Australian Men’s Rugby Sevens captain Lewis Holland has been ruled out of the Commonwealth Games after scans revealed the severity of his hamstring injury.
Holland will be sidelined for two months after injuring his hamstring in Vancouver during the most recent leg of the Sevens World Series.
Speedster Brandon Quinn will replace Holland in the 13-man squad while veteran James Stannard will skipper the side on the Gold Coast.
“It’s obviously hugely disappointing to miss the Commonwealth Games especially one on home soil but I’m still really confident that lads can go all the way and win Gold,” Holland said.
“I’ll do everything I can now to help the boys so I’m fine with filling up the water bottles or helping carry the bags.
“Quinny (Brandon) has been playing really well lately and he knows his role really well. We’ve been building over the past two years and this tournament was earmarked a while ago. The lads love playing in front of a home crowd and always rise to the occasion,” Holland said.
The Men’s Rugby Sevens side will base themselves in Sydney before the Commonwealth Games with an exhibition series against New Zealand to tune-up for the tournament.
Updated Australian Men’s Sevens squad for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games (in alphabetical order):
Lachlan Anderson*, 13 caps, Eastwood NSW
Timothy Anstee*, 16 caps, Eastwood NSW
Thomas Connor*, 4 caps, Warringah NSW
Boyd Killingworth*, 16 caps, Warringah NSW
Maurice Longbottom*, 4 caps, Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development Team
Thomas Lucas, 23 caps, Sunnybank QLD
Samuel Myers, 32 caps, Norths NSW
Benjamin O’Donnell*, 6 caps, Randwick NSW
Jesse Parahi, 39 caps, Norths NSW
John Porch*, 15 caps, Norths NSW
Brandon Quinn*, 6 caps, Gordon NSW
James Stannard (c), 47 caps, Souths QLD
Charlie Taylor*, 11 caps, Manly NSW
*Commonwealth Games debut
Australian Men’s Sevens fixtures on the Gold Coast on Saturday 14 April:
Australia v Samoa, Pool B
Australia v Jamaica, Pool B
Australia v England, Pool B
If Australia qualifies from the pool rounds, semi-finals and the Gold and Bronze medal matches will be played on Sunday 15 April.
