tonegato, Australian coach John Manenti has made good on his prediction of selecting promising talent from the recent Aussie win in the Oceania Sevens.
Dick, 18, and Paki, 17, both impressed in Fiji, having previously come through the Aon Uni Sevens Series with Griffith and Macquarie University respectively.
Australia goes into round two in Dubai in fifth place after missing the semi-finals in Colorado.
They will face England, China and the team round one runners up, USA in the battle to top Pool B.
“The team has been working really hard since the USA7s and we are looking forward to getting back out playing again," Manenti said.
“Having Alicia back is a big boost for the squad, she’s a tireless worker on the field and will bring plenty of big tournament experience to our campaign.
“It’s great to be officially expanding our Aussie Women’s Sevens family with two new caps for Lily and Sariah.
“Both players have done really well in the last few months with exceptional performances across the Aon University Sevens Series as well as for our Development side that won the Oceania Sevens Championship earlier this month.
“They’ll bring new energy to the squad for Dubai and they’re looking forward to their World Series debut.”
SQUAD
Aussie women's squad for Dubai Sevesn
1. Samantha Treherne, Griffith University, 1 cap
2. Sharni Williams, University of Canberra, 25 caps
3. Sariah Paki*, Macquarie University
4. Dominique Du Toit, Macquarie University, 11 caps
5. Yasmin Meakes, Canberra University, 4 caps
6. Evania Pelite, University of Adelaide, 19 caps,
7. Charlotte Caslick, Bond University, 27 caps
8. Lily Dick*, Griffith
9. Emma Sykes, University of Tasmania, 11 caps
10. Alicia Quirk, University of New England, 24 caps
11. Page McGregor, Macquarie University, 4 caps
12. Ellia Green, University of Tasmania, 20 caps
FIXTURES
All times AEDT
Thursday November 29
Australia vs England, 7:44pm
Australia vs China, 10:40pm
Friday November 30
Australia vs USA, 1:59am AEDT
