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.
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:
Story originally posted by UniSport.
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.
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| 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 | ||
| Name | University | Name | University |
| Olivia Patterson | Charles Sturt University | Netani Qicatabua | Monash University |
| Brianne Rossato | James Cook University | Josh McCormack | The University of Newcastle |
| Michaela Wright | James Cook University | Richard Kay | Queensland University of Technology |
| Sophie Williams | James Cook University | Justin Fourie | The University of Sydney |
| Phoebe Shirlow | James Cook University | Matt Narracott | The University of Sydney |
| Libby Cook-Black | James Cook University | Cameron Mason | The University of Sydney |
| Madison Schuck | Queensland University of Technology | Christian Yassmin | The University of Sydney |
| Amelia Kopstarr | Queensland University of Technology | Steven Vassiloudis | The University of Sydney |
| Asako Ono | The University of Queensland | Dylan Vieira | The University of Sydney |
| Sam Boholt | University of the Sunshine Coast | Thomas Hill | University of Technology, Sydney |
| Erica Fowler | University of the Sunshine Coast | Jack Clancy | University of Technology, Sydney |
| Sammy Thornton | University of the Sunshine Coast | Brandon Quinn | University of Technology, Sydney |
| Tim Murray | Coach | Jason Grier | Coach |
| Sean Barrett | Assistant Coach | Colin Christie | Assistant Coach |
| Nik Granger | Manager | Fudge Atshan | Manager |
Story originally posted by UniSport.
