Another SVNS star heads west as Force land rising star Aden Ekanayake

Another product of the Australia Sevens program has signed with the Western Force ahead of the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific season, with Aden Ekanayake set to join teammate Wallace Charlie at the club after agreeing to a three-year deal.

Ekanayake debuted on the HSBC SVNS Series during the early rounds of the 2025 season in Dubai and Cape Town, and it didn’t take the young gun long to emerge as a genuine game-changer and regular standout for the side.

The 21-year-old scored the match-winner for Australia in a thriller against eventual HSBC SVNS World Championship winners South Africa in Perth last season, and was recognised at the Rugby Australia Awards with Junior Player of the Year honours.

NSW Waratahs rookie Sid Harvey shared the accolade at Rugby Australia’s night of nights after starring for the sevens side and the Australia U20s in 15s. Ekanayake joined Harvey in the age-grade squad for the World Rugby Junior World Championship in Italy.

Rugby Australia has confirmed that Ekanayake will leave the sevens program and return to 15s, signing on with a talented Force squad. Charlie had already agreed on a switch to the Super Rugby Pacific outfit before the 2026 HSBC SVNS Series.

“It’s a terrific opportunity for Aden at the Western Force and similar to Sid Harvey this season we have seen players from the Australia Sevens program transition well in Super Rugby Pacific,” Director of High Performance, Peter Horne, said.

“Our Australia Sevens sides had fantastic seasons and it is pleasing to see many taking up opportunities overseas and gaining vital experience before returning for an Olympic-qualifying campaign in 2026-2027.

“We also thank those who are departing our program and wish them well in the future.”

Rugby Australia has also outlined the opportunities several sevens players are taking up ahead of the 2027 SVNS Series, headlined by a trio of big name stars who are set to take part in Ultimate Sevens in Europe.

Maddison Levi, Henry Hutchison and Maurice Longbottom will all ply their trade in the inaugural Ultimate Sevens campaign from August. Australia captain Isabella Nasser, Faith Nathan, Kahli Henwood, Kaitlin Shave, Heidi Dennis and Bienne Terita are also available in the draft.

Ben Dowling, James Turner, Jayden Blake and Harry Wilson are another four players from the men’s side that could join Hutchison and Longbottom in the tournament. Those four will be available in the draft.

Three men’s players will compete in the second season of the Rugby Premier League in India, with ‘Hutch’ involved in that competition as well. Longbottom and Michael Icely have signed on with sides as well.

Icely is set to depart the Australia Men’s Sevens program along with Charlie and Ekanyake, while Gage Phillips and Oliver Harvey have been released as well. Charlie and Cooper Watters have been selected in the Australia U20 squad for the Junior World Championship in Georgia.

In women’s rugby, Tia Hinds and Piper Simons will make the switch to 15s later this year. Simons debuted for the Wallaroos against Fijiana in March and recently wore Cambridge Blue of the NSW Waratahs in round one.