RUGBY SEVENS: Our Women’s rugby sevens Team will have a golden opportunity to push for Olympic selection when they compete at the Pacific Games, in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, in July.
Of the 12 players heading to PNG, only two were part of this year’s Australian Team at the World Series tournaments, Nicole Beck and Nikki Etheridge. The other ten will be out to impress selectors heading into the Rio Olympics next year.
The Australian Team secured qualification for the Rio Games with a remarkable victory at London 7s and a strong performance at Amsterdam 7s.
27-year-old Beck, who played in three of this year’s tournaments, will captain the Pacific Games’ Team.
“The squad is fit and raring to go and we’re all eager to bring back the gold medal. We have a nice mixture of youth and experience in the squad all keen to impress the rugby sevens management and the watching public back in Australia,” she said.
Beck has also been named the Australian flagbearer for the Opening Ceremony.
“This is a big surprise. I was just very happy to be selected in the team to go to PNG and to also captain that team. It’s a huge honour to be able to carry the flag for Australia.”
2015 Pacific Games Chef de Mission, Olympic gold medallist Malcolm Page, says Beck will be a great role model for the team.
“Nicole exemplifies the principles of an Australian competitor,” he said.
“Being the flagbearer is an honour bestowed upon you. Carrying the flag at the Closing Ceremony at the 2012 Olympics was certainly my highlight at London.”
19-year-old Brooke Anderson was Co-Captain of the Australian side that won the inaugural rugby sevens gold medal at the Youth Olympics in Nanjing last year.
“Having represented Australia in the Youth Olympic Games, I know what it means to represent the country as part of a bigger team,” she said. “I’ve been a little unlucky with injuries over the past few months and it goes without saying, I can’t wait to get out on the paddock and take on some of the best teams the region has to offer in PNG at the Pacific Games.”
Women’s rugby sevens Head Coach, Tim Walsh, believes the tournament is an important build up to the Rio Games.
“The Pacific Games is a perfect opportunity for members of the Australian women’s sevens program to gain tournament experience for what is the most important year in the sport’s history.”
Also included in the squad is indigenous athlete Tanisha Stanton. The 19-year-old is an exciting prospect in the sport, but is yet to make her World Series debut.
Page says he’s excited Australia will be sending a team to the Games for the first time.
“I think it’s going to be an amazing cultural experience for the Australian Team,” he said.
It is the first time Australia and New Zealand have been invited to compete at the Pacific Games. More than 40 Australians are set to participate in sailing, rugby sevens, weightlifting and taekwondo.
The Games run from 4-18 July, with more than 3000 athletes from 21 countries competing in 28 sports.
Full team:
Nicole Beck (captain)
Brooke Anderson
Dom Du Toit
Nikki Etheridge
Georgie Friedrichs
Mollie Gray
Sarah Halvorsen
Mahalia Murphy
Taleena Simon
Tanisha Stanton
Laura Waldie
Brooke Walker
