The Australia Sevens teams have welcomed back a host of stars as they confirm their squads for the Vancouver SVNS on March 7-8.
The Men have received a triple boost with Maurice Longbottom, Dietrich Roache (both hamstrings), and James Turner (knee) cleared for action.
Watch every match of the 2025-26 SVNS World Series live and on-demand, exclusively on Stan Sport.
It'll be a special tournament for Longbottom, bringing up 50 events on the World Series, while Roache was a late withdrawal from the home leg in Perth.
For Turner, it's his first tournament of the 2025-26 season, coming off claiming the Shawn Mackay Award for Men's Sevens Player of the Year.
The other change sees the potential debut of NSW Waratahs flyer Archie Saunders.
Saunders debuted for the Waratahs last year against the Hurricanes, with the former Australia U20s winger transitioning from a promising sprinting career where he was clocked at 10.3 seconds for the 100 metres.
“It’s an exciting new challenge as the team heads to the cooler northern hemisphere where Vancouver has a high of eight degrees and New York is in the middle of a cold snap," coach Liam Barry said.
“We welcome back Maurice, Dietrich and James to the team and look forward to their input.
“It’s a really special moment for Archie Saunders and his family as he looks to represent the Australian Sevens team for the first time.
"For Maurice to play his 50th tournament in Vancouver is an incredible achievement for a player that has had a huge influence on this programme."
For the Women, Demi Kennewell (nee Hayes) makes her return after close to nine months on the sidelines with an ACL injury.
It'll be the first event with the new last name for the former skipper, marrying former Australia Sevens star Simon in October.
Bridget Clark and Kiiahla Duff have also earned recalls, with Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea, Teagan Levi and Kaitlin Shave rested and set to join the squad in New York.
“We are continuing the rotation of the squad before settling for the World Championship starting in Hong Kong," coach Tim Walsh explained.
“Bridget Clark, Kiiahla Duff and Demi Kennewell return to the team for Vancouver with Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea, Kaitlin Shave and Teagan Levi preparing in Sydney before meeting the team in New York.
“Our aim is to finish the series with precision and a ruthless edge, finalising all the pieces of the puzzle for a World Championship series performance reflective of the Aussie Sevens way.
“Vancouver brings snow outside with a bouncy summer feel inside the indoor BC Place. It’s one of the unique and true attractions of this beautiful sport and adaptability is an attitude and we choose to survey, adapt and perform.”
Australia’s Men will meet Argentina, France and Fiji in the pool stages while the Aussie Women clash with Fiji, Canada and the USA.
2. Amahli Hala – 5 events
3. Faith Nathan – 36 events
4. Mackenzie Davis – 9 events
6. Madison Ashby (c) – 29 events
9. Tia Hinds – 25 events
10. Isabella Nasser (c) – 21 events
11. Demi Kennewell – 28 events
12. Maddison Levi – 31 events
13. Heidi Dennis – 10 events
14. Bridget Clark – 8 events
15. Kahli Henwood – 9 events
28. Kiiahla Duff – 8 events
65. Sariah Paki – 39 events
1. Henry Hutchison (c) – 63 events
2. Ben Dowling – 24 events
4. Dietrich Roache – 31 events
7. Josh Turner – 41 events
10. Ben Dalton – 13 events
11. Maurice Longbottom – 49 events
13. Jayden Blake – 10 events
14. James Turner – 22 events
23. Aden Ekanayake – 11 events
24. Ethan McFarland – 4 events
33. Harry Wilson – 4 events
49. Archie Saunders* – debut
77. Wallace Charlie – 5 events
*Denotes possible debut Players unavailable for selection
- Will Cartwright (shoulder) – 2026/2027 season
- Charlotte Caslick (pregnancy) – 2026/2027 season
- Michael Icely (shoulder) – Hong Kong 7s
- Henry Paterson (knee) – 2026/2027 season
AUSTRALIA MEN
- Saturday March 7: Australia v Argentina (5:57am AEDT)
- Saturday March 7: Australia v France (9:45am AEDT)
- Saturday March 7: Australia v Fiji (1:56pm AEDT)
AUSTRALIA WOMEN
- Saturday March 7: Australia v Fiji (8:31am AEDT)
- Saturday March 7: Australia v Canada (12:19pm AEDT)
- Saturday March 7: Australia v USA (4:08pm AEDT)
