Rugby7s heading to Birmingham

Congratulations to the QAS supported players Charlotte Caslick, Lillian Dick, Dominique Toit, Demi Hayes, Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea, Maddison Levi and Teagan Levi selected in the Australian Team ready to create history when they representation the nation at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games beginning later this month.

The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games presented the first women’s Rugby 7s tournament and the Australian Pearls won the silver medal to go with the gold medal the side won at the Rio 2016 Olympics. Global superstar and 2016 Olympics heroine Charlotte Caslick OAM co-captains a versatile squad featuring established stars and emerging talent.

The 27-year-old Queenslander, who was named World Rugby Women’s 7s Player of the Year in 2016, is motivated to lead Australia to glory at Birmingham after the heartbreaking loss to New Zealand in extra time on the Gold Coast four years ago.

Fellow co-captain Demi Hayes remembers the Gold Coast fondly but is now ready for the next challenge in Birmingham.

“The Gold Coast Games were one of the best experiences I have had in the sport, playing in front of friends and family, and coming away with a silver medal,” Hayes said.

“The sport has grown so much since then, and I have also grown as a player, and now I am so excited to be leading this team of amazing players who are heading to Birmingham.

“We’ve enjoyed an incredible World Rugby Sevens Series, which was a reward for a lot of hard work, sacrifices and determination from the group… now our focus is taking that form into the Commonwealth Games… I can’t wait to get to Birmingham.”

Out of the seven QAS supported athletes, four will be making their Commonwealth Games debut Alysia, Lillian and sisters Maddison and TeaganLevi from the Gold Coast.

But while they are making their Commonwealth Games debuts, the squad features four of the World Sevens Series Dream Team members, with Caslick and Maddison Levi joined by Madison Ashby and Faith Nathan – following a victorious World Rugby Sevens Series season for the team.

Commonwealth Games Australia Team Chef de Mission Petria Thomas OAM welcomes the Rugby 7s squads to the Australian Team, which now exceeds 400 of Australia’s best sportspeople bound for Birmingham.

“Congratulations to the 26 Rugby 7s players who have been selected to the Australian Team for Birmingham,” Thomas said.

“The selection of today’s Rugby 7s Team Members takes our total team numbers to over 400 of our expected 435 Team Members ready to be bold in gold in Birmingham.

“Both sides have been in wonderful form recently at the World Rugby Sevens Series events, and I know they will be working hard as they build towards Birmingham at the end of this month.

“The Rugby 7s competition at the Games is always a fast, thrilling and fun atmosphere, and I am sure that our Team Members will embrace the packed stands of supporters and are ready to give their best at the Games.”

Rugby Australia CEO Andy Marinos congratulated the 26 Team Members who will proudly don the green and gold in Birmingham and thanked the whole Rugby community for helping them on their journeys to the Games.

“On behalf of the entire Rugby community, I’d like to congratulate every athlete on their selection – today is an exciting day in their careers and their lives,” Marinos said.

“The Commonwealth Games is one of the pinnacle events in the Sevens program and I have no doubt every individual will represent their clubs, friends, families and country to the best of their ability.

“On behalf of everyone in the rugby family, I wish you good luck. We’ll be right behind you the whole way and can’t wait to see you continue to represent Australia in outstanding fashion in Birmingham.”

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will be held from Thursday 28 July to Monday 8 August with the Rugby 7s competitions to be conducted from Friday 29 July through to Sunday 31 July at Coventry Stadium