Rugby Australia and the Australian Olympic Committee are delighted to announce a 12-player Rugby Sevens Women’s squad to compete at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games from November 1-3.
The squad features six Queenslanders, five from NSW and one from Western Australia, who all impressed during the NextGen Sevens and other tournaments throughout the year.
Australia A Sevens representatives Layne Prince, Cobi Ryan-Last and Darci Turinui headline the squad while Queenslander Aimee Henry will captain the side.
Prince and Turinui are the respective daughters of Wallabies legend Morgan Turinui and NRL premiership-winner Scott Prince while Ryan-Last will feature for the Australia Sevens in this weekend’s Kick On 7s and Quadruple Header in Sydney.
The Australian Youth Olympic Games squad will be coached by Luke Zeremes.
Women’s Sevens National Talent Pathway Manager Lachlan Parkinson said: “The Youth Olympic Games is a fantastic opportunity for our athletes to compete at a pinnacle multi-sport event and is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
“Australia has only sent one team to the Youth Olympics in China in 2014 where the team won gold.
“We feel like the team selected has all the attributes of a medal-winning team and boasts the core of our future talent for the Australian Sevens program.”
Australia will meet China, Kenya and host nation Senegal in Pool A, followed by the medal matches.
The fourth summer Youth Olympics will be held in Africa for the first time.
Youth Olympic Games Squad 2026
- Billie Backus (Queensland)
- Talia Berryman (NSW)
- Grace Buchanan (Queensland)
- Keira Callaghan (NSW)
- Ellazae Elers (NSW)
- Peyton Fakaosilea (Queensland)
- Aimee Henry (c) (Queensland)
- Te Rina-Jade Murray (Queensland)
- Layne Prince (Queensland)
- Cobi Ryan-Last (NSW)
- Mia Shelley (Western Australia)
- Darci Turinui (NSW)
