Australia ready for Olympic challenge

Medal contenders Australia have named their men’s and women’s teams for the 2016 Olympics. Both are expected to contend for top-three finishes, with the women heavy favorites to claim the gold after finishing first overall during the 2015-16 HSBC Sevens Series.

The stars have aligned for the women, with all their big guns available for the historic tournament. Shannon Parry and Sharni Williams are co-captains, with the likes of Charlotte Caslick, Emma Tonegato, and game breaker Ellia Green all included. In fact the only change to the team that participated in Clermont-Ferrand is the return of veteran Gemma Etheridge, who is a surprise inclusion having recovered from ACL reconstruction at just the opportune moment to replace youngsters Tiana Penitani.

Meanwhile the men have their own last-minute addition, with Nick Malouf recovering from his own knee problems to take up a spot after missing the entirety of the 2015-16 Series. Malouf is now under an injury cloud once again, however, after coming off against Japan in a tune-up tournament last week, so there could yet be a chance for one of those left out to make the trip.

With a large number of players cycled through the squad this season there were bound to be those disappointed. Among those left out are forwards Boyd Killingworth and Sam Myers, while backs Tom Kingston, Greg Jeloudev, and Pama Fou are also on the outside looking in. The latter two could benefit should Malouf be forced to withdraw, though another option could be the versatile Stephen van der Walt, who has featured as both a back and forward this season.

Teenager Henry Hutchison is in the side after making his mark this season, and John Porch is also included after impressing in the second half of the circuit. Hutchison was expected to make the team but Porch is perhaps a surprise overtaking the more experienced duo Jeloudev and Fou. Wallaby stars Nick Cummins and Henry Speight were also in the frame but injuries have curtailed their Olympic dreams.

The men are in Pool B along with South Africa, France, and Spain. The women are top seeds in Pool A, competing against the USA, Fiji, and Colombia.

AUSTRALIA MEN’s OLYMPIC 7s
Cameron Clark, Tom Cusack, Allan Fa’alava’au, Con Foley, Lewis Holland, Henry Hutchison, Ed Jenkins (capt.), Nick Malouf, Pat McCutcheon, Jesse Parahi, John Porch, James Stannard

AUSTRALIA WOMEN’s OLYMPIC 7s
Nicole Beck, Charlotte Caslick, Emilee Cherry, Chloe Dalton, Gemma Etheridge, Ellia Green, Shannon Parry (co-capt.), Evania Pelite, Alicia Quirk, Emma Tonegato, Amy Turner, Sharni Williams (co-capt.)