The 21-year old Queenslander moved to Sydney in 2017 and impressed for Easts in last year’s Shute Shield before playing his way into the Australian Sevens development squad.

Pincus will play alongside 18-year old former Joeys fullback Triston Reilly, who made his debut earlier this year in Hong Kong.

Tim Walsh has also named captain Lewis Holland and former Warringah backrower Boyd Killingworth to make their returns from injury.

“It’s great to welcome back Lewis and his experience. I’ve had a large group of players to select from and this has enabled a strong team for the final two legs of the 2017/18 World Series,” new Australian coach Tim Walsh said.

“Joe (Pincus) has all the attributes to be a great Sevens player for Australia. He’s done his apprenticeship and has been knocking down the door of selection for a while now and the whole squad is excited to see him make his debut on the Twickenham turf in London.

Australia are in Pool B alongside Wales, Spain and Ireland and must finish in the top two to progress through to the Cup Quarter-Finals.

“We fell short in Singapore and we don’t accept defeats no matter how they are perceived. We lost only once out of our six games in Singapore but five of those games came down to the last play.

“We need to be relishing the moments in pressure games and also learn to put teams away to avoid the games that should not be close,” Walsh said.

The post Former UQ & Easts flyer set for Aussies 7s debut appeared first on Rugby News.

Australia’s Boys U18s Sevens side has beaten Samoa in the final of the Oceania U18s Sevens Championship in Sydney to book a spot in the 2018 Youth Olympics.

After falling short against the Samoans in a Pool match on Saturday, Australia jumped out of the gates quickly in the final and scored three first half tries to take a 17-7 lead to the break. The home side then added another three tries in the second half to claim a commanding 32-7 victory.

“It was a really good game, for us we kind of just built into it throughout the whole tournament,” Australian captain Jack Walsh said.

“We just stuck to our structure, obviously we came off a loss against Samoa in the start but from thereon we built further, and it was good to get a win in the last game.”

“We really bonded well throughout the week and the team came through for each other and we got that real team environment, no singles, just everyone together. The rugby standard was unreal, you had no easy games,” Walsh added.

Australian back Sam Warner finished the tournament as the second highest pointscorer, with six tries over the weekend.

In the girls final, Australia were unable to match New Zealand in a 21-7 loss.

The Australian boys side will travel to Buenos Aires to compete in the Youth Olympics in October.

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Walsh has made three changes from the side that finished in fifth at the Commonwealth Games earlier this month, with Jeral Skelton, Lachie Miller and Nick Price coming into the squad.

Australia (89) currently sits in fifth position on the Sevens World Series ladder behind Argentina (90), New Zealand (107), Fiji (123) and South Africa (126).

Earning his second cap for Australia after making his debut in Hong Kong is Lachlan Miller, who hails from Coffs Harbour on the NSW North Coast.

Australia will have to face the Commonwealth Games Gold Medallists, New Zealand in Pool D alongside Wales and Scotland.

“It’s been a quick turnaround between finishing with the Women’s program to starting in my new role,” Walsh said.

“Diving right in is a great way to start, the sooner I can shape and influence the team with my leadership style the better.

“The squad has been enthusiastic and vocal about wanting to improve and to be consistently on the podium especially after finishing eighth at the Olympics, fifth on the Gold Coast and currently fifth on the World Series.

“Everything has its challenges and that is what gives us purpose. I enjoy the hard work, love this game and cannot wait for the future with this team.”

Australia kicks off it’s campaign in Singapore on Saturday April 28 at 1.00pm AEST against Scotland.

Australian Men’s Sevens Squad

​1. Jeral Skelton, 4 caps, Brothers
2. Tom Connor, 5 caps, Warringah
3. Sam Myers, 34 caps, Norths (Sydney)
4. Lachlan Miller, 1 cap, Southern Cross University (Coffs Harbour)
5. Nicky Price, 2 caps, Southern Districts
6. John Porch, 17 caps, Norths (Sydney)
7. Tim Anstee, 17 caps, Eastwood
8. Jesse Parahi (c), 43 caps, Norths (Sydney)
9. Brandon Quinn, 7 caps, Gordon
10. Ben O’Donnell, 7 caps, Randwick
11. Maurice Longbottom, 5 caps, Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development Team
12.Lachlan Anderson, 14 caps, Eastwood
13. Dylan Pietsch, 9 caps, Randwick

The post Fresh faces named in Tim Walsh’s first Aussie 7s squad appeared first on Rugby News.

