Exciting young talent Wallace Charlie is set to make his senior debut for Australia at the SVNS World Championship in Los Angeles this weekend.
The 18-year-old sensation hails from Cairns and was awarded MVP at last year’s Global Youth Sevens tournament held in Auckland.
A proud Torres Strait Islander, Charlie will don the No. 77 jersey, a tribute to his seven siblings. He currently plays for the Western Force.
Wallace Charlie. Instagram
“Wallace has surpassed our expectations during training this season, which is why we’ve included him in the squad,” said men’s coach Liam Barry.
He joins Michael Icely in replacing Hadley Tonga and Sid Harvey in Barry’s line-up.
The Australian men finished sixth in the series rankings and will compete in Pool B against Spain, Fiji, and New Zealand.
“We’ve reached four quarter-finals and secured a podium finish twice this season, reflecting our progress as a team,” Barry remarked.
“A strong performance would cap off a solid season, whereas a poor showing would suggest continued inconsistency. We’re determined to end on a high.”
The Australian women’s team comes into the tournament as reigning champions after clinching victory in Madrid last year.
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Coach Tim Walsh is excited to welcome back captain Isabella Nasser, along with Demi Hayes and Heidi Dennis, who are returning from injury.
The trio replaces Tia Hinds, Bienne Terita, and Charlotte Caslick, who are currently with the Wallaroos in Fiji.
“We’re eager to give it our all in LA. We’ve prepared diligently and are ready to rise to the occasion,” Walsh stated.
“Our squad has been pushed to the limit, but our emerging players have risen to the challenge and will do so again in LA.
“It’s fantastic to have Bella Nasser, Demi Hayes, and Heidi Dennis back. They’ll help steer us on the field with some key players absent.”
The women’s team, currently ranked second, will face Fiji, the USA, and France in the pool stages.
AUSTRALIA MEN – POOL B
- Saturday, May 4: Australia v Spain (3:44am AEST)
- Saturday, May 4: Australia v Fiji (7:07am AEST)
- Saturday, May 4: Australia v New Zealand (9:51am AEST)
AUSTRALIA WOMEN – POOL B
- Saturday, May 4: Australia v Fiji (4:50am AEST)
- Saturday, May 4: Australia v USA (7:51am AEST)
- Saturday, May 4: Australia v France (10:40am AEST)
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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