University Sport Update - Australian Universities rugby sevens join the road to Rio

Australian University Sport (AUS) is pleased to announce the Australian Universities rugby sevens women’s and men’s teams for 2015.
 
Student athletes have been chosen to form a select squad of university rugby sevens talent and will compete at the Australian Rugby Union’s (ARU) National Sevens Championships in Narrabeen, NSW from 7-8 March.
 
Front row: Ash Reid
Kneeling (L-R): Tim Murray (coach), Erica Fowler, Samantha Boholt, Samantha Thorton, Elizabeth Cook-Black, Sara Mills (Physio)
Standing (L-R): Nik Granger (Manager), Maddison Schuck, Olivia Patterson, Asako Ono, Phoebe Shirlow, Amelia Kuk, Sophie Williams, Brianne Rossato, Michaela Wright, Sean Barrett (Assistant Coach)


The tournament forms part of the ARU’s selection process for the National Sevens squads. With the sport set to debut in the 2016 Summer Olympics, both the national men’s and women’s coaches will be seeking out new talent to join them in Rio de Janeiro, as well as at the 2018 Commonwealth Games at the Gold Coast and the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
 
2015 is the first year AUS has been invited to send a team to compete at the tournament, and actively encourages and supports students simultaneously pursuing tertiary qualifications and elite sporting careers.

AUS National Programs Manager Donna Spethman is confident that the Australian Universities team will make an impact on ARU selectors at the Championships.

‘As the peak body representing university sport in Australia, AUS is excited to extend national representative opportunities to students who performed well at its national Australian University Games event in 2014,” Ms Spethman said.

National Director of Australian Sevens and Qantas Australian Men’s Sevens Head Coach Geraint John will be scouting players who show not just sporting prowess, but the leadership expected of an elite athlete both on and off the field.

"I am looking for players who show unrivalled enthusiasm for the game and demonstrate the attitude, character and skills to match,” Mr John said.

Qantas Australian Women’s Sevens Head Coach Tim Walsh says emerging talent will need to prove they possess the qualities required to excel at an Olympic or Commonwealth Games level.

“Members of the National Sevens squad encompass elite potential in the sport’s core competencies and a point of difference in one or more of those areas – namely, speed, agility, ball skills, power and fitness,” Mr Walsh explained.

“The National Sevens women’s program is on the lookout for players with a ruthless competitive instinct and an indelible passion for the sport."

Rugby sevens is a growing sport at the annual Australian University Games, managed by AUS, where the Australian Universities initial team squads have been chosen from.

AUS congratulates those selected to the Australian Universities men’s and women’s teams:

WOMEN (Uni Joeys)MEN
NameUniversityNameUniversity
Olivia PattersonCharles Sturt UniversityNetani QicatabuaMonash University
Brianne RossatoJames Cook UniversityJosh McCormackThe University of Newcastle
Michaela WrightJames Cook UniversityRichard KayQueensland University of Technology
Sophie WilliamsJames Cook UniversityJustin FourieThe University of Sydney
Phoebe ShirlowJames Cook UniversityMatt NarracottThe University of Sydney
Libby Cook-BlackJames Cook UniversityCameron MasonThe University of Sydney
Madison SchuckQueensland University of TechnologyChristian YassminThe University of Sydney
Amelia KopstarrQueensland University of TechnologySteven VassiloudisThe University of Sydney
Asako OnoThe University of QueenslandDylan VieiraThe University of Sydney
Sam BoholtUniversity of the Sunshine CoastThomas Hill University of Technology, Sydney
Erica FowlerUniversity of the Sunshine CoastJack ClancyUniversity of Technology, Sydney
Sammy ThorntonUniversity of the Sunshine CoastBrandon QuinnUniversity of Technology, Sydney
Tim MurrayCoachJason GrierCoach
Sean BarrettAssistant CoachColin ChristieAssistant Coach
Nik GrangerManagerFudge AtshanManager

Story originally posted by UniSport.

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