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HK 7's an Aussie perspective

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The Australian womens 7's team seems to be going from strangth to strength finding new and exciting talent. Below is the press release from the ARU regarding the HK 7's event.

QANTAS WOMEN'S SEVENS HONG KONG PREVIEW

Qantas Women’s Sevens coach Chris Lane is looking to this Friday’s Hong Kong Sevens as another building block for his side.

 The Australians will face an International Select side along with Kazakhstan in pool play on Friday 22 March in the one-day non-IRB sanctioned tournament.

“Our tournament performances reflect our preparation so that has been really key for us in the lead up to our next two tournaments,” Lane said.

 “We’ve still got a lot of work to do before Rugby World Cup Sevens in June so every tournament is another development opportunity.”

 The tournament acts as another preparation tool for the penultimate round of the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series being held in Guangzhou, China the following weekend.

 The Qantas Women’s Sevens are currently ranked second in the World Series and the last round could prove crucial to the overall standings when the series concludes in the Netherlands in May.

 The Australian’s first match of the Hong Kong tournament will be against the International Select team and Lane expects a fiery encounter.

 “This International Select side is going to be very challenging,” Lane said.“It’s going to be made up of players that have just missed out on national selection from various countries so they’re going to be out to prove the selectors were wrong.”

 The Australians will then take on Kazakhstan, a side they have some recent experience with following a 12-0 win over them at the Asia Pacific Sevens last year.“We met Kazakhstan last year and they certainly stood up,” Lane said.“They’re a very direct and confrontational side, so we’re expecting a very physical test from them.”

 The Qantas Women’s Sevens squad has been bolstered for the upcoming tournaments, with the return of captain Rebecca Tavo and Emilee Cherry, who will play their first internationals since Dubai late last year.

 The Hong Kong Sevens features 12 teams competing over one day. The Qantas Women’s Sevens meet the International Selects at 11:00am (AEST) and Kazakhstan at 1:40pm (AEST) in pool play on Friday 22 March.

 Qantas Women’s Sevens Hong Kong/China squad

Name

Based (originally from)

1

Rebecca Tavo (C)

Brisbane, QLD (Port Hedland, WA)

2

Sharni Williams

Brisbane, QLD (Canberra, ACT)

3

Shontelle Stowers

Lane Cove, NSW

4

Ellia Green

Murrumbeena, VIC

5

Nikki Etheridge

Brisbane, QLD (Toowoomba, QLD)

6

Jess Palmer

West Ryde, NSW

7

Tiana Penitani (debut)

Matraville, NSW

8

Natasha Haines (debut)

Perth, WA (Melbourne, VIC)

9

Iliseva Batibasaga

Kensington, NSW

10

Cobie-Jane Morgan

Brisbane, QLD, (Erina, NSW)

11

Emilee Cherry

Brisbane, QLD (Toowoomba, QLD)

12

Brooke Anderson (debut)

Brighton Le Sands, NSW