Following months of touring the country searching for Australia’s best young First Nations sporting talent, Rugby Australia’s High-Performance team has selected 133 budding Rugby Sevens hopefuls for a national talent camp this August.
The #dreamBigTime tour kicked off on March 25 in Bathurst and weaved through some of the most remote parts of Australia searching for the next faces of our Australian Sevens teams.
Thousands of First Nations people aged 14-25 travelled far and wide to put their best foot forward and prove they’ve got what it takes to play on the world stage.
Next week 46 females and 87 males will take part in a special three-day camp in Sydney where their skills will be put to the test in front of a panel of coaches and experts.
Following the camp two First Nations Sevens squads of 20 will be chosen to compete around the country with a chance of being plucked for the 2024 Olympics.
The camp will also offer lessons off the field which centre around the importance of leadership, recovery and nutrition.
Former Australian Men’s Sevens Assistant Coach Jarred Hodges has led the project and said contacting the chosen talent was incredibly rewarding.
‘’The best part for me was phoning 133 individuals to let them know they made the cut. They were so overwhelmed with happiness…some cried, others were speechless, and a few put the phone on loudspeaker so their family could hear the news.
‘’It’s a lot to take in when you find out you’ve been given the opportunity to trial for Rugby Australia’s First Nations Sevens sides.
‘’The selection panel included current and former First Nations stars including Glen Ella and Andrew Walker and together we looked at not just their physical skills such as speed, aerobic fitness and passing skills but also their ability to make quick decisions under pressure and working together as a team.
‘’While our squads will be announced after the camp these teams will continue to grow and change as we have plans to head over to Western Australia within the next six to nine months and uncover more First Nations talent,’’ said Hodges.
Female squad
|
First name |
Last name |
Region |
|
Georgina |
Livermore |
Armidale, NSW |
|
Jamiah |
Jarrett |
Armidale, NSW |
|
Shakaya |
Drew |
Ballina, NSW |
|
Illarrah |
Roberts |
Ballina, NSW |
|
Sharyn |
Blundell |
Ballina, NSW |
|
Tallulah |
Mohammed |
Ballina, NSW |
|
Majayda |
Darcy |
Bathurst, NSW |
|
Lakeisha |
Orcher |
Bourke, NSW |
|
Jana-Lee |
Conroy |
Brewarrina, NSW |
|
Renae |
Nona |
Brisbane, QLD |
|
Shene |
Clements |
Brisbane, QLD |
|
Terri Anne |
Cain |
Brisbane, QLD |
|
Kazzia |
Lammon |
Brisbane, QLD |
|
Grace |
Kemp |
Canberra, ACT |
|
Zara |
Johnson-Gamia |
Bundaberg, QLD |
|
Adrienne |
Verevis |
Cairns, QLD |
|
Jaydah |
Savage |
Cairns, QLD |
|
Kobe |
Nona |
Canberra, ACT |
|
Alahna |
Ryan |
Dubbo, NSW |
|
Brooke |
Williams |
Dubbo, NSW |
|
Lilly-Ann |
Mason |
Dubbo, NSW |
|
Charli |
Dare |
Gladstone, QLD |
|
Breanna |
Raymond |
Gold Coast, QLD |
|
Tshinta |
Kendall |
Gold Coast, QLD |
|
Jahkita |
Kilcoyne |
Gold Coast, QLD |
|
Deborah |
McGrady |
Goondiwindi, QLD |
|
Lenikki |
Craigie |
Inverell, NSW |
|
Mackensie |
Hudson |
Kirwan, QLD |
|
Babetha |
Nona |
Kirwan, QLD |
|
Nahlani |
Ah Kit |
Kirwan, QLD |
|
Shai-Lee |
Smith |
Moree, NSW |
|
Kiara |
Smith |
Moree, NSW |
|
Mackenzie |
Young |
Newcastle, NSW |
|
Tonelle |
Mcleod |
Normanton, QLD |
|
Kodi |
Wright |
Normanton, QLD |
|
Kiarna |
Mcleod |
Normanton, QLD |
|
Breanna |
Green |
Port Macquarie, NSW |
|
Brianna |
Davis-Lonesborough |
Shoalhaven, NSW |
