Rugby World Cup Sevens Rosters and Preview

The 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens will kick off at San Francisco’s AT&T Park in just a few hours with 40 teams from 28 nations participating across two divisions. It’s the seventh rendition of the tournament for the men, but only the fourth time the women have been involved.

This edition comes five years after the last, breaking from the traditional four-year cycle to accommodate the addition of rugby sevens in the Olympic Games. It will also diverge from the typical by incorporating a straight knock-out format rather than pools.

Viewers in the USA can watch on NBC. Those in Canada can view the live stream on the CBC Sports website. Those based internationally can access the World Rugby live stream on Facebook and the tournament’s official website.

 

WOMEN’s PREVIEW

The women will start things off on Friday with their round of 16. Fiji will play Spain in the opener, with the Pacific side always a challenge but perhaps not quite on the level of their male counterparts. Two ‘dark horse’ teams will headline the next matches with France up against Japan and Russia facing South Africa. The French side is led by the vastly experienced Fanny Horta with Camille Grassineau and Shannon Izar near household names on the circuit. Russia are led by the outstanding Alena Mikhaltsova and feature one of the world’s best aerial specialists in towering forward Baizat Khamidova.

Canada and the USA will each field competitive sides. The Canadians are third seeds and led by world-class Ghislaine Landry. Their starting side will challenge anyone but they have said goodbye to some outstanding players since Rio and are still in a bit of a rebuilding stage. Alev Kelter’s late withdrawal is a huge blow to the Women’s Eagles. Can the powerful carrying of Jordan Gray and Naya Tapper make up for the loss of Kelter’s leadership?

The Americas will have two further representatives in Brazil and Mexico. Both are ranked in the bottom end of the seeding and are certain to be competing in the consolation bracket after Day One. Brazil are by far the more experienced side with Raquel Kochhann leading with a supporting cast of Luiza Campos and Beatriz ‘Futuro’ Mulhbauer. Mexico are coached by Canadian Robin MacDowell and captained by Daniela Rosales. Win or lose they will be keen to leave a lasting impression.

For most the title comes down to Olympic Gold and defending HSBC Women’s Sevens Series champions Australia or perennial contenders New Zealand, winners of the last three stops on the circuit and top seeds in San Francisco. Both are stacked with both experience and talent. Australia feature Charlotte Caslick, Emma Tonegato, and the blazing speed of Ellia Green. New Zealand are led by the indomitable Sarah Goss and feature superstars Kelly Brazier and Portia Woodman. Another final between those two sides seems inevitable.

A complete fixture list for the women can be seen here.

AUSTRALIA (2)
Charlotte Caslick, Emilee Cherry, Ellia Green, Shannon Parry, Demi Hayes, Page McGregor, Yasmin Meakes, Evania Pelite, Alicia Quirk, Cassandra Staples, Emma Tonegato, Sharni Williams (capt.)

BRAZIL (14)
Amanda Araujo, Luiza Campos, Isadora Cerullo, Aline Furtado, Raquel Kochhann (capt.), Beatriz Muhlbauer, Mariana Nicolau, Haline Scatrut, Bianca Silva, Leila Silva, Marcelle Souza, Rafaela Zanellato

CANADA (3)
Olivia Apps, Britt Benn, Pam Buisa, Caroline Crossley, Bianca Farella, Julia Greenshields, Sara Kaljuvee, Ghislaine Landry (capt.), Kayla Moleschi, Breanne Nicholas, Natasha Watcham-Roy, Charity Williams

CHINA (12)
Ke-Yi Chen, Yue-Ying Gao, Yu Hu, Ziao-Qian Liu, Hong-Ting Ruan, Cai-Hong Sun, Wan-Yu Wang, Mei-Ling Yan (capt.), Fei-Fei Yang, Min Yang, Li-Ping Yu, Xiao-Ming Yu

ENGLAND (8)
Holly Aitchison, Claire Allan, Jess Breach, Abbie Brown (capt.), Heather Fisher, Vicky Fleetwood, Deborah Fleming, Natasha Hunt, Alex Matthews, Sarah McKenna, Emily Scarratt, Amy Wilson-Hardy

FIJI (7)
Merewai Cumu, Raijieli Daveua, Rusila Nagasau, Ana Maria Naimasi, Miriama Naiobasali, Tima Ravisa, Viniana Riwai, Ana Maria Roqica (capt.), Asinate Savu, Pricilla Siata, Luisa Tisolo, Mereula Torooti

