Fleur Ginn, Carys Dallinger, Sophie Duff and Rhani Hagan have emerged in the new wave of rugby sevens players for the sport's post-Olympics makeover.
The Queensland quartet are all in Dubai with the Australia A team which will play matches while Australia’s top side contests the opening round of the HSBC SVNS series from Saturday.
Kahli Henwood received a dream call-up at the Paris Olympics as her first taste of elite sevens. In Dubai, the strong-running Queenslander will play in her first SVNS series tournament.
She joins fellow Queenslanders Charlotte Caslick, Maddi Levi, Teagan Levi, Bella Nasser, Heidi Dennis and comeback girl Demi Hayes in the top squad.
That’s seven Queenslanders in all in the 13-strong Australian team which is out to defend the Dubai title won in fine style late last year.
Maddi Levi launched her stellar run to the mantle as World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year in Dubai last year with 12 tries as the Aussies conquered New Zealand 26-19 in the final.
For Ginn, the success of Australia’s women’s sevens program has a magnetic pull because she wants to be a part of it too.
“There’s definitely inspiration when you see how well the Australian team performs at all the different tournaments around the world,” Ginn said.
Ginn, 18, can give her sevens dreams a full-on crack now she has finished juggling rugby with her Year 12 studies.
She recently finished her final exams at Brisbane’s Stretton State College.
“There were sevens tournaments this year where I took along my laptop and textbooks to keep up with school work and study,” Ginn said.
“It was difficult at times but you make it work. I had maths, English and other exams to think about so I missed the last round of the Next Gen 7s (in Byron Bay).”
Ginn showed her particular skillset in the earlier tournaments in Toowoomba and Sydney to highlight what she adds to a side.
Her aggression in defence and hustle in attack are two big traits.
“The aggression is just a natural part of me when I’m on the field. That’s how I play my best,” Ginn explained.
Her game knowledge is also more advanced than some girls who are new to the game. The youngster, of Kiwi and Papua New Guinean heritage, has been playing sevens since she was in primary school.
Ginn, Hagan, Dallinger and Duff will play for Australia A in the International Invitation Women's division with pool games set against Poland, Belgium, Lionesse Rugby and Lydon Vaquita Hammerheads.
Hagan is another teen on the rise. The Indigenous livewire has the pace to finish tries from 60m out and her elusive touch skills always come to the fore.
She already has a gold medal from last year’s Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago since converting from touch to rugby.
“There’s more space to attack in sevens and the chance to travel is something you don’t get in touch or athletics,” Hagan said.
Her passport has now been stamped in Dubai just as one of her role models had hers stamped for one of the turning points for women’s rugby in Australia.
Her role model is Bo de la Cruz, the first Indigenous woman to represent Australia at touch at senior level and a convert who shared in Australia’s 2009 World Cup Sevens triumph in Dubai.
The Gladstone-bred Duff is an improver while Dallinger is the surprise packet.
Unwanted by the Wallaroos selectors, Dallinger's call-up for Queensland’s Next Gen 7s team proved a masterstroke.
Her strong running and footwork in the middle plus her refined passing game all added to the Queensland efforts. It put her on the radar with the Australian selectors.
Australian women’s coach Tim Walsh continues in his role.
Long-striding stalwart Hayes will make her return in Dubai after overcoming a major knee injury sustained in Cape Town late last year.
Following the retirement of Paris Olympics skipper Nick Malouf, Hayden Sargeant is the one Queenslander in the men’s squad for Dubai under new coach Liam Barry.
Every round of the HSBC SVNS series will be shown live and exclusive, ad-free and on demand on Stan Sport.
HSBC SVNS DUBAI MATCH SCHEDULE
*All times, Qld times
POOL A - AUSTRALIA WOMEN
Saturday, November 30: Australia v China (3:44pm)
Saturday, November 30: Australia v Fiji (7:05pm)
Saturday, November 30: Australia v Ireland (11:35am)
POOL A - AUSTRALIA MEN
Saturday, November 30: Australia v South Africa (4:50pm)
Saturday, November 30: Australia v France (9:20pm)
Sunday, December 1: Australia v Kenya (2:44am)
FINALS TBC
