Fijivillage
NEWS SPORTS IN DEPTH
23 March, 2026, 9:14 am
Central - 29°C Rain
23 March, 2026, 9:14 am Central - 29°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
FEATURE NEWS
TD10F no threat to Fiji, heavy rain could lead to localised flooding
A Tropical Disturbance 10F is currently located South of Solomon Islands, and it is not expected to have any direct effects on Fiji.The Nadi Weather O...
11 minutes ago
LATEST NEWS
Children urged to keep faces clean to prevent trachoma
Students of Maloku Primary and Kindergarten School in Moala, Lau, are being encouraged to maintain proper facial hygiene as part of ongoing efforts ...
37 minutes ago

Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar: The Revenge crosses $140M in four days
Ranveer Singh’s latest release, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, has opened to a phenomenal response at the box office, both in India and globally.Riding ...
2 hours ago

Drua must secure away wins for top six push
The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua now face an uphill battle to keep their Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific finals hopes alive following a 21–6 defeat ...
4 hours ago

Body found near Navuso identified by relatives
The identity of the man whose body was found floating near Navuso Village yesterday morning has been confirmed by relatives.Police say he was last ...
4 hours ago

Iran allows controlled passage through Strait of Hormuz amid Trump threat
Iran’s representative to the International Maritime Organization says foreign vessels can still pass through the Strait of Hormuz with coordination ...
14 hours ago



Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Fiji Sports Council Saga: Minister ready to repay business class air fare for wife as concerns grow about Sports Council deals
I was invited to travel to New Zealand by the Fiji Sports Council for a grassroots 7s tournament in 2024, I travelled business class but it was ...
17 days ago

National Talanoa Session on Illicit Drugs in Fiji: 2,400 drug-related cases recorded in 2025
The illicit drug situation in Fiji has been described as a national emergency, with 2,400 drug-related cases recorded in 2025. Minister for Policing ...
24 days ago

Charlie Charters held at Nadi Airport because of a FICAC flag on his file
Fijian national, Charlie Charters is being held at immigration at Nadi International Airport because of a FICAC flag on his file.fijivillage News has ...
24 days ago

TOP