FRANCE (6)
Montserrat Amédée, Coralie Bertrand, Anne-Cécile Ciofani, Caroline Drouin, Camille Grassineau, Lina Guérin, Fanny Horta (capt.), Shannon Izar, Marjorie Mayans, Carla Neisen, Chloé Pelle, Joanna Sainlo

IRELAND (9)
Kathy Baker, Ashley Baxter, Aoife Doyle, Katie Fitzhenry, Stacey Flood, Louise Galvin, Eve Higgins, Lucy Mulhall (capt.), Amee-Leigh Murphy-Crowe, Deirbhile Nic A Bhaird, Audrey O’Flynn, Hannah Tyrrell

JAPAN (11)
Raichielmiyo Bativakalolo, Yume Hirano, Tomomi Kozasa, Iroha Nagata, Chiharu Nakamura (capt.), Fumiko Otake, Yume Okuroda, Sayaka Suzuki, Emii Tanaka, Noriko Taniguchi, Yukari Tatayama, Honoka Tsutsumi

MEXICO (16)
Margely Angulo, Fernanda Carrillo, Isabela González, Karina Landeros, Ariana Lewis, Karmen Macedo, Adriana Mendoza, Yazmín Ramírez, Daniela Rosales (capt.), Carolina Sandoval, Zoe Tuyo, Brenda Weinel

NEW ZEALAND (1)
Shakira Baker, Michaela Blyde, Kelly Brazier, Gayle Broughton, Theresa Fitzpatrick, Sarah Goss (capt.), Tyla Nathan-Wong, Ruby Tui, Stacey Waaka, Niall Williams, Tenika Willison, Portia Woodman

PAPUA NEW GUINEA (15)
Helen Abau, Marie Biyama, Marlugu Dixon, Chelsea Garesa, Yolanda Gittins, Debbie Kaore, Melanie Kawa, Lynette Kwarula, Taiva Lavai, Fatima Rama, Cassandra Sampson (capt.), Gemma Schnaubelt

RUSSIA (4)
Anna Baranchuk, Arina Bystrova, Anna Gavrilyuk, Baizat Khamidova, Marina Kukina, Daria Lushina, Alena Mikhaltsova (capt.), Daria Noritsina, Maria Perestiak, Anastasia Prokudina, Daria Shestakova, Kristina Seredina

SOUTH AFRICA (13)
Zenay Jordaan, Babalwa Latsha, Kimico Manuel, Zintle Mpupha (capt.), Zinhle Ndawonde, Marithy Pienaar, Nadine Roos, Snenhlanhla Shozi, Mathrin Simmers, Buhlebethu Sonamzi, Christelene Steinhobel, Eloise Webb

SPAIN (10)
Uribarri Barrutieta, Marina Bravo, Teresa Bueso, María Casado, Iera Echebarría, Amaia Erbina, Olivia Fresneda, Patricia García, María Losada, Elisabet Martínez, Bárbara Plà (capt.), María Ribera

USA (5)
Ryan Carlyle, Lauren Doyle, Cheta Emba, Joanne Fa’avesi, Jordan Gray, Abby Gustaitis, Nicole Heavirland (capt.), Ilona Maher, Kelsi Stockert, Naya Tapper, Kristen Thomas, Kate Zackary

 

 

MEN’s PREVIEW

While the men will also be using the knock-out format, with 24 teams their tournament begins with an ‘eliminator’ round on the opening day that will see eight teams advancing to the round of 16 against the top eight seeds that have been given first round byes. For some fans it means they will have to wait most of the day to see their team play. Hosts USA will be the last side to take the field in San Francisco.

The Eagles enter the tournament as the 5th-ranked team and will be awaiting the winner of Wales and Zimbabwe. Neither are likely to turn over the Americans who have named an impressive roster headlined by rocket men Perry Baker and Carlin Isles. Regular captain Madison Hughes is fit for duty as is star playmaker Folau Niua. Up front it’s the power of Danny Barrett and Ben Pinkelman’s all-around skill that are difference-makers.

Argentina are most likely to face another Americas team with their match against either Canada or Papua New Guinea. It’s been an injury-riddled season for Canada and the bad news continued this week with top forward Mike Fuailefau ruled out, bad news after losing John Moonlight to retirement just a few weeks ago. Los Pumas have sent a mixed squad with a few savvy veterans alongside some very promising young athletes. Lautaro Bazán Velez and Luciano González Rizzoni bring a bit of x-factor while Germán Schulz and Santiago Álvarez are Olympians.

There are three further Americas teams. Jamaica won’t have new rugby convert Warren Weir but they do have Rhodri Adamson, Ashley Smith, and imposing captain Conan Osborne. Uruguay is up against Japan first, a team that features a heavy Pacific Island influence and will not lack in size. Los Teros will depend on speed and guile from the likes of the Ardao brothers – Diego and Manuel – and test veterans Nicolás Freitas and Gastón Mieres.

