Sevens prodigy headlines Australia’s squads for SVNS World Championship

At just 18, Wallace Charlie will debut on the HSBC SVNS Series after being named in Australia’s squad for the upcoming World Championship in Los Angeles. After six regular season events, this stop in LA will determine the overall SVNS Series champions across May 3-4.

Charlie is one of the world’s brightest up-and-coming rugby sevens prospects, with the teenage sensation named tournament MVP at the Global Youth Sevens in Auckland last year, which the Aussies won by beating New Edition 31-7 in the final.

Aden Ekanyake, Piper Simons, Amahli Hala, Mackenzie Davis, Sid Harvey, Jayden Blake and Hadley Tonga have all stepped up to the big time as debutants during the 2024/25 campaign, and Charlie will be added to that list at the season-defining stop in the City of Angels.

LA’s Dignity Health Sports Park will host the World Championship and SVNS Series playoffs on May 3-4. Don’t miss out – buy your tickets HERE.

Coach Liam Barry has made two changes to the team, with Michael Icely returning from a knee injury, while Tonga and Harvey drop out of the side. Harvey was instead included in Australia’s squad for the U20 Rugby Championship in South Africa.

Co-captains Henry Hutchison and Henry Paterson will lead the way, with the squad boasting world-class depth across the board with the likes of James Turner, Hayden Sargeant, Maurice Longbottom and others.

Australia have been drawn in an incredibly tough pool with Singapore champions Fiji, one of the more consistent SVNS sides this season in Spain, and traditional foe New Zealand.

“The opportunity that Wallace has taken when he’s been around training this season has exceeded our expectations and that’s why we’ve selected him,” coach Barry said in a statement.

“We’ve made four quarter-finals and finished on the podium twice this season, so it is a fair reflection of the progress and where we’re at as a team.

“If we do well it will be a strong finish to a solid season. If we don’t do well it will be a continuation of an up and down season. We are looking to finish on a good note.”

As for the women’s side, who finished second on the league standings after the six round-robin events, they’ve received a triple boost with captain Isabella Nasser, Demi Hayes and Heidi Dennis all returning from injury.

Nasser missed the stop in Singapore earlier this month, with Tia Hinds stepping up as captain, although Hinds won’t play in LA. The playmaker has been named in the Wallaroos’ 40-player extended training squad along with Charlotte Caslick and Bienne Terita.

Australia are the defending overall SVNS Seres champions after winning the finale in Madrid. They will take on Fiji, the USA and France in pool play, with only the top-two sides from each of the two pools able to move on to the semi-finals.

“We can’t wait to give everything we’ve got in LA. We have prepared well and will rise to the occasion,” Tim Walsh explained.

“Our squad has been challenged and tested throughout but our next generation players have stepped up and will do so again in LA.

“It’s great to have Bella Nasser, Demi Hayes and Heidi Dennis back and they will help lead us around the park with some key players missing.”

Australia Men’s Sevens squad for LA World Championship

Henry Hutchison (c), Ben Dowling, Henry Paterson (c), Matt Gonzalez, Ben Dalton, Maurice Longbottom, Jayden Blake, James Turner, Aden Ekanayake, Hayden Sargeant, Josh Turner, Wallace Charlie, Michael Icely.

Australia Women’s Sevens squad for LA World Championship

Piper Simons, Faith Nathan, Mackenzie Davis, Teagan Levi, Isabella Nasser (c), Demi Hayes, Maddison Levi, Heidi Dennis, Bridget Clark, Kahli Henwood, Ruby Nicholas, Kiiahla Duff, Sariah Paki.

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Men’s pools for SVNS Series World Championship

Pool A: Argentina, South Africa, France, Great Britain

Pool B: Fiji, Spain, Australia, New Zealand

Women’s pools for SVNS Series World Championship

Pool A: New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Great Britain

Pool B: Australia, France, USA, Fiji