Welsh flyer Jasmine Joyce will headline a University of Adelaide squad for the Aon University 7s that includes two of her countrywomen after an overhaul of the Romas squad that has led to almost half its 30-member squad being new faces.
Joyce, who represented Great Britain at the Rio Olympics and is considered one of the fastest players in world sevens, will join Wales Gold Coast Commonwealth Games representatives Hannah Jones and Alisha Butchers in the Adelaide side.
While she stands at just 163cm, Joyce is one of the giants of world rugby, with her pace cementing her reputation in sevens as well as XVs, where she recently played for the world Barbarians against the US.
Wallaroo Eva Karpani will return for another campaign with the Romas as she makes what has so far been a seamless switch between the long and short forms of game after representing Australia in XVs Tests against Japan last month.
Australian development player Alice Gregory, a standout for the Romas in the Aon 7s last season, returns from a season in Japan with the Nagato Blue Angels where she honed her skills.
And like all clubs, the Romas will have the services of two Australian sevens players and are cheering on last year's placement Mahalia Murphy this weekend as she lines up at fullback for the Wallaroos against the Black Ferns in Perth.
But Adelaide's squad is not just about the elite players, with the Romas running a local series in South Australia to help pick the 2019 squad, which, in line with Rugby Australia and UniSport Australia guidelines, includes several student-athletes from the university.
Japan has also played a key part in Adelaide's preparation ahead of the first round of Aon competition next month, with the Romas taking part in the Pirika Mosiri 7s in Hokkaido, alongside a team from the University of Queensland.
Adelaide will round out its preparation for the four-round Aon series with trials in Perth, this weekend, Melbourne next weekend and then the Shute Shield 7s in Sydney.
The reduced four-round Aon Uni 7s format kicks off on September 14-15 at the University of Queensland, with Adelaide hosting Round 3 in mid October.
ADELAIDE UNI SQUAD
Alex Foltyn, Alice Fry, Alice Gregory, Alice Priestly, Alisha Butcher, Arianna Nathan, Claire Ferguson, Courtney Munroe, D'Arcy Sadler, Ellie Konopka, Eloise Wiles, Eva Karpani, Grace Bridge, Hannah Jones, Jasmine Joyce, Kelly Rowe, Lauren Kildare, Lauren Meyer, Lauren Potter, Lily Rydon, Lucy Northcott, Maddy Smith, Mikaeli Carmichael, Phoebe Linder Patton, Rebekah Jones, Taj Heald, Teliya Hetaraka, Zara Lee. Plus two Australian squad members.
SCHEDULE
2019 Aon University 7s Series:
Round 1 - September 14-15, University of Queensland
Round 2 - September 28-29, Bond University
Round 3 - October 12-13, University of Adelaide
Round 4 - October 26-27, University of Canberra