Entering at the 17th-ranked side but certainly capable of causing an upset are Chile. They stunned a New Zealand development side at last year’s Silicon Valley 7s and then beat South Africa in Punta del Este. Felipe Brangier is the inspirational captain with fellow forward Ignacio Silva and creative backs Rodrigo Fernández and Marcelo Torrealba certain to be important contributors. If the Cóndores can’t get past Ireland in the first round they will be confident of their chances in the consolation bracket.

New Zealand and South Africa are traditional powerhouses and enter the tournament ranked No3 and No1 respectively, but neither have sent convincing sides. New Zealand are themselves rebuilding and have lost rising star Vilimoni Koroi and top forward Sam Dickson. The Blitzbokke arrive in even worse shape no sign of Cecil Afrika, Branco du Preez, Seabelo Senatla, Kwagga Smith, and Kyle Brown for various reasons. That’s not to say either will be a pushover but the favorites tag instead goes to the No2 seed.

Fiji have sent a team with only one purpose – to reclaim the Melrose Cup they last lifted in 2005. Few would bet against them given the talent at their disposal. Regular circuit stars Jerry Tuwai, Jasa Veremalua, and Amenoni Nasilasila are supplemented with France-based professionals Leone Nakarawa, Josua Tuisova, Semi Kunatani, and Semi Radradra. Their squad depth is unmatched with virtually any combination capable of beating any other side. Size, speed, and dazzling handling skills make them the crowd favorites and odds-on to finish at the top of the heap.

A complete fixture list for the men can be seen here.

ARGENTINA (7)
Santiago Álvarez, Lautaro Bazán Vélez, Mateo Carreras, Luciano González Rizzoni, Santiago Mare, Marcos Moroni, Matías Osadczuk, Maximo Provenzano, Gastón Revol (capt.), Conrado Roura, Franco Sábato, Germán Schulz

AUSTRALIA (6)
Lachie Anderson, Lewis Holland (capt.), Henry Hutchison, Boyd Killingworth, Maurice Longbottom, Tom Lucas, Liam McNamara, Sam Myers, Ben O’Donnell, Jesse Parahi, John Porch, Brandon Quinn

CANADA (10)
Luke Bradley, Connor Braid, Andrew Coe, Admir Cejvanovic, Justin Douglas, Lucas Hammond, Nathan Hirayama, Harry Jones (capt.), Isaac Kaay, Pat Kay, Luke McCloskey, Matt Mullins

CHILE (17)
Felipe Brangier (capt.), Benjamín de Vidts, Rodrigo Fernández, Juan Pablo Larenas, Francisco Metuaze, Ignacio Silva, Marcelo Torrealba, Francisco Urroz, Martín Vallejos, Martín Verschae, Pedro Verschae, Lucas Westcott

ENGLAND (4)
Phil Burgess, Alex Davis, Richard de Carpentier, Will Edwards, Mike Ellery, Harry Glover, Ollie Lindsay-Hague, Ruaridh McConnochie, Tom Mitchell (capt.), Will Muir, Dan Norton, James Rodwell

FIJI (2)
Paula Dranisinikula, Semi Kunatani, Sevuloni Mocenacagi, Alosio Naduva, Leone Nakarawa, Amenoni Nasilasila, Kalione Nasoko, Semi Radradra, Vatemo Ravouvou, Josua Tuisova, Jerry Tuwai (capt.), Jasa Veremalua

FRANCE (11)
Jean-Pascal Barraque, Kevin Bly, Paul Bonnefond, Pierre Boudehent, Terry Bouhraoua, Manoel Dall’igna (capt.), Pierre-Gilles Lakafia, Stephen Parez, Paulin Riva, Sacha Valleau, Tavite Veredamu, Gabin Villiere

HONG KONG (19)
Michael Coverdale, Max Denmark, Toby Fenn, Liam Herbert, Jamie Hood, Eric Kwok, Cado Lee, Alessandro Nardoni, Ben Rimene (capt.), Hugo Stiles, Kam-Shing Yiu

IRELAND (16)
Jordan Conroy, Shane Daly, Billy Dardis (capt.), Ian Fitzpatrick, Foster Horan, Hugo Keenan, Terry Kennedy, Harry McNulty, Bryan Mollen, Jimmy O’Brien, John O’Donnell, Greg O’Shea

