Rugby teen Emma Sykes in seventh heaven after making team for World Series

A TEENAGER will make her World Series debut alongside seven Olympic gold medallists when Australia kicks off its defence of the rugby sevens event in Dubai.

Emma Sykes made a big impression in a recent event on the Central Coast.

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A TEENAGER will make her World Series debut alongside seven Olympic gold medallists when Australia kicks off its defence of the rugby sevens event in Dubai in December.

Multi-talented Emma Sykes, 18, impressed during recent Oceania and Central Coast tournaments to earn a spot in the team alongside Rio Olympians Charlotte Caslick, Sharni Williams, Shannon Parry, Chloe Dalton, Emilee Cherry, Emma Tonegato and Alicia Quirk.

Ellia Green in action against Russia during the Dubai event last year. Green is still on the comeback from injury.

The Sunshine Coast teenager last year represented Australia in three sports — touch football, rugby sevens and touch rugby — while still at school.

Now at university studying Sports Studies, Sykes will be joined in the side heading to Dubai by Brooke Anderson, Mahalia Murphy, Georgia Friedrichs and Tiana Penitani.

Friedrichs and Murphy made a big impression at the recent national championships in Adelaide with the former named Player of the Tournament.

Anderson and Penitani played beside each other at the Youth Olympics in 2014 and are returning from injuries.

Chloe Dalton is one of seven Olympians in the side heading to Dubai.

“This squad represents a new dawn for the Aussie sevens women’s team with our young players being given an opportunity to put their best foot forward on the World Series stage,’’ said coach Tim Walsh.

“Our preparation has been excellent, with convincing wins at both the Central Coast Sevens and Oceania Sevens tournaments.

“The entire squad understands our recent success will make us the team to beat going into the World Series and this is a challenge we are really looking forward to overcoming.”