Gill, McMahon in Aussie sevens squad

[The InnFORCEr]

AAP
Ben Horne
July 7, 2014, 11:53 am



Wallaby Liam Gill has been selected to spearhead Australia's 12-man rugby sevens squad for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Gill and fellow Super Rugby star Sean McMahon joined the Australian set-up last week and are the only additions to a group of players who were together throughout the IRB world series which concluded in May.

Australia's most experienced sevens player Ed Jenkins will captain the team, hoping to go one better having won a silver medal for his country alongside Gill at the last Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010.

Tongan-born former NSW Waratahs flyer Afa Pakalani has been left out of the squad after his Australian citizenship failed to come through on time.

However, Pakalani's papers are expected to be passed in time for him to come into the Australian side for the Olympic Games qualifiers which begin in October.

Welsh-born coach Geraint John only arrived in Australia to take charge of the squad in late June, after finishing up his previous post with Canada.

John is considered one of the leading minds in sevens rugby and skipper Jenkins believes the team can benefit from a change of voice after former coach Michael O'Connor had overseen the program since 2008 before stepping down earlier this year.

Australia, who finished fifth in the last sevens world series, take a relatively inexperienced side to Glasgow, compared to the might of overwhelming favourites New Zealand.

The kiwis, who are the No.1 side in the world, have won Commonwealth gold on the four occasions rugby has featured at the Games dating back to Kuala Lumpur in 1998.

As well as their silver at Delhi, Australia claimed bronze at the inaugural event in Kuala Lumpur.

Australia feature in Group D in Glasgow, where they will face England, Sri Lanka and Uganda.

John's side would then face a likely quarter-final match-up against Samoa or Wales.

Nine out of the 12 players picked for Australia are making their Commonwealth Games debut, with Jenkins, Gill and James Stannard the exceptions.

Australian squad: Ed Jenkins (capt), Liam Gill, Sean McMahon, James Stannard, Greg Jeloudev, Cameron Clark, Jesse Parahi, Tom Cusack, Sam Myers, Con Foley, Tom Lucas, Pama Fou.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sp...-sevens-squad/

[Alison]

Well done Chucky!