By Marcus Beeck
Australia is preparing to defend its gold medal in rugby 7s, one of the sports being contested at the upcoming Youth Games – here’s what you need to know.
Australian Team with an eye on the prize
They are the rising stars of rugby being coached by a legend and chasing a third successive win at these Games – and favourites to achieve the feat.
Rugby 7s, like the name suggests, is made up of seven players instead of the usual 15 across shorter, seven-minute halves. This leads to a more fast-paced, high-scoring style of rugby union.
Australia will play five qualification matches over two days before playoffs/finals on the 8th of August.
Standing in the way of consecutive gold medals for Australia will be Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, Wales, Kenya, and Fiji.
In the last Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas in 2017, the Australian women’s side struck gold for the second time in a row after they went undefeated for the entirety of the Games and finished their campaign by handily defeating Canada 31-5 in the final.
This year, the Australian side will be looking to make it a hattrick of gold medals in Tobago with a team comprised of seven girls from QLD and six from NSW.
How to stay across the action.
The best way to stay across all the action is to follow Commonwealth Games Australia on our social media channels, as well as the official Trinbago2023 Commonwealth Youth Games.
Events will be livestreamed, with more information to come on how to access streams, timings, channels and more. Make sure you follow the CGA social media channels for the most up to date information.
Australian Rugby 7s Team – Trinbago 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games
- Damita Betham (NSW Waratahs 7s)
- Lucinda Bourke (University of Queensland)
- Anaia Cruickshank (Manly Mermaids)
- Mackenzie Davis
- Heidi Dennis (QAS / Easts)
- Fleur Ginn (Reds)
- Rhani Hagan (Easts Rugby Union)
- Amahli-Sieli Hala (Bond University)
- Caitlyn Halse (Burraneer)
- Leilani Hills (QAS Senior Squad)
- Faitala Moleka (Sydney Uni)
- Piper Simons (Manly Mermaids Rugby Union)
- Ava Wereta (Bond University)
Venue:
Shaw Park Cultural Complex, Scarborough (Tobago)
Dates:
6-8 of August
