The University of Canberra Women’s Rugby Sevens have selected 30 players for their training squad ahead of the Aon University Sevens Series set to kick off on September 14.

 

The squad is made up of some key returning players and a pool of new talent who will make their 7s debut in the upcoming series.

 

Sammie Wood will be back for her third season making her the most capped player having competed in all but one tournament since its inception, while Kobe Nona has swapped a singlet for a down jacket with a move to UC after two series with the University of Queensland.

 

New faces like 17-year-old high school students, Brooke Gilroy and Lily Murdoch, join UC for the first time but not without any experience as Gilroy played in the Brumbies Super W in the 2019 season and Murdoch is coming off a stint with the Junior National Team Squad.

 

“We’ve named a larger squad than previous years and each of these athletes have the ability to compete at the next level,” said UC Sevens Head Coach, Liam McGrath.

 

“We’re really happy with the depth and I believe we have a good mix of established athletes with some younger, up and coming players which has created competition for positions internally.”

 

“Members of the squad have three tournaments under their belts as we’ve participated in three Shute Shield Sevens tournaments in Sydney and I can see that they are starting to develop combinations and their own style of play” said Mr McGrath.

 

In addition, the squad will also be allocated two current national team players, still pending confirmation. Since 2017, the UC Sevens has seen national team players Sharni Williams, Yasmin Meakes, Cassie Stapes and American stalwart Abby Gustaitis all wear UC blue.

 

In line with the Rugby Australia and UniSport Australia competition player quotas, 10 athletes in the squad are UC students, one from the Australian National University in Canberra and another from Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga. All bar one of the UC Sevens staff are also UC alumni or current students.

 

Squad list:

1            Georgia O’Niell

2            Michaela Leonard

3            Sammy Maxwell

4            Skye Churchill

5            Lillyann Mason-Spice

6            Claudia Obst

7            Rachel Crothers

8            Sammie Wood

9            Caitlin Turnbull

10          Alahna  Ryan

11          Biola Dawa

12          Darcy Read

13          Brooke Gilroy

14          Jane Garraway

15          Remi Wilton

16          Ema Masi

17          Bree Toze

18          Kobe Nona

19          Aroha Spillane

20          Katheryn Cudaj

21          Sepa Salesa

22          Lily Murdoch

23          Erin Chant

24          Tash Salisbury

25          Sidonie Carrol

26          Bella Sheen

27          Ella Ryan

28          Ainsley Scriviner

29          Caitlin Quester

30          Grace Kemp