Bolstered by a number of Melbourne Rebels squad members, the Victorians went through the tournament undefeated and eventually beat the Rats 21-7 in the decider to take the silverware south of the border for the very first time.

In another surprise result, Riverina side Temora upset Manly 14-12 in the Plate final to claim third spot.

Warringah’s women’s side, the Rattetes, continued their domination and beat Sydney Uni 19-0 to claim their fourth straight Kiama title, while Hunter club Lakes defeated Kiama in the final of the Country Cup.

Tournament organiser Mark Bryant said he was thrilled with the event once again, which even attracted a singlet wearing AFL side from Balmain.

“We were over the moon with Saturday’s tournament. It was quite hot until the rain came later in the day to cool things down a little. It was also great to see some of the lesser known sides knock off the Shute Shield teams, it shows how high the standard of the competition has become,” Bryant said.

Photo: Illawarra Mercury – Adam McLean

The post Box Hill & Temora upset Warringah and Manly to claim Kiama Sevens silverware appeared first on Rugby News.

Friend has made three changes to the side that played in Hamilton with Skelton, captain Lewis Holland and veteran Jesse Parahi replacing Maurice Longbottom, Sam Myers and Sam Croke, who have all picked up injuries.

“It’s fantastic to have Lewis and Jesse back in the squad,” Friend said.

“They bring such a wealth of experience to the group which provides that added confidence to the team.

“As we saw in Cape Town for his debut, Jeral is a quality young player. I’m excited for him with his selection, and I know he’ll be out to prove his worth again.”

After their breakthrough tournament win in January’s Sydney 7s, Australia defeated New Zealand in the third place playoff to finish on the podium in Hamilton a week later.

Andy Friend’s side will play in back-to-back tournaments in Las Vegas and Vancouver, before returning home to begin preparations for April’s Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

“We’ve had two great events back-to-back, but the reality of that is those results only heighten other teams awareness of us, as well as their desire to knock us off,” Friend said.

“There’s some real momentum for us right now which is great heading into the Commonwealth Games, but we know that in Sevens, that can evaporate after just one poor day.

“We’ve got to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

SQUAD

Australian Men’s Sevens squad for the Las Vegas 7s

1. Charlie Taylor, 9 caps, Manly NSW

2. Tom Connor, 2 caps, Warringah NSW

3. Jeral Skelton, 1 cap, Brothers QLD

4. Lewis Holland, 34 caps, Queanbeyan

5. James Stannard, 45 caps, Souths QLD

6. John Porch, 12 caps, Norths NSW

7. Tim Anstee, 14 caps, Eastwood NSW

8. Jesse Parahi, 37 caps, Norths NSW

9. Dylan Pietsch, 6 caps, Randwick NSW

10. Ben O’Donnell, 4 caps, Randwick NSW

11. Tom Lucas, 21 caps, Sunnybank QLD

12. Lachie Anderson, 11 caps, Eastwood NSW

13th man. Brandon Quinn, 5 caps, Gordon NSW

FIXTURES

Las Vegas 7s fixtures

Saturday 3 March

Australia v Spain, 3.50am AEDT

Australia v USA, 6.51am AEDT

Sunday 4 March

Australia v Samoa, 12.26am AEDT

The post Brothers young gun Jeral Skelton named in Aussie 7s squad for Las Vegas appeared first on Rugby News.