JAMAICA (22)
Rhodri Adamson, Nyle Beckett, Tyler Bush, Samuel Caven, Oshane Edie, Miguel Facey, Mikel Facey, Dyneal Fessal, Alpachino Mignott, Conan Osborne (capt.), Mark Philips, Samuel Rees, Ashley Smith, Marcus Weber

JAPAN (15)
Kosuke Hashino, Joseph Kamana, Ryota Kano, Joseph Liladamu, Chihito Matsui, Jone Naikabula, Dai Ozawa (capt.), Katsuyuki Sakai, Jose Seru, Kameli Soejima, Tevita Tupou, Taichi Yoshizawa

KENYA (9)
Eden Agero, Willy Ambaka, Andrew Amonde, Oscar Ayodi (capt.), Herman Humwa, Collins Injera, Samuel Ngethe, Samuel Oliech, Jeffery Oluoch, Dennis Ombachi, Nelson Oyoo, Brian Tanga

NEW ZEALAND (3)
Kurt Baker, Dylan Collier, Scott Curry (capt.), Trael Joass, Andrew Knewstubb, Tim Mikkelson, Sione Molia, Jona Nareki, Joe Ravouvou, Salesi Rayasi, Akuila Rokolisoa, Regan Ware

PAPUA NEW GUINEA (23)
Manu Guise (capt.), Henry Kalua, Emil Latuminah, Samu Malambes, Dean Manale, Joe Mocke, Danny Opa, Hensley Peter, Freddy Rova, Patrick Tatut, Willie Tirang, Wesley Vali

RUSSIA (14)
Ilya Babaev, German Davydov, Ramil Gaisin, Igor Galinovski, Yuri Gostyuzhev, Vladislav Lazarenko, Vladimir Ostroushko (capt.), Patris Peki, Vladislav Sozonov, Dmitri Sukhin, Sergei Yanyushkin, Vitali Zhivatov

SAMOA (13)
David Afamasaga, Tomasi Alosio, Malu Falaniko, Neria Fomai, Gordon Langkilde, La’aloi Leilua, Alamanda Motuga, Murphy Paulo, Joe Perez, Tofatu Solia, Belgium Tuatagaloa, Alatasi Tupou (capt.)

SCOTLAND (8)
Alec Coombes, Jack Cuthbert, Harvey Elms, Jamie Farndale, Robbie Fergusson, Nyle Godsmark, Craig Jackson, Gavin Lowe, Max McFarland, Joseva Nayacavou, Sam Pecqueur, Scott Riddell (capt.)

SOUTH AFRICA (1)
Heino Bezuidenhout, Zain Davids, Justin Geduld, Selvyn Davids, Dewald Human, Werner Kok, Ruhan Nel, Ryan Oosthuizen, Dylan Sage, Philip Snyman (capt.), Siviwe Soyizwapi, Rosko Specman

TONGA (24)
Naua Kaloni, Daniel Kilioni, Violeti Kolo, Samiu Muna, Solomone Pau’uvale, Young Pongi, Jack Ram (capt.), Taniela Samita, Sitani Tei, Fine Tokai, Alefosio Vahe, Fetu’u Vainikolo

UGANDA (20)
Desire Ayera, Adrian Kasito, Justin Kimono, Timothy Kisiga, Ivan Magomu, James Odongo, Aaron Ofoyrwoth, Pius Ogena, Bryan Oketayot, Solomon Okia, Michael Okorach (capt.), Philip Wokorach

URUGUAY (18)
Joaquín Alonso, Diego Ardao, Manuel Ardao, Felipe Etcheverry, Nicolás Freitas, Juan Garese, Valentín Grille, Guillermo Lijtenstein, Gastón Mieres, Eugenio Plottier, Gabriel Puig (capt.), Sebastián Schroeder

USA (5)
Perry Baker, Danny Barrett, Madison Hughes (capt.), Martin Iosefo, Carlin Isles, Matai Leuta, Folau Niua, Ben Pinkelman, Brett Thompson, Stephen Tomasin, Maka Unufe, Kevon Williams

WALES (12)
Cory Allen, Afon Bagshaw, Ethan Davies, Cai Devine, Owen Jenkins, Luke Morgan, Ben Roach, Jared Rosser, Will Talbot-Davies, Adam Thomas (capt.), Luke Treharne, Lloyd Williams, Tom Williams

ZIMBABWE (21)
Ngoni Chibuwe, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Kuda Chiwanza, Shingirai Hlanguyo, Stephan Hunduza, Nelson Madida, Shayne Makombe, Tarisai Mugariri, Riaan O’Neill, Connor Pritchard, Boyd Rouse (capt.), Biselele Tshamala