Australia names squad for 2010 Adelaide Sevens

The Australian Sevens team have prepared for their Adelaide Sevens tournament by naming a powerful squad, battle hardened by the Kiama Sevens championship held recently.

The Kiama event saw the Australian Sevens team compete as the “Aussie Spirit”, and the nations front line Sevens team was upset by West Harbour, who then went on to beat Eastern Suburbs in the Grand Final.

Australian coach Michael O’Connor has named a strong squad, although three key players are missing. Leading try-scorer Clinton Sills (ostio pubis), Brian Sefanaia (cruciate ligament) and Bernard Foley (foot) will take no part in the Adelaide event, and will likely play no role in the Hong Kong Sevens which is a week later.

While the absence of Sills is a big loss, the squad has been enforced by Sam Latunipulu, who played for West Harbour and caused the Aussie Spirit huge problems in defence.

Latunipulu played for Australia in the under 20’s, and was accosted by O’Connor at the end of the Kiama event to join the national squad.

"Mick chased me down after we beat the Aussie Sevens in Kiama and asked me to come and join the Australian squad," Latunipulu said to IRB.com

"He came and found me right before the final and I'm sure it made me play even better. We won the final after the buzzer with a late try.”

"From what I've seen, the boys have been doing really well in the IRB Series and to get the chance to join them in time for the home tournament in Adelaide is really exciting. I'm so grateful for the opportunity."

Latunipulu is one of three changes to the side, with Ed Stubbs making his IRB Sevens debut and Dominic Shipperley returning to the squad after competing in Wellington.

Australia has high hopes for their home tournament, currently lying in fifth place behind series leaders New Zealand, followed by Samoa, Fiji and England. The achieved their best result this year at the USA sevens in Las Vegas, winning through to the Cup semi finals.

The Adelaide event starts on the 19th of March, and a week later the Hong Kong Sevens start on the 26th March.

Australian Squad for Adelaide and Hong Kong: Patrick McCutcheon (captain), Liam Gill, Eddie Quirk, Tala Gray, James Stannard, Sam Latunipulu, Robbie Coleman, Brackin Karauria-Henry, Ed Stubbs, Kimami Sitauti, Dominic Shipperley, Jacob Taylor.

ADELAIDE SEVENS

Pool A
New Zealand, Argentina, Scotland, Tonga

Pool B
Samoa, South Africa, France, Japan

Pool C
Fiji, Kenya, Wales, Papua New Guinea

Pool D
England, Australia, United States, Niue

Day One fixtures

SAMOA v FRANCE - Pool B
SOUTH AFRICA v JAPAN - Pool B
FIJI v WALES - Pool C
KENYA v PAPUA NEW GUINEA - Pool C
NEW ZEALAND v SCOTLAND - Pool A
ARGENTINA v TONGA - Pool A
ENGLAND v UNITED STATES - Pool D
AUSTRALIA v NIUE - Pool D