Forwards: James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Sef Fa’agase, JP Smith, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Andrew Ready, Angus Blyth, Harry Hockings, Kane Douglas, Angus Scott-Young, Michael Gunn, Liam Wright, Tai Ford, Reece Hewat

Backs: James Tuttle, Moses Sorovi, Tate McDermott, Hamish Stewart, Nick Jooste, Teti Tela, Tony Hunt, Samu Kerevi (C), Filipo Daugunu ,Jayden Ngamanu, Izaia Perese, Lachlan Maranta

SECTION PALOISE (PAU)

Conrad Smith, Colin Slade, Ben Mowen, Steffon Armitage, Thomas Taylor, Lourens Adriaanse, Frank Halai, Jamie Mackintosh, Ignacio Calles, Lucas Rey Quentin Lespiauq, Jeremy Hurou, Daniel Ramsay, Giovanni Habel Kuffner, Pierrick Gunther, Baptiste Pesenti, Martin Puech, Thibault Daubagna, Clovis Lebail, Bastien Pourailly, Brandon Fajardo, Mathias Colombet, Watisoni Votu, Florian Nicot, Carl Hayman

PANASONIC WILD KNIGHTS

Shohei Hirano, Atsushi Sakate, Asaeli Ai Valu, Ryota Hasegawa, Daniel Heenan, Ben Gunter, Yuji Shimogama, Ryu Koliniasi Holani, Keisuke Uchida, Berrick Barnes, Kenki Fukuoka, Rikiya Matsuda, Yasutaka Sasakura, Akitito Yamada, Digby Ioane, Jack Cornelsen, Emersen Tamura, Masaki Tani, Tevita Tupou, Takuya Yamasawa, Taiki Koyama, Iori Kaji, Yoshikazu Fujita, Yuga Hyakutake, Ryuji Noguchi, Kentaro Kodama

HIGHLANDERS

Forwards: Aki Sieuli, Greg Pleasants-Tate, Tyrel Lomax,  Alex Ainley,  Paripari Parkinson, Elliot Dixon,  Dan Pryor, Shannon Frizell, Luke Whitelock, Dillon Hunt, Marino Mikaele Tu’u, Kalolo Tuiloma, Guy Millar,  Ash Dixon,  Josh Dickson

Backs: Kayne Hammington, Josh Renton, Josh Ioane, Fletcher Smith , Tevita Nabura,Teihorangi Walden, Ryan Tongia, Josh McKay, Richard Buckman, Terrance Hepetema, Pita Alatini

CHIEFS

Aidan Ross, Liam Polwart, Sosefo Kautai, Michael Allardice, Lachlan McWhannel, Mitchell Brown, Mitchell Karpik, Liam Messam(c), Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Marty Mckenzie, Solomon Alaimalo, Charlie Ngatai, Tim Nanai-Williams (c), Toni Pulu, Shaun Stevenson, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Angus Ta’avao, Atunaisa Moli, Taleni Seu, Lachlan Boshier, Jonathan Taumateine, Tiaan Falcon, Johnny Fa’auli, Alex Nankivell

BRUMBIES

Forwards: Robbie Abel, Ben Alexander, Richie Arnold, Rory Arnold, Tom Cusack, Blake Enever, Mees Erasmus, Lolo Fakaosilea, Leslie Leulua’iali’i-Makin, Lachlan McCaffrey, Connal McInerney, Faalelei Sione, Darcy Swain, Rob Valetini.

Backs: James Dargaville, Isaak Fines, Kyle Godwin, Jordan Jackson-Hope, Ryan Lonergan, Matthew Lucas, Andrew Muirhead, Chance Peni, Henry Speight, Lausii Taliauli, James Verity-Amm, Andrew Walker (wildcard)

REBELS

Jock Armstrong, Duncan Chubb, Jack Debreczeni, Colby Fainga’a, Sam Figg, Adam Freier, Will Genia*, Harrison Goddard, Esei Ha’angana, David Horwitz, Trevor Hosea, Henry Hutchison, Latu Latunipulu, Sama Malolo, Tom Moloney, Hunter Paisami, Rowan Perry, Kitione Ratu, Dom Shipperley, Alex Toolis, Andrew Tuala, Sione Tuipulotu, Ikapote Tupai, Semisi Tupou, Mahe Vailanu, Sam Ward

BLUES

Caleb Clarke, Kurt Ecklund, Jordan Hyland, Akira Ioane, Antonio Kirikiri, Orbyn Leger, George Moala, Melanai Nanai, Sam Nock, Jordan Olsen, Dalton Papalii, Jacob Pierce, Marcel Renata, Jonathan Ruru, Hoskins Sotutu, Carlos Spencer, Michael Tamoaeita, Murphy Taramai, Tanielu Telea, Jordan Trainor, Tamati Tua, Jimmy Tupou (C).

