Australia Sevens stars return from injury in Next Gen Sevens opener

Australia Sevens stars Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea and Demi Kennewell will make their Rugby returns during the opening round of Next Gen Sevens in Lennox Head.

The pair will get their chance to press their claims for a recall ahead of next month's North American legs of the SVNS World Series, named for Queensland and ACT, respectively.

Catch every game of the 2026 Next Gen 7s LIVE on Rugby.com.au

Lefau-Fakaosilea has had a troubled history with injuries, missing most of last year after an ACL injury.

She would then injure her shoulder, ruling her out of the start of the 2025-26 series.

As for Kennewell (née Hayes), she ruptured her ACL during last year's SVNS World Championship in Los Angeles.

The duo are among several capped Sevens players turning out for the first weekend of the 2026 competition, which has been moved to align with the World Series.

The Reds enter as the defending champions, with Lefau-Fakaosilea joined by Amahli Hala, Sidney Taylor and new Aussie 7s squad member Rhani Hagan.

Super Rugby W stars Caitlin Urwin and Carys Dallinger have also been named, with Dallinger featuring for the Wallaroos in 2023.

For the Waratahs, Wallaroo Waiaria Ellis headlines their team alongside Piper Simons, Kiiahla Duff and Bridget Clark.

They are joined by Wallaroos squad member Amelia Whitaker and last year's standout, Darci Turinui.

Meanwhile, the Brumbies are boosted by Kennewell and Mackenzie Davis, who featured heavily in Australia's second place finish in Perth last week, and Sevens regular Ruby Nicholas.

Waratahs 

1. Talia Berryman 
2. Damita Betham 
3. Edie Burke 
4. Bridget Clark 
5. Anaia Cruickshank 
6. Kiiahla Duff 
7. Waiaria Ellis 
8. Darcie Prosser-Shaw
9. Cobie Ryan-Last 
10. Piper Simons 
11. Darci Turinui 
12. Amelia Whitaker 

Reds 

1. Amahli Hala 
2. Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea
3. Caitlin Urwin 
4. Carys Dallinger 
5. Emmisyn Wynyard 
6. Kaelyn Passi 
7. Leilani Hills 
8. Madison Pomerenke 
9. Piper Flynn 
10. Reese Orcher
11. Rhani Hagan 
12. Sidney Taylor 

Brumbies 

1. Demi Hayes 
2. Ruby Nicholas 
3. Mackenzie Davis 
4. Georgie Hayes 
5. Paualee Going 
6. Bonnie Brewer 
7. Merania Paraone 
8. Rayna Ellis 
9. Emily Hudson 
10. Ash Bishop
11. Emma Vandervelde 
12. Maronay Smuts 

Sunday 15 February 2026 

9.30am - Waratahs v Reds 

11.00am - Reds v Brumbies 

12.30pm - Brumbies v Waratahs 

2.00pm - Waratahs v Reds 

3.30pm - Reds v Brumbies