Australia Sevens co-captain eyes comeback after signing new deal

Australia Men’s Sevens co-captain Henry Paterson will target a return to the HSBC SVNS Series this season, having put pen to paper on a contract extension along with two young stars on the rise.

Paterson has been sidelined for the last 12 months after suffering a season-ending ACL rupture during a training session. But the Paris Olympian is looking to return at the Kick On Sevens in Sydney on October 16.

Jayden Blake and Ethan McFarland have earned new deals with the program after promising performances on the world’s premier sevens circuit. Blake debuted at SVNS Cape Town in late 2024, before going on to wear Aussie green and gold at another 12 events.

Blake was part of the Randwick first-grade side that took out the Shute Shield premiership and is a product of the NSW Waratahs Academy. The utility back made some impressive stops in defence as a SVNS rookie and backed that up with another seven events last season.

McFarland played in nine events as a rookie, with the highlight a crucial try that helped seal a drought-breaking SVNS title for the men’s side in Valladolid, Spain. The Brisbane-born talent is a product of GPS Rugby club.

“We look forward to seeing Henry back on the field soon and his leadership within the squad will be valuable in 2026-2027,” Director of High Performance, Peter Horne, said.

“Jayden and Ethan are exciting players coming through the program and complement our experience in the group.

“Jayden’s speed and athleticism has been on show in his first two seasons and we expect Ethan to build on his first year after impressing the coaching staff.”