AAP Other Sport

Aust Sevens rosters poised for big reset

By AAP Newswire

Nov 16, 2021

Rio gold medallist Shannon Parry is among players departing the Australian rugby sevens program.

Some of Australian rugby sevens' best servants will switch to the 15-a-side game as the program turns its focus to an improved Olympic showing at Paris 2024.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

Ten men and women confirmed their retirement from the sevens World Series on Tuesday in a move that will completely reshape the look of both sides.

Both sides struggled in Tokyo earlier this year, the women upset in the quarter-final of their gold medal defence and the men also finishing fifth.

Long-time women's co-captain Shannon Parry will turn her focus to next year's World Cup after signing with the Queensland Reds, while Lachlan Anderson, Joe Pincus (both Melbourne Rebels) and Dylan Pietsch (NSW Waratahs) will join the men's 15-a-side ranks.

Rio Olympian Chloe Dalton will return to AFL after a brief switch back to rugby union ended with a fractured cheek that ruled her out of the Tokyo campaign.

Men's trio Josh Coward, Lewis Holland and Lachlan Miller, as well as fellow Rio gold medallists Emma Tonegato and Ellia Green, who was left out of the side for Tokyo, will also bow out.

Both men's coach Tim Walsh and women's mentor John Manenti will lead the sides in Dubai's World Series return next month, but will need to reapply to retain their jobs following a Rugby Australia review.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press