Sunshine Coast women’s Rugby Sevens coaches explain which players are key to success for their team this season.

Sunshine Coast women's sevens rugby union coaches have revealed which key players will be the ones to keep an eye on this season. SEE THE FULL LIST

The 2021 women’s sevens rugby union season is finally here with a number of teams fighting it out to prove they are the region’s best.

Seven teams will take part in this years five round tournament including Gympie Hammers, Noosa Dolphins, USC Barbarians, Caloundra Lighthouses, Maroochydore Swans and two Nambour Toad outfits.

We spoke to each head coach of the competition to find out which players in their team will be ones to keep an eye on this season.

Here’s what they had to say:

Nambour Toads White (Luke Zeremes)

Gracie Wright

Gracie Wright will look to have another breakout season in the women's Rugby Sevens competition.

“Gracie is another player in our team who has come through that Queensland Youth and Sunshine Coast Stingrays pathway,” he said.

“She has captained the Stingrays team and she is a tenacious little defender who is great on the ball in around the ruck.”

Amy Kibble

Amy Kibble will look to prove her worth once again for the Nambour Toads this season.

“Amy played in our women's competition this year and had some great experience with the UQ Aons side earlier in the year,” he said.

“She has also played for Queensland and she is a great all around player.”

“She’s got good speed and a range of good skills.”

Nambour Toads Red (Luke Zeremes)

Makayla Henry

Makayla Henry in action at the Queensland Touch Football 2016 Junior State Cup has played a range of sports growing up.

“Makayla has spent the year playing some rugby league for Caloundra who won the premiership,” he said,

“She’s a sevens rugby specialist, has played for Queensland Youth before and has come through the Sunshine Coast Stingrays program.

“She definitely brings a fair bit of experience and is a good attacker with the ball in hand too.”

Scarlett Day

“She is one of our younger players and is just starting to find her groove in the game of sevens,” he said.

“She is realising where she is most effective on the field and is a really good finisher.

“I think she’ll grow a lot in confidence throughout this competition.”

Gympie Hammers (Ella Findlay)

Keely Jackson

“She plays eyes up footy which is a great skill to have,” Findlay said.

“She reads the play really well and she’s very quick too so it will be exciting to see what she can do.”

Noosa Dolphins (Laurence Epstein)

Imogen Mcleod

Imogen Mcleod has played in a number of representative sides and will look to use that experience again this season. Picture: Chris Lodge

“Imy has great ball playing skills and her sense of space is really good,” he said.

“Her understanding of the game is another positive and she should go well again this season.”

Kelli Dunlop

Naomi Tomlinson (left) and Kelli Dunlop of the Noosa Dolphins women's team. Picture: Social Media

“Kelli has just come back from a long term injury which has had her on the sidelines for nearly two years,” he said.

“She has been a former player of the year for us so I’m looking forward to seeing her all around game once again.”

USC Barbarians (Brooke TeHuia)

Lauren Sims

“She runs really hard and is just a natural ballplayer which is a great skill to have,” she said.

“There’s no doubt she will perform well again for us this season.”

Hayley Pointon

“She’s coming back out of retirement which is very exciting,” she said.

“She is easily one of the better halfbacks on the Sunshine Coast so she will definitely be one to watch.”

Caloundra Lighthouses (Jess Broadhurst)

Ellie Williamson

“Is new to rugby but has a really good running game which will definitely shine through Rugby Sevens,” she said.

“She played in our senior women's 12 a side team and comes from a league background so I think that sevens is a lot more suited to her gamestyle.

“She definitely has that rugby instinct and I think it will be really exciting to watch her this season.”

Maroochydore Swans (Andrew Block)

Olivia Reginato

“She is a halfback with a really solid pass and a great fend so she’ll be handy in attack,” he said.

“Her speed is another positive she has to her game and is suited to sevens rugby.”

Jess Johnston

“This is still her first year of rugby but has come on really well,” he said.

“She has great footwork, great speed and is a very deceptive player in attack.”

Originally published as Sunshine Coast women’s Rugby Sevens coaches explain which players are key to success for their team this season.