The brother of World Rugby Women's Sevens Player of the Year Charlotte Caslick has been named in the Australian Men's team for the first tournament of the 2016-2017 HSBC Sevens World Series in Dubai next weekend.
Sam Caslick will make his World Series debut in Dubai along with four other in a new-look side that is going through a major phase of regeneration under head coach Andy Friend this season.
Caslick, who made his national team debut earlier this month at the Ocean 7s in Fiji, will be joined by Michael Adams, Simon Kennewell, Charlie Taylor and Tim Anstee in representing Australia for the first time on the World Series.
With captain Lewis Holland still unavailable for selection due to injury, Sam Myers will take on the role of tournament captain in his 25th Sevens Cap for Australia.
After first having being called into the Australian Sevens program in September 2015, Simon Kennewell was temporarily released from the program midway through this year to play on the wing for Australia at the 2016 U20s World Championship, where he made a name for himself as a dangerous try-scoring threat.
Tim Anstee will make his debut after a strong rise through the Sevens pathways, winning a silver medal for Australia at the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa, and following it up with a gold medal this year for the Uniroos squad at the World University Games in Swansea, Wales in July 2016.
Charlie Taylor comes into the Aussie 7s squad having played a mix of Rugby League in the NSW Cup and Rugby for the NSW Schoolboys level in 2012 and 2013.
Hailing from the Warringah Rats, the Personal Trainer plays Centre and Wing in the XV-man version of the game.
Club Captain Lewis Holland will lead a development side as coach with the team competing in an invitational Sevens tournament run alongside the Dubai 7s, as the Men look to expand the depth of the young squad.
“This is an exciting period for this young group of guys after an intense pre-season,” Friend said.
“We learnt a lot from the Oceania 7s tournament and this group is showing real potential with a lot of young players really putting their hand up for future opportunities.
“Lewis taking up the reins as Coach for the first time is a unique opportunity for him but is a testament to his leadership and standing amongst the squad and it will also give us another opportunity to view players in tournament conditions.”
UPDATED SQUAD
1. Sam Myers (c), Northern Suburbs
2. Edward Jenkins, Aussie7s
3. Michael Adams*, Warringah
4. Tim Anstee*, Eastwood
5. Boyd Killingworth, Warringah
6. Alex Gibbon, Southern Districts
7. Simon Kennewell*, Randwick
8. Patrick McCutcheon, Sydney University
9. Samuel Caslick*, Tribe7s
10. Henry Hutchison, Randwick
11. James Stannard, Aussie7s
12. Charlie Taylor*, Warringah
13th man Connor Mitchell, University of Queensland
*HSBC Sevens World Series debut
