Ex-Australia captain Charlotte Caslick explains shock sevens exit

Charlotte Caslick has explained her bombshell decision to step away from the HSBC SVNS Series this season, with Australia’s former sevens captain instead going all-in on with the Queensland Reds in Super Rugby Women’s over the coming weeks.

Caslick will debut for the Reds in Sunday afternoon’s blockbuster clash with arch-rivals the NSW Waratahs at Brisbane’s Ballymore Stadium. Sevens teammates Khali Henwood and Teagan Levi have been named to start, while Isabella Nasser will also come off the pine.

Henwood, Levi and sevens captain Nasser will all return to the national set-up after the match ahead of the prestigious Hong Kong Sevens, but Caslick won’t join them. The three-time Olympian will, as reported by RugbyPass, take no further part in the SVNS Series.

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With the Women’s Rugby World Cup about five months away, Caslick is focused on 15s in a bid to be part of Australia’s squad for the showpiece event in England. The Wallaroos will take part in World Rugby’s Pacific Four Series earlier in the year, as well as other Tests on home soil.

“Obviously, the World Cup being in England, I think it’s an exciting opportunity for me to be apart of and something that would be really special in my career to achieve,” Caslick told reporters at Brisbane’s Ballymore Stadium on Wednesday.

“Then looking ahead to the home World Cup in 2029 as well, if we can as Australian rugby set this pathway and get girls playing both sevens and 15s, I think it puts our Australian side by 2029 in a really good place to hopefully put on a good performance.

“We saw what the Matildas did at their World Cup in Australia so if we can emulate what they did, hopefully we’ll keep growing the sport and get some new fans on board.’

Caslick is one of nine Australian sevens stars who have signed with Super Rugby Women’s clubs, with reigning World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year Maddison Levi the other player committed to the Reds for the 2025 campaign.

But with Levi out injured, RugbyPass understands the try-scoring phenomenon will not play for the Reds, but that doesn’t mean the Queenslander is definitely out of the race for Wallaroos selection in 15s.

Bienne Terita, Tia Hinds and Demi Hayes have linked with the ACT Brumbies, with Hinds named at fullback for this weekend’s clash with the Fijian Drua at Lautoka’s Churchill Park. Sariah Paki was the only sevens player to join the Tahs, but she hasn’t been named in this week’s 23.

Before the SVNS Series season, Caslick told RugbyPass and Rugby.com.au that she was looking to play fullback or fly-half in 15s. However, the only issue with starring as the team’s chief playmaker was a lack of game time in the 15-player format

But, with this decision to stay on with the Reds for the remainder of the Super Rugby season, it seems possible that Caslick will get some minutes in the No. 10 slot. New Zealand-born Wallaroo Carys Dallinger has been named in the starting side at fly-half this week, though.

“Sevens is still a lot of the girls’ priority this season so they’ll be focusing on going back to sevens after this weekend but I’m looking to stay for the rest of the season with the Reds and really put my best foot forward and prepare myself for hopefully getting a spot in that Wallaroos squad ” Caslick explained.

“There’s a limited amount of games in Australia that we can play 15s at this level so I really want to make the most of that… in England and other spaces, they have a lot more opportunity to play 15s at a high level.

“I’m just trying to make the most of the small chances I get.”

Without Caslick, the Reds started their 2025 season with an upset win over the Fijian Drua in Fiji last weekend. They’ll be desperate to keep their winning start to the season in tact against their traditional foe from south of the border, who are looking to find form themselves.

The Tahs lost to the Drua at home in the season opener before sneaking by the Western Force a week later after a last-minute try. Those results set the stage for an enthralling battle, with every player looking to impress in a bid to earn national selection for the World Cup.

“It’s out of my comfort zone,” she added. “It’s new and I’ve been doing sevens for 12 years now and is like my little home away from home.

“I love sevens so much and I’ve obviously dedicate my whole career to sevens so far but I am really excited to do something new.”