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SVNS Series star on players’ ‘interest’ in pursuing Rugby World Cup move

Players of Australia celebrate victory after the final match between Australia and New Zealand on day two of the HSBC SVNS at The Sevens Stadium on December 01, 2024 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Christopher Pike/Getty Images)

Australia captain Isabella Nasser has expressed excitement about the possibility of players from the HSBC SVNS Series switching to 15s ahead of the Women’s Rugby World Cup. The showpiece event in women’s rugby will be held in England from August 22 to September 27 next year.

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USA sevens superstar Ilona Maher, who has more Instagram followers than any other rugby player with 4.6 million, signed with Bristol Bears in England’s Premiership Women’s Rugby as the social media phenomenon sets her sights on the upcoming World Cup.

That signing announcement has already sparked significant interest in PWR, with earlier reports indicating the Bears may move from Shaftesbury Park to Ashton Gate for Maher’s potential debut against Gloucester-Hartpury which could be rescheduled for January 5.

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Maher isn’t the only SVNS Series product who has at least expressed an interest in switching sports ahead of the Rugby World Cup. Former Australia captain Charlotte Caslick spoke with RugbyPass and rugby.com.au in October about the potential switch to Super Rugby Women’s.

At the last Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, Stacey Waaka, Sarah Hirini, Theresa Setefano and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe all contributed to the Black Ferns’ incredible run to the title. It seems that more SVNS Seres players will look to replicate those heroics in 2025.

“It’s definitely of interest for lots of girls, not only in our team but all over the Series,” Nasser said on RugbyPass TV’s HSBC Life on Tour in Cape Town.

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“To play both games, both platforms at a high level is incredible and it would do so much for the sport. So, 100 per cent of interest.

“Obviously, we have to earn our way there but yeah, definitely of interest.

“… There’s so much talent in sevens that could definitely transfer over to 15s and I think it would be awesome for the game.”

From Nasser’s Australia side, Levi sisters Maddison and Teagan have both previously spoken about their desire to represent the Wallaroos at the World Cup. Both Levi’s are among the world’s best players in women’s sevens, as last weekend’s triumph in Dubai showed.

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Teagan led the way with some bone-crunching stops on the defensive side of the ball and some playmaking brilliance in attack. That paved the way for Maddison to do what she so often does, which as fans around the world know means scoring tries.

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The reigning World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year was a class about during Australia’s run to a fifth consecutive Dubai Sevens crown. Levi scored 15 tries across the two-day event, which is the most by any woman in a single SVNS Series tournament ever.

But as coach Tim Walsh pointed out in an interview during the quarter-final demolition of Olympic silver medallists Canada, it’s the players around Levi that allow the try-scoring machine to shine. It’s players like captain Nasser who lay the foundations.

Nasser never stopped running at Dubai’s The Sevens Stadium, with the skipper leading by example in both attack and defence. The Queenslander scored a decisive try in the Cup Final win over New Zealand – a true captain’s knock in a thriller against the team’s big rival.

“I’m super honoured to obviously take up the captaincy role,” Nasser reflected.

“As I said before, Charlotte stepped away and she was always going to be such an important part of our team and world rugby.

“I feel really honoured. I probably haven’t really thought about it properly and looked back to see my journey but I feel really supported by my coaches and my teammates to take up this role.”

Following the Dubai Sevens, the HSBC SVNS Series heads to Cape Town’s DHL Stadium for the second event of the season. The upcoming tournament in the Western Cape will be held this weekend from December 7 to 8.

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J
JW 2 hours ago
Sir Steve Hansen's verdict on Scott Robertson's All Blacks

Agreed, Foster should also have the privilege of a series win against Ireland in 22'. Barnes robed him when, after watching Ofa get sent of the previous week, refused to do the same to Ireland when they broke Retallick's nose. Despite Ireland looking a great side, they probably wouldn't have won that one going a man down, let alone still being up against BBBR.


I note that you don't single out SBW for special coaching. That was probably Hansen's error also. Not that have ever critized him before for not coaching him properly (he also gave up points batting the ball dead because he hadn't been taught the laws), I just put that situation down the unluckly having no line of sight of his target. Sure, SBW tackled too high in general, but he was blindsided by having to run behind his own player then suddenly have the running smashing into him.


Yep, WR changed the interpretation of being tackled in the air after that.


Yes, I think we "have an agreement" or some such line, on those events. Or maybe that was the yellow card conversation?


No, no one has control over referring (well some are actually getting very good at that these days), and that is the basis behind the AB mentality of accounting for it. See my reply above.


Agreed, that is on the coach. Not just Read (you can include McCaw the previous cycle to giving the belief all players can pull big matches out of their a$$), looking at what he did playing Scooter at 6 out of the blue and dropping Cane. I agree, he was blindsided by England, but look, I put the pressure on the ABs to simply be better, and I think that period, that started with Hansen being made to continue on after 2015, and then again 2017, and the lack of standards to right the ship. It was a mates club, and that is fixable, where as relying on the refs calls to go your way isn't (hence why I'm critical of Foster for losing the RWC Final, and not the refereeing, even if it has to be called out like you've done here).

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