Injury shake-up hits Australia before SVNS Series opener

Rising star Hadley Tonga has been called into the Australia Sevens Men’s playing squad for this weekend’s 2025/26 HSBC SVNS Series opener in Dubai after Paris Olympian Ben Dowling was ruled out of the event with a minor injury.

Australia Sevens confirmed on Thursday afternoon that Dowling sustained a minor quad injury at training, but the 23-year-old is expected to return for next weekend’s stop in Cape Town. Tonga has come into the playing squad as an injury replacement.

Tonga turned down contract offers from NRL sides the Parramatta Eels and Dolphins in 2023 to sign a three-year deal with Australia Sevens, before the speedster debuted at this year’s home SVNS Series event in Perth.

The absence of Dowling increases the team’s injury toll to four, with coach Liam Barry without some other big-name stars. Michael Icely, co-captain Henry Paterson, and 2024/25 Shawn Mackay Medallist James Turner have all been sidelined.

Australia Sevens revealed last week that Paterson will miss the entire 2025/26 campaign after suffering an ACL injury at training, while Icely and Turner aren’t available for the first four rounds in Dubai, Cape Town, Singapore and Perth.

There is some positive news on the injury front with Dietrich Roache returning after spending the entire 2024/25 SVNS Series on the sidelines. Roache suffered a season-ending injury just before the Dubai Sevens 12 months ago.

Barry has selected three debutants in the touring squad for Dubai and Cape Town. Former NSW Waratahs centre Harry Wilson joins the Queensland duo of Will Cartwright and Ethan McFarland as the uncapped players on the roster.

“We are looking forward to the 2025/2026 season and have a new-look squad with three debutants in Dubai,” Barry said in a statement.

“It’s very exciting for Ethan, Will and Harry as they look to represent Australia and their families.

“Unfortunately we have lost quality players Henry Paterson, James Turner and Michael Icely to injury and they were unavailable for selection.

“But in turn this provides others an opportunity to play on the world stage.”

Dubai is the first stop of the new-look SVNS Series, before the circuit heads to Cape Town. They are the only two stops before the New Year. Singapore, Perth, Vancouver and New York will host other events before the three-leg World Championships.

The Championships start at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, before a European double-header at Valladolid and Bordeaux. These events will feature the 12 best women’s and men’s teams, who are battling to become their respective overall SVNS Series titles.