Tim Walsh, the Australian women’s sevens coach, remains confident despite a wave of injuries affecting his squad ahead of the Vancouver Sevens this weekend. Notable try-scorer Maddison Levi will miss the tournament due to a thumb injury, joining several teammates sidelined with various injuries. In her place, Bridget Clark steps in after her recovery from a back injury.
Despite the setbacks, Australia sits just two points behind series leaders New Zealand and Walsh highlights the promising development of younger players in the squad. He noted the team’s impressive resilience while dealing with injuries, and looks forward to welcoming back key players in subsequent tournaments.
On the men’s side, co-captain Henry Paterson returns after an ankle injury, replacing rookie Hadley Tonga. Australia is currently ranked sixth and will face tough competition in their pool against Ireland, New Zealand, and South Africa. Coach Liam Barry emphasised the importance of growth and consistency in performance as they head into this challenging tournament.
Australia’s women’s squad includes talents such as Isabella Nasser and Charlotte Caslick, while the men’s team sees leadership from Henry Hutchison and Henry Paterson. As the teams prepare, there’s an optimistic outlook for both squads in the Vancouver Sevens.