November 23, 2009 - 1:12pm
Story by: ARU


Australian Rugby Sevens coach Michael O’Connor has named 10 rookies in his 18-man squad to compete in the IRB Sevens World Series which kicks off in Dubai on December 4 and moves to Adelaide for the only Australian leg of the circuit in March.


Fresh talent has been injected into the Sevens program with the likes of fullback Zack Holmes, utility back Ed Quirk and playmaker Jacob Taylor set to make their debut at the Dubai tournament alongside series regular Brian Sefanaia and captain Patrick McCutcheon.

Quirk is the youngest member of the Australian squad at 18; he was snapped up by the Queensland Reds Academy after showcasing his talent in 2008 while representing Queensland and Australia as a Schoolboy.

Newly-awarded Olympic status will amplify the carnival and colour of IRB’s eight-leg tournament as spectators are treated to a feast of fast and flamboyant Rugby involving 16 countries and 200 of the world’s best players.

The Sevens circuit returns to Adelaide for its fourth instalment on March 19-21 where Australia will take aim at the heavyweights of Sevens – South Africa, New Zealand and Argentina while also remaining acutely aware of the real threat posed by Pacific nations like Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.

Sevens is increasingly becoming a breeding ground for future Wallabies.

Former Sevens star Luke Morahan was called into the Wallabies squad last week and is the third Spring Tour squad member to emerge from the Sevens circuit in the last 12 months.

Uncapped scrumhalf Richard Kingi was the Tour bolter in Robbie Deans’s squad after an incredible debut season in Sevens, while international star James O’Connor also cut his teeth in the shortened version of the game.

Morahan is the ninth member of the current Australian squad to have successfully made their way into the Wallabies fold through the Sevens program and follows in the footsteps of Matt Giteau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Hynes, Drew Mitchell, Richard Brown and Matt Hodgson who also made their names in the Sevens program before appearing for the Wallabies.

Following the first tournament in Dubai, Australia will play in George, Wellington, Las Vegas, return home for the Adelaide leg, before jetting off to play in Hong Kong, London and Scotland.

Schedule
Host CityTournament DatesDubaiDecember 4-5GeorgeDecember 12-13WellingtonFebruary 5-6Las VegasFebruary 13-4AdelaideMarch 19-21Hong KongMarch 26-28LondonMay 22-23ScotlandMay 29-30










Tickets to the Adelaide tournament go on sale Wednesday 25 November, available from ticketek.

Australian Sevens Team for Dubai (click here for player profiles):
Robbie Coleman, Bernard Foley, Shaun Foley, Talalelei Gray, Zack Holmes, Brackin Karauria-Henry, Patrick McCutcheon, Edward Quirk, Brian Sefanaia, Clinton Sills, James Stannard, Jacob Taylor.

Australian Sevens 18-man Squad for the IRB Sevens World Series:
Willie Bishop, Robbie Coleman, Mitchell Felseman, Bernard Foley, Shaun Foley, Liam Gills, Talalelei Gray, Zack Holmes, Ed Jenkins, Brackin Karauria-Henry, Patrick McCutcheon, Ed Quirk, Brian Sefanaia, Dominic Shipperley, Clinton Sills, Kimami Situati, James Stannard, Jacob Taylor.