The University of Canberra has named its 30-woman squad for the Aon University 7s ahead of the first round in September.
Key returning players, including former soccer and rugby league star Sammie Wood are joined by a pool of new talent that will make their Sevens debut in the upcoming series.
Wood will be back for her third season, making her UC's most capped player, having competed in all but one tournament since the inception of the Uni 7s.
And the team will also be boosted by Kobe Nona, who will shift south from Aon powerhouses 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.
Former elite swimmer Gilroy played for the Brumbies in Super W this year, while Murdoch is an Australian sevens youth squad member and national schoolgirls squad member.
Coach Liam McGrath said UC had named a larger squad than in previous years and he was happy with the depth.
"I believe we have a good mix of established athletes with some younger, up and coming players which has created competition for positions internally," McGrath said.
“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."
All teams will be allocated two current national team players, still to be announced.
Since 2017, Sharni Williams, Yasmin Meakes, Cassie Stapes and American stalwart Abby Gustaitis have all worn the UC blue.
In line with the Rugby Australia and UniSport Australia guidelines, 10 athletes in the squad are UC students, as well as one from the Australian National University in Canberra and another from Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga.
Most staff are also UC alumni or current students.
The reduced four-round Aon Uni 7s format kicks off on september 14-15 at the University of Queensland.
CANBERRA UNI SQUAD
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 Emma Masi
17 Bree Tozer
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
SCHEDULE
2019 Aon University 7s Series:
Round 1 - September 14-15, University of Queensland
Round 2 - September 28-29, Bond University
Round 3 - October 12-13, University of Adelaide
Round 4 - October 26-27, University of Canberra
