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Wallabies star Samu Kerevi named in Australian sevens squad for Commonwealth Games

(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Wallabies star Samu Kerevi has been included in the Australian men’s sevens squad for the Commonwealth Games later this month.

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A year after he shone for Australia at the Tokyo Olympics, Kerevi is again the headline name in Australia’s 12-man squad as they chase gold in Birmingham at the end of July.

While the 2021 World Rugby Player of the Year nominee couldn’t guide Australia to a podium finish in his sevens debut last year, Kerevi will be eyeing better fortunes in the United Kingdom.

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To do so, the 28-year-old will need to reproduce the blockbusting form that made him not only one of the form players at the Tokyo Olympics, but one of rugby’s best performers last year.

Kerevi will be accompanied in Birmingham by Waratahs flyer Mark Nawaqanitawase, who is currently part of the Australia A set-up in Fiji for the Pacific Nations Cup.

Whether Kerevi’s selection in the Australian sevens squad will impede on his Wallabies commitments remains to be seen, although the men’s sevens tournament at the Commonwealth Games begins on July 29 and ends two days later.

No Wallabies tests are scheduled for that weekend, although their first test of the Rugby Championship is scheduled for the following weekend, when they will take on Los Pumas in Mendoza on August 6.

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Given the Wallabies are in the midst of their three-test series against England, head coach Dave Rennie is yet to confirm his national squad for the upcoming tournament.

However, Rennie will likely have to consider Kerevi’s participation in the Commonwealth Games when it comes time to picking his three foreign-based players for the Rugby Championship under Rugby Australia’s new selection policy.

Kerevi, who plays for Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath in Japan Rugby League One, is one of the three offshore-based players – alongside Quade Cooper and Marika Koroibete – allowed in the current Wallabies squad.

The Australian men’s side finished fifth at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, and have claimed the silver medal once (Delhi 2010) and bronze twice (Kuala Lumpur 1998 and Glasgow 2014).

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The Australian women’s side, meanwhile, will be aiming to go one place better than their silver medal placing on the Gold Coast four years ago after crashing out in the quarter-finals of last year’s Tokyo Olympics.

Australia men’s sevens squad for Commonwealth Games

Ben Dowling
Matt Gonzalez
Henry Hutchinson
Samu Kerevi
Nathan Lawson
Maurice Longbottom
Nick Malouf
Ben Marr
Mark Nawaqanitawase
Henry Paterson
Dietrich Roache
Corey Toole
Josh Turner

Australia women’s sevens squad for Commonwealth Games

Charlotte Caslick (co-c)
Lily Dick
Dominique Du Toit
Demi Hayes
Madison Ashby
Tia Hands
Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea
Maddison Levi
Teagan Levi
Faith Nathan
Sariah Paki
Jesse Southwell
Sharni Williams

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R
RedWarrior 39 minutes ago
Records show All Blacks' greatest rugby adversary is now Ireland

Foster was literally whinging about the TMO in the Ireland series in the presser AFTER the RWC final. NZs whinging about the final itself was apparently picked up by Voyager 2 which was near the asteroid belt. What about the whingefest and crybabies after O'Mahony's legendary sledge (during the match) on Sam Cane?


I often hear talk about NZ players being poisoned or similar nonsense during the 1995 final. NZ boast that they are 'superstars' and 'humble heroes' on their own website. You gave England the same treatment in 2002-2003, calling them arrogant just because they beat you. They told the rest of us then what you were like, we should have listened. I would give as much credence to a NZ supporter disliking us, as I would to Krusty the clown saying the same thing. Let's just say your judgement may not be the best.


Regarding 2016, as the referee had basically let NZ away with cheating their way to victory via filthy dangerous play and fouling he was hardly going to pull Sexton up when clearly trying to stop a grounding. NZ always leave the boot or arm in to hurt a try scorer but that seems to be invisible to you entitles lot.


BTW NZ have literally being whinging and crying about Ireland since Soldier field. You are just very bad losers. We will be delighted to be shot of you on Friday. I hope we do so with a win, so that you rethink your philosophy of mocking opponents and spectators you've just beaten.


After the match last Saturday the internet was full of Kiwi supporters basically abusing English folk. Where is your national honour? Where is your national integrity?

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