|
Tayla |
Styman |
Tamworth, NSW |
|
Courtney |
Currie |
Taree, NSW |
|
Leilanie |
Andrews |
Taree, NSW |
|
Natika |
Ridgeway |
Taree, NSW |
|
Jazmyn |
Wena |
Thursday Island, QLD |
|
Caroline |
David |
Thursday Island, QLD |
|
Clarissa |
Laifoo |
Thursday Island, QLD |
|
Ashlyn |
Skeene |
Townsville, QLD |
Male squad
|
First name |
Last name |
Region |
|
Anthony |
Wilson |
Adelaide, SA |
|
Kane |
Doolan |
Alice Springs, NT |
|
Zane |
Clarke |
Alice Springs, NT |
|
Rohan |
Armstrong |
Alice Springs, NT |
|
Joshua |
Davis |
Alice Springs, NT |
|
Derek |
Simon |
Armidale, NSW |
|
Edward |
Pitt |
Armidale, NSW |
|
Peter |
Lovelock |
Armidale, NSW |
|
Jordan |
Moran |
Armidale, NSW |
|
Blake |
Wellington |
Avondale, NSW |
|
Blaine |
Knight |
Bourke, NSW |
|
Clynton |
Edwards |
Bourke, NSW |
|
Kayle |
McKellar |
Bourke, NSW |
|
Diondre |
Murphy |
Brewarrina, NSW |
|
Chris |
McHughes |
Brewarrina, NSW |
|
Jameson |
Burke |
Broken Hill, NSW |
|
Ashley |
Wilson |
Broken Hill, NSW |
|
Scott |
Carter-Lowe |
Bundaberg, QLD |
|
Tom |
Payne |
Caboolture, QLD |
|
Marshall |
Gela |
Cairns, QLD |
|
Jeremy |
Noble |
Cairns, QLD |
|
Jayden |
Hodges |
Cairns, QLD |
|
Benjamin |
Griffiths |
Cobar, NSW |
|
Damion |
Dumas |
Coffs Harbour, NSW |
|
Darren |
Caulton Jnr |
Darwin, NT |
|
Aidan |
Fox |
Gold Coast, QLD |
|
Brett |
Kelly-wirth |
Gold Coast, QLD |
|
Coen |
Rankmore |
Gold Coast, QLD |
|
Damian |
McIntosh |
Goondiwindi, QLD |
|
David |
Armstrong |
Goondiwindi, QLD |
|
Jamal |
Woodbridge |
Goondiwindi, QLD |
|
Jacob |
Abel |
Granville, NSW |
|
Alex |
Barker |
Granville, NSW |
|
Isaiah |
Little |
Griffith, NSW |
|
Burung |
Shillingsworth |
Hervey Bay, QLD |
|
Jeremiah |
Bowen |
Hope Vale, QLD |
|
Ephraim |
Claudie |
Hope Vale, QLD |
|
Duane |
Port |
Hope Vale, QLD |
|
Jakob |
Haines |
Inverell, NSW |
|
Albert |
Nomoa |
Ipswich, QLD |
|
Michael |
Purcell |
Ipswich, QLD |
|
Jimmy |
Cutmore |
Kempsey, NSW |
|
Owen |
Blair |
Kempsey, NSW |
|
Isiah |
Kawane |
Kirwan, QLD |
|
Tareq |
Parter |
Kirwan, QLD |
|
BJ |
Oates |
Logan, QLD |
|
Coen |
Oates |
Logan, QLD |
|
Matari |
Watson |
Logan, QLD |
|
Kasey |
Shillingsworth |
Menindee, NSW |
|
Steven |
Newman |
Menindee, NSW |
|
Joseph |
Taylor |
Mutitjulu, NT |
|
George |
Giles |
Mutitjulu, NT |
|
Jorrel |
Burazer |
Newcastle, NSW |
|
Jarom |
Haines |
Newcastle, NSW |
|
Jessey James |
Bridge |
Newcastle, NSW |
|
Mathew |
Smith |
Newcastle, NSW |
|
Ngangarra |
Barker |
Newcastle, NSW |
|
Terrance |
Ryan |
Nyngan, NSW |
|
Deon |
Evans-Ao |
Penrith, NSW |
|
Harley |
Lester |
Coogee, NSW |
|
Danny |
Allende |
Coogee, NSW |
|
Cody |
King-Pittman |
Coogee, NSW |
|
Zane |
Bashford |
Coogee, NSW |
|
Jordon |
Remfrey |
Coogee, NSW |
|
Trent |
Lake |
Coogee, NSW |
|
Clifford |
Peter |
Coogee, NSW |
|
Tyson |
Fuller |
Coogee, NSW |
|
Bailey |
Collins |
Coogee, NSW |
|
Jai |
Mcgrath |
Coogee, NSW |
|
Mark |
ODare |
Coogee, NSW |
|
Gage |
Phillips |
Coogee, NSW |
|
Hudson |
Berry |
Coogee, NSW |
|
Tyrone |
Phillips |
Coogee, NSW |
|
Jayden |
Kitchener-Waters |
Coogee, NSW |
|
Dylan |
Mclachlan |
Southern Inland, NSW |
|
Darcy |
Sandy |
Yeppoon, QLD |
|
Brandon |
Saltner |
St George, QLD |
|
Murray |
Webster |
St George, QLD |
|
Geoffrey |
Prince |
St George, QLD |
|
Adam |
Parkes |
St George, QLD |
|
Trent |
Taylor |
Tamworth, NSW |
|
Myron |
Tapim |
Thursday Island, QLD |
|
Willington |
Richard |
Thursday Island, QLD |
|
Denzel |
Burns |
Toowoomba, QLD |
|
Larry |
Hart |
Townsville, QLD |
|
Jono |
Morrison |
Walgett, NSW |
|
Jakai |
Lammermoor |
Woorabinda, QLD |
