Australian schoolgirls rugby sevens guns on mission at Global Youth 7s 2024, squad, players to watch

They are small but mighty - a group of schoolgirls aiming to be at the LA and Brisbane Olympics on a rugby sevens mission. Australian schoolgirls players to watch, new squad.

Amanda Lulham

@amandalulham

3 min read

October 14, 2024 - 12:49PM

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Manua Moleka competing at the Australian schools championships.

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They are a group of schools girls with precocious talent, passion to burn and a goal of shaking up rugby sevens now and in the future.

The 2024 Australian schoolgirl rugby sevens side has been named to take on the best youngsters in the game at the Global Sevens event in Auckland later this year.

And coach Ash Mewburn is adamant players in the side could be part of Australian Olympic teams as soon as the LA Games in 2028, but specifically the Brisbane Olympics in 2032.

The schoolgirls team also boasts some of the most talented teens in the world game in NSW pair Caitlyn Halse and Ruby Anderson who have both been on the recent Wallaroos tour.

The squad, named on Monday, is evenly split with seven NSW and seven Queenslanders with only one school - Hunter Sports High - boasting two athletes.

Ellazae Ellers is one of the young guns in the team.

Squad members come from across the two states with their home bases including Ipswich, the Hunter area, the NSW Central Coast and Sydney’s northern beaches.

Mewsen said her goal is to develop new talent with the aim of the side to make the grand finals of the Global Youth event in December.

In her arsenal are three young guns from last year in Shalom Sauaso, Manua Moleka and Maddison Pomrenke.

Sauaso was player of the tournament at last year’s Gold Coast Global Youth Sevens tournament.

Shalom Sauaso. Picture courtesy of Nashys Pix.

The team boasts the rising stars of women’s sevens and lots of new faces. Pictures: Anthony Edgar

She is a skilled ball runner while Moleka is a defensive threat and Pomrenke nimble with a good kicking game and great ball playing skills.

Less well-known are newcomers Savannah Roberts-Hickling and Ellazae Ellers who earned their spots after standout performances at the Australian schools rugby championships on the Sunshine Coast while playing for the Lloyd McDermott team.

Roberts-Hickling is a student at Ballina Coast high school and Ellers is from the Hunter Sports high school.

Also in the side is Billy Backus one of the younger players.

“I have two who played in the 16s (at the Australian schools championships) in Billy and Ellazae,’’ Mewburn said. “They will built depth in our program

“Billy is a fast forward and Ella is in the centre halves.

Caitlyn Halse playing for the Waratahs in Super W. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images

The 2024 event will be contested between December 13–15 and has over 50 of the worlds top teams competing, including a Rugby Australia side and the Australian schoolgirls.

The event provides a glimpse into the future of the sport with the top under 18s rugby players from multiple countries playing.

Last year the Australian schoolgirls competed in an event on the Gold Coast and won it after being undefeated but the 2024 event has been postponed for a year so they will head across the ditch for the Auckland event this year.

Manua Moleka competing at the Australian schools championships.

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“We didn’t do Auckland leg but the Rugby Australia team took it out,’’ Mewburn said.

“We took out the Gold Coast event and Shalom got player of the tournament with 40 tries and 23 conversions

“They scored 246 points in two day and only conceded 29 points. They were exceptional.

“I think they will be bigger, faster and stronger this year.

“Rugby Australia will have their own team but all mine are still at school.’’

Young rugby sevens player Ella Ellers. Picture: Anthony Edgar

Khyliah Gray playing in the Lisa Fiaola. Picture: Adam Wrightson Photography.

Mewburn said other players to watch now and in the future include Anika McCarthy from Hunter who was in the U16s at the Australian schools tournament.

“She is electric. She has skills and agility like Waiaria Ellis,’’ Mewburn said.

“She is light with her footwork, has great skills.

“A quiet achiever and a sprinter who played touch football.

“She is small but a real pocket rocket.

“We also have Khyliah Gray from Mackellar Girls.

“She is a ball playing power forward. Someone who gets thee girls going, small and powerful, very fit and electric.’’

“Another is Queenslander is Nikeisha Ngaru from Marsden State High School

“She is similar to Anika McCarthy. She is another pocket rocket. You won;t see her until she passes.

“What we don’t have in size we make up for in speed.

“We are small but might. What we lack in size we make up for in speed and heart.’’