NSW WARATAHS

Cam Clark, Damien Fitzpatrick (C), Lalakai Foketi, Jake Gordon, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Maclean Jones, Tolu Latu, Mack Mason, Ryan McCauley, Kelly Meafua, Will Miller, Drew Mitchell, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Alex Newsome, Rory O’Connor, Curtis Rona, JP Sauni, Mitch Short, Irae Simone, Lachlan Swinton, Cody Walker

FIJI

Joeli Veitayaki, Rautnaisa Navuma, Mosese Ducivaki, Viliame Rarasea, Filimoni Seru Camaitovu, Mosese Ducivaki, Peni Raidre, Albert Tuisue, Serupepeli Vularika, Jone Manu Taufaga, Aparosa Tabulawaki, Timoci Senaite, Ifereimi Tovilevu, Lepani Rayala, Inia Tawalo, Veremalua Vugakoto, Kalivate Tawake, Vesi Rarawa, Timoci Sauvoli, Levani Kurimudu, Frank Lomani, Enele Malele, Chris Kurandrani, Penasio Kunabuli, Fabiano Rogovakalali, Eroni Mawi

CRUSADERS

Jone Macilai, George Bridge (c) Manasa Mataele, Braydon Ennor, Jack Stratton, Zach McKay, Brett Cameron, Tima Faingaanuku, Ngane Punivai, Richard Judd, Andrew Makalio, Billy Harmon, Ethan Blackadder, Tom Christie, Jordan Manihera, Hamish Dalzell, Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, Ben Morris, Dylan Nel, Harrison Allen, Nathan Vella

HURRICANES

Julian Savea (c), Brayden lose, Ben Lam, Alex Fidow, Fraser Armstrong, Tolu Fahamokioa, James O’Rielly, Murray Douglas, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Will Mangos, Liam Mitchell, Sam Henwood, Chase Tiatia, Finlay Christie, Jamie Booth, Losi Filipo, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Malo Tuitama, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Jonah Lowe, Trent Renata, Hunter Prescott

WOMEN’S SQUADS

BRUMBIES WOMEN’S

Tania Afamasaga, Emerena Aviga, Kiahan Bell-Chambers, Kate Brown, Louise Burrows, Jane Garraway, Charlene Gubb, Jess Howard, Michaela Leonard, Irene Macarthur, Paremo Marsh, Shellie Milward, Georgia O’Neill, Michelle Perry, Darcy Read, Cecelia Smith, Merrin Starr, Remi Wilton

QUEENSLAND REDS WOMEN’S

Forwards: Hana Ngaha, Vuanimasei Rasolea, Cheyenne Campbell, Ivy Kaleta, Phoebe Thomas, Liz Patu, Bree-Anna Cheatham, Kirby Sefo, Kiri Lingman, Lucy Lockhart

Backs: Ana Afuie, Zahara Temara, Sarah Riordan, Nareta Marsters, Alysia Fakaosilea, Samantha Treherne, Alana Elisaia, Sasha Mahuika

MELBOURNE REBELS WOMEN’S

Jayne Kareroa (C), Georgia Cormick, Jocelyn Davis, Sharlene Fagalilo, Kate Gribble, Casey Homewood, Samantha Homewood, Janita Kareta, Elle McIntosh, Anna Milne, Racheal Pike, Tulia Pula, Meretiana Robinson, Ta Tapou, Alice Tonumaivao, Maria Va’auli, Rebecca Walker, Mikaela Welti

NEW SOUTH WALES WOMEN’S

Atasi Lafai, Botille Vette-Welsh, Katrina Baker, Grace Hamilton, Sarah Halvorsen, Emily Robinson, Ashleigh Hewson (c), Ilisevea Batibasaga, Cobie-Jane Morgan, Ana-Lise Sio, Noella Green,  Tamsin Sheppard, Evelyn Horomia, Olivia Brooks, Kennedy Cherrington, Layne Morgan, Arabella McKenzie, Chloe Leaupepe

The post 2018 Brisbane 10s: Men’s & Women’s Team Lists appeared first on Rugby News.

