Aussie Sevens announce debutant after Lefau-Fakaosilea, Dennis injuries

Wed, Feb 21, 2024, 5:50 AM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson
Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea will miss Vancouver and LA with a shoulder injury. Photo: Getty Images
Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea will miss Vancouver and LA with a shoulder injury. Photo: Getty Images

The Australian Women's Sevens have tweaked their squad for Vancouver after a pair of setbacks.

Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea (shoulder) and Heidi Dennis (quad) will return back to Australia after picking up knocks in the build-up to this week's event.

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They have been replaced by Lily Dick and Sidney Taylor, with Taylor in line for her debut.

Lefau-Fakaosilea's injury is a significant blow to the Series leaders, with the 23-year-old in career-best form.

She was named as part of the Perth SVNS Dream Team as they went down to Ireland in the Final.

As for Dennis, the teenager was handed her debut in Perth, scoring in her debut game against South Africa.

They join Bienne Terita (ankle) on the sidelines, with Maddison Levi still to serve a two-match ban in the group stages.

Coach Tim Walsh has re-called Dick to the squad, who played a crucial role in their Triple Crown success.

Dick scored the winning try in Langford in 2022 to seal the World Series title in extra-time against New Zealand.

Meanwhile, Taylor is in line to become the 70th player to pull on the gold jersey for the Sevens side.

Taylor captained the Queensland side as they swept through the 2023 AON Uni Sevens.

She was also a part of the Australia A squad that went to Fiji in September, having been named in the full-time Sevens squad for 2023-24.

UPDATED Australia Women’s Sevens team for Vancouver SVNS: 

1. Lily Dick

2. Sharni Smale

3. Faith Nathan

4. Dominique Du Toit

5. Teagan Levi

6. Madison Ashby

7. Charlotte Caslick (c)

8. Kaitlin Shave

9. Tia Hinds

10. Bella Nasser

12. Maddison Levi

44. Sidney Taylor

65. Sariah Paki

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