Fijivillage
3 March, 2026, 4:24 am
Central - 23°C Rain
3 March, 2026, 4:24 am Central - 23°C Rain

Australia Sevens stars return as latest debutant confirmed for Vancouver SVNS

Australia Sevens stars return as latest debutant confirmed for Vancouver SVNS

By Alipate Narawa
27/02/2026
The Australia Sevens teams have welcomed back a host of stars as they confirm their squads for the Vancouver SVNS on March 7-8.

The Men have received a triple boost with Maurice Longbottom, Dietrich Roache (both hamstrings), and James Turner (knee) cleared for action.

It will be a special tournament for Longbottom, bringing up 50 events on the World Series, while Roache was a late withdrawal from the home leg in Perth.

For Turner, it's his first tournament of the 2025-26 season, coming off claiming the Shawn Mackay Award for Men's Sevens Player of the Year.

The other change sees the potential debut of NSW Waratahs flyer Archie Saunders.

Saunders debuted for the Waratahs last year against the Hurricanes, with the former Australia U20s winger transitioning from a promising sprinting career, clocked at 10.3 seconds for the 100 metres.

Coach Liam Barry says it is an exciting new challenge as the team heads to the cooler northern hemisphere.

Barry says for Longbottom to play his 50th tournament in Vancouver is an incredible achievement for a player who has had a huge influence on this programme.

Australia’s Men are pooled with the Fiji Airways National Men's 7s team, Argentina, and France.
FNRL
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