Unlike the World Series tournaments, just four teams will progress from the pool stages to the semi finals, meaning both sides will more than likely need to win all three pool matches to progress to the knockout stages.

For the men, England appear to be the major danger, however Samoa also present a difficult challenge.

The women won’t meet New Zealand or Canada until the knockout stages, but will still need to be at their best to negotiate matches against Fiji and England.

Both tournaments will be played over three days at Robina Stadium on the Gold Coast from the 13th to 15th of April.

The post Men’s and Women’s Aussie 7s sides draw tough Commonwealth Games pools appeared first on Rugby News.

Andy Friend has made three changes to the side that won last weekend’s Sydney Sevens in emphatic style, with Lewis Holland and Boyd Killingworth both ruled out through injury and Jesse Parahi rested.

Warringah backrower Tom Connor retains his spot in the squad after making his debut in Sydney, while Croke’s Randwick teammate Dylan Pietsch has also earned a recall.

Australia, now ranked third in the world rankings, are in Pool A alongside Wales, Spain and Sevens World Series heavyweights Fiji.

“I was exceptionally proud of the performance in Sydney. We had marked it as a key tournament and all the boys aimed up and delivered on the big stage,” Friend said.

“Now it’s about backing that up, not just this week but on a consistent basis.

“It’s disappointing for Lewy, Boyd and Jesse to miss the Hamilton leg but it’s also a great opportunity for some of our new inclusions to stake their claim.

“Tom (Lucas) is one of our leaders and has been in the program for five years now. I have no doubt that he’ll rise to the occasion and take on more playmaking responsibility in the absence of Lewis.

“Sam (Croke) has been working really hard for his opportunity and I know he will seize this opportunity. We saw a bit of Dylan (Pietsch) last year – he’s another one of our young players with enormous potential. He has already shown that he can mix it on the World Series so I’m excited to see him get out there again,” Friend said.

Aussie 7s squad to play in Hamilton

1. Charlie Taylor, 8 caps, Manly NSW
2. Tom Connor, 1 cap, Warringah NSW
3. Sam Myers, 31 caps, Norths (Sydney)
4. Tom Lucas, 20 caps, Sunnybank QLD
5. James Stannard (c), 44 caps, Souths (Brisbane)
6. John Porch, 12 caps, Norths (Sydney)
7. Tim Anstee, 13 caps, Eastwood NSW
8. Sam Croke*, Randwick NSW
9. Dylan Pietsch, 5 caps, Randwick NSW
10. Ben O’Donnell, 3 caps, Randwick NSW
11. Maurice Longbottom, 3 caps, Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development Team
12. Lachie Anderson, 10 caps, Eastwood NSW

13th man. Matt Hood, 2 caps, Sydney University NSW

Qantas Australian Men’s Sevens Fixtures, Hamilton
Saturday 3 February
Australia v Spain, 10.58am AEDT
Australia v Wales, 2.24pm AEDT
Australia v Fiji, 5.50pm AEDT

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After topping their pool with three wins over USA, Canada and Scotland, Australia defeated rivals New Zealand and an in form Argentinian side to book a spot in the final against South Africa.

Looking for their first World Series tournament victory since 2012, the home side produced their best performance in recent memory, scoring five unanswered tries to claim a 29-0 victory over the Blitzboks in front of a vocal Australian crowd.

“We’ve got quite an aggressive defensive system and throughout the course of the weekend on occasions we haven’t believed in it. We showed a couple of clips this morning and just said, ‘Listen, do we really believe in this?’ and the boys were like, ‘Yeah, actually we do’,” Friend said after the victory.

“I said, ‘well if we believe let’s do it.’

“We committed to doing it and honestly from that minute on, it was just a different team.

“We train it but it’s one thing doing it at training, and one thing doing it out here and they believed in that and to me that was the difference.”

The Australian Men’s squad has lived in the shadows of their Olympic champion female counterparts in recent years, but Friend believes the victory will give his side the belief it needed going forward ahead of this year’s Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast and Sevens World Cup in San Fransisco.

