The NSW Waratahs Women will go into the ISPS Handa NextGen 7s Series set on trying to defend their title.
However, they also hope to highlight the state’s emerging talent in the Sevens game.
The series will feature a mix bag of talent that will include a number of established and emerging Sevens stars from the NSW Waratahs, ACT Brumbies and Queensland Reds.
The four-round tournament starts on the Sunshine Coast on Sunday and finishes after rounds in Sydney and Canberra at Ballymore in Brisbane on Saturday, 13 September.
The NSW Waratahs are the reigning champions, beating Queensland in Byron Bay to claim the 2024 title in the final round.
The NSW Waratahs will be boosted this year by the inclusions of Australian 7s players Sariah Paki and Piper Simons as well as teenage Wallaroos utility Waiaria Ellis.
NSW Waratahs Women’s NextGen 7s Head Coach Blake Cavallaro said of the NSW Waratahs squad’s depth: “I like it, because there's a lot of youth and experience.
“There are some girls that have come through the NSW Waratahs pathway system, some who were there last year, and some who played Super Women’s Rugby.
“That's going to really help intensify the kind of the style of footy that we can play.” Cavallaro said the focus of the squad during preparation for the series had not been on a title defend. Although, he expects that to change once the competition starts.
“You're going in there to win, but also we're trying to develop these girls to be the next generation of players in Australia,” Cavallaro said.
“Having this NextGen competition will expose young females coming through system and give the experienced girls an opportunity to cross codes and play Sevens and 15s.
“We haven't really talked about defending the title. We probably will before our final team run. But if we get off to a good start, we get a good chance of going well.”
The NSW Waratahs will be captained in the Next Gen 7s series by scrum-half Tatum Bird who featured in the NSW Waratahs Women’s side that won back-to-back Super Rugby Women’s title this year but also came to the 15s game through the Sevens program.
“We have a core group of young girls with experience, and I felt Tatum has been playing rugby since she's been a little kid, “Cavallaro said.
“She's a true Waratah. She's vocal. Every time there's a stoppage, she's talking. She always communicates with the girls. And the girls look up to her.
"From the outside looking in I can see exactly why she was a good captain for the core group.”
This year there has been a lot of attention in Australian women’s rugby on the transition of Sevens stars to the 15s game. But Cavallaro said the NextGen 7s series will pose its own challenge to players reverting to the Sevens format from the 15-a-side game.
“In Sevens, you can't hide. You've got to take one on one opportunities in attacking ‘D,’” he said.
“It's about working hard individually, but also in the core unit. That's one thing they will need to work hard on in more open field, making decisions very rapidly. “
Rugby Australia’s Head of Women’s Pathways Lachlan Parkinson said the series which started in 2017 has proven to be instrumental in nurturing a wealth of talent statewide and nationally; and expectations are the same for this year’s tournament.
"The ISPS Handa NextGen 7s series exposes future talent to a high-level competition alongside athletes who have competed at the highest level," Parkinson said.
"The inclusion of the ACT Brumbies this year and players from affiliated states shows the growth in the program and the strong pathways on offer for players and coaches to select future teams including for the upcoming Australia A tour in Dubai.
“It also allows for some of our players in the national program to return to the field as part of their injury comebacks and to get minutes under their belt following an extended off-season.”
• Amelia Whitaker
• Anaia Cruickshank
• Anika McCarthy
• Bridget Clark
• Chanel Williams
• Charli Hardgrave
• Charlie Brigstocke
• Coco Marsters
• Damita Betham
• Darci Turinui
• Darcie Prosser-Shaw
• Edie Burke
• Keira Callaghan
• Khyliah Gray
• Kiiahla Duff
• Lacey Cross
• Logan Lemusu
• Lola Harvison
• Lusiana Vesikula
• Milla Elaro
• Piper Simons
• Poppi Flanders
• Sariah Paki
• Talia Berryman
• Tatum Bird
• Waiaria Ellis
• 9.30am: Reds v Brumbies
• 11.00am: Waratahs v Reds
• 12.30pm: Brumbies v Waratahs
• 2.00pm: Reds v Brumbies
• 3.30pm: Waratahs v Reds
• 9.30am: Waratahs v Brumbies
• 11.00am: Reds v Waratahs
• 12.30pm: Brumbies v Reds
• 2.00pm: Waratahs v Brumbies
• 3.30pm: Reds v Waratahs
• 9.30am: Brumbies v Reds
• 11.00am: Waratahs v Brumbies
• 12.30pm: Reds v Waratahs
• 2.00pm: Brumbies v Reds
• 3.30pm: Waratahs v Brumbies
9.30am: 1st position table v 2nd position table
1100am: 2nd position table v 3rd position table
12.30pm: 1st position table v 3rd position table
2.00pm: 2nd position finals table v 3rd position finals table
3.30pm: 1st position finals table v winner of 2 v 3
