Aussie Sevens squad likely to be bolstered by additions of Liam Gill and Sean McMahon

AAP
June 23, 2014 2:53PM


WALLABY Liam Gill and Melbourne Rebels flanker Sean McMahon are all but certain starters for the Australian Sevens rugby side in next month’s Commonwealth Games.

Provided the pair get through this weekend’s Super Rugby fixtures unscathed, they will be released to join the Australian Sevens camp next week and be included in new coach Geraint John’s final squad of 12 for Glasgow to be named on July 7.

Queensland Reds openside flanker Gill won a Sevens silver medal with Australia at the 2010 Delhi Games, while blindside flanker McMahon played his last Sevens tournament as recently as late last year in Dubai.

Luke Morahan, another former Wallaby and Delhi medallist was also set to be included in the Commonwealth Games team but the Western Force flyer has been ruled out of contention due to a minor hamstring injury.

It’s likely Gill and McMahon will stay with the squad after Glasgow and be on deck for the opening rounds of the IRB world series starting in October, which double as Olympic qualifiers. “Nothing’s been confirmed (post Glasgow),” said Andrew Fagan, the ARU’s general manager of national teams and competitions.

“(But) Allowances have been provided under our high performance agreement with the Super Rugby teams that with this being an Olympic qualification year, we have access to some players up to the end of December.

“Essentially the alignment of access to players for the national Sevens team is the same way they’re aligned to the Wallabies.

“But Geraint needs to settle in, take a squad to the Commonwealth Games and get a feel for how he wants the balance of that squad looking.”

The agreement with the Super Rugby clubs dictated that teams no longer in finals contention would have to provide players for Sevens selection if required.

Queensland and Melbourne were supportive of the process according to Fagan, and if Gill and McMahon and other Super Rugby players are required post-Glasgow, further discussions will take place.

Michael O’Connor’s successor as coach, John - who has been coaching Canada - arrives in Australia on Tuesday and will lead his first training session at the side’s base on Sydney’s northern beaches on Wednesday.

John was keen on adding Gill and McMahon, and for that matter Morahan, to his existing squad because their Sevens background would allow them to adapt on a short preparation.

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