“For them to now turn up and to do that on a World Series and in the process to knock off New Zealand and South Africa in the same tournament must give them belief, and I know it has given them belief,” Friend said.

Australia cross the Tasman on Tuesday ahead of this weekend’s Hamilton Sevens. They face Fiji, Wales and Spain in their pool matches.

The post Defence the catalyst for breakthrough Aussie 7s win according to Friend appeared first on Rugby News.

Cassie Staples was already a State League netballer and had been training at an elite level for five years, but the 24-year old now had a new goal.

“I sent a training clip of her deadlifting 130kg and doing muscle ups to Tim Rapp at the Waratahs and he forwarded it onto the ARU,” Justin Lang, an exercise physiologist at Live Athletic told Rugby News.

“Tim Walsh (Australian women’s coach) saw the video and invited her in to do some testing and she ran the second quickest time over 40 metres in the squad.”

Walsh told Staples that while he was impressed with her athletic ability, she needed to learn to play rugby. He said the current Australian women’s squad had three to four years of experience and that the best way to learn the game was to play it.

“There were no Sevens programs in southern Sydney, so I told Cas that I would start one,” Lang continued.

“We did a social media recruitment drive and basically said that we were looking for talented female athletes that were interested in playing Sevens.

“We wanted girls with strength, speed and fitness and then we created a program based around what the Australian Women’s Sevens girls were doing.”

In November 2016, Pride Sevens was born and the program quickly attracted a handful of ambitious female athletes from around southern Sydney.

“We had Premier League netballers, representative soccer players, basketball players, a few league and touch players, a dancer, hockey players, beach sprinters and an Australian Oztag representative.

“Basically we  had to teach them every skill from scratch but they picked it all up incredibly quickly. All the girls had been successful in other sports so they know what it takes, but they are extremely dedicated. Most of them have been passing a footy now every day since they started.”

Lang recruited former Australian Sevens player Michael Black to coach the side on the field, while he focused on the girl’s strength and conditioning.

“When Cassie met with Tim Walsh he told her she needed three things. She needed to be able to pass the ball both ways, she needed to show willingness in the contact side of the game and she needed to back herself on the field. He said he didn’t mind if she made mistakes, but he wanted to see what she could do with the footy in her hand.”

“From that, we decided that tackling and passing were the two key skills we needed to focus on and to the girls credit, they’ve worked extremely hard on both.”

Three months after that first session, Pride won their first tournament at Crescent Head without having a try scored against them and Staples earned a part time development contract with the Olympic winning Australian side soon after.

Staples earned three caps on the World Series late last year and earlier this week was named in Australia’s squad to play on home soil at this week’s Sydney 7s.

“Around the time of Pride’s first tournament, David Goldman from Victor Sports, who were Pride’s only ever sponsor, invited us out to the Sydney 7s and Cassie stood there and said ‘I want to play in this next year.’ I actually rang her last night and reminded her of that because it’s pretty remarkable,” Lang continued.

“Back then it was probably a bit of a pipe dream but we both believed she could do it. She’s just got incredible athleticism that is suited to the game and this amazing self belief and drive to be successful.”

Staples with Goldman and Lang at last year’s Sydney 7s

While Lang said he thought athletes from other sports could also make the transition to Sevens, he added that most people underestimate how much skill work Staples did.

“She trained three times a day for six months straight, so she probably did the work that some girls do in two or three years in six months, it’s no fluke, she’s worked incredibly hard,” Lang said,

“It was a sports science experiment that worked, but when you get an incredibly gifted and motivated athlete, special things can happen.”

While Staples has spent the last six months training full time with the Australian Sevens squad, Lang has continued to train his Pride Sevens squad and believes a number of other players are good enough to follow in Staples’ footsteps.

“We had seven or eight girls play in the University Sevens last year and we had three other girls play in the Australian Development team as well,” he said.

“We’ll also be representing Southern Districts in the Shute Shield 7s competition this year and that is going to create a viable pathway for girls from their very first game. If they are good enough, they can play in the University tournament, then get picked in the Australian development team and then pick up a full time contract.”

Staples and the Australian team begin their Sydney 7s campaign on Friday against Spain at 11:50am, before facing Papua New Guinea and France in their other Pool matches.

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