The Australian Men’s Sevens program is set to cap four new members this weekend as the side touches down in Singapore, marking the resumption of the World Series.
- Henry Hutchison, Randwick, 36 caps
- Michael Icely*, Eastwood
- Corey Toole, Gungahlin Eagles, 4 caps
- Dietrich Roach, Western Sydney Two Blues, 4 caps
- Tim Clements*, Sydney University
- Darby Lancaster, Eastern Suburbs, 1 cap
- Josh Turner, Manly Marlins, 10 caps
- Matt Gonzalez*, Eastwood
- Stuart Dunbar, Sydney University, 5 caps
- Nick Malouf, University of Queensland, 42 caps
- Maurice Longbottom, Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development Team, 23 caps
- Henry Paterson, Eastern Suburbs, 3 caps
- Ben Marr*, Warringah
*Denotes Australian debut
NSW Shute Shield club players Ben Marr (Warringah), Matt Gonzalez (Eastwood), Tim Clements (Sydney University) and former Melbourne Rebels flanker Michael Icely (Eastwood) are all set to make their debut for the Australian’s Sevens side.
These four will join the re-occurring line-up of Henry Hutchison, Dietrich Roache, Josh Turner and Maurice Longbottom as the Australian Men’s Sevens continue to build on their impressive start to the season. While the team’s series-leading try scorer, Corey Toole will make his first start for the side since signing through till the 2022 Rugby World Cup.
Nick Malouf will resume the duties of captain, returning to the side as the team’s most-capped player, with the Singapore leg marking his 43rd appearance on the World Series.
The Aussies have been drawn in pool B and will face Samoa, Spain and England, with all games available live and free in Australia via world.rugby, World Rugby YouTube and the World Rugby Sevens Series Facebook page.
Australian Men’s Sevens Head Coach John Manenti said: “I’m delighted to give an opportunity, from four proven performers in the Shute Shield of the past five years. Tim, Matt, Ben & Michael have all been consistently around the best players in the Sydney competition and we look forward to seeing their impact on the World Series.
“Our pool games against, Samoa, Spain and England will provide us with plenty of challenges on day one & we don’t need to look any further at this stage.
“We’re still a very inexperienced team but have taken great confidence from our silver in Seville and learnt a great deal from our recent games against Fiji and New Zealand.
“Building combinations and momentum towards the Commonwealth games is large part of this trip as well as continuing to establishing our identity as the Australian Men’s 7s team,” Manenti said
Australian Men’s Sevens Pool B Fixtures:
Saturday 9 April
Australia v Samoa, 1:50pm AEST
Australia v Spain, 4:56pm AEST
Australia v England, 8:35pm AEST
