The ten best sevens converts heading to the World Cup

The past few iterations of the Women’s Rugby World Cup has seen a smattering of players who’ve traditionally focused on sevens turn their hands to test rugby.

At Rugby World Cup 2025 that smattering will become much greater as nearly every one of the 16 teams feature multiple players from their sevens programmes.

While trying to steer clear of the obvious “seven sevens players to watch”, we’ve landed on a very arbitrary 10 for no good reason other than needing to stop somewhere; in reality, there are so many sevens players who’ve made the switch that this list could easily be in excess of 20 names.

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Players like Olivia Apps, Joanna Grisez, Amee-Leigh Costigan and many others will be prominent in this tournament while injury has robbed us of a couple of would-be stars such as Erin King and Chloe Jacquet. Charlotte Caslick’s late withdrawal is a massive blow not only to the Walloroos but the tournament, denied seeing the long-time face of sevens on the World Cup stage.

Some prominent names have been excluded from the list. New Zealand’s Stacey Waaka and Theresa Fitzpatrick have already won multiple World Cups and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe is in a category of her own.

England’s Meg Jones is now predominantly a 15s player, while Frenchwoman Kelly Arbey is fairly new at international level in both versions of the game. USA’s Alev Kelter is omitted as she’s regularly switched between the two codes and, as for her team-mate Ilona Maher, well you’re already watching her and she’s doing enough heavy lifting attracting viewers to the sport.

So here we are, ten sevens players to watch at the 2025 Rugby World Cup:

1. JORJA MILLER (New Zealand)
The current World Sevens Player of the Year could very well be adding 15s Player of the Year to her list of accolades by the end of the tournament-she’s that good.

Perhaps the most uniquely talented player in the game, man, woman, sevens or 15s, Miller thrives on the big stage and although bigger challenges lie ahead, she’s switched seamlessly back to the longer form of the game where she cut her teeth at high school.

2. RISI POURI-LANE (New Zealand)
Risi Pouri-Lane has come into her own on the sevens field in the past two years and her calm presence at halfback made an immediate impact for the Black Ferns when she made her test debut against the USA in May.

A player whose actions speak louder than words, Pouri-Lane may well have already forced her way into becoming New Zealand’s number one number nine with her crisp and swift delivery, developing kicking game and defensive fortitude.

3. FLORENCE SYMONDS (Canada)
Flo Symonds played her first ever game of 15s on the wing against New Zealand two years ago, now she’s surely Canada’s starting centre. Symonds was an absolute standout during the Pacific Four, carrying on the form she showed throughout the sevens season having overcome injuries that have held her back a little.

Tall and strong with ability to get her arms free and a burst of speed, Symonds has also been an absolute rock in defence in both codes this year.

4. SERAPHINE OKEMBA (France)
A quiet personality with a big game, Seraphine Okemba has already shown this season what sevens fans have long known. The Six Nations rising star winner is a powerhouse loose forward who has comfortably adapted to the rigours of being a 15s forwards after making her name as one of France’s major sevens strike weapons.

Rangy, fast, dynamic, Okemba adds a point of difference to the French forward pack.

5. TIA HINDS (Australia)
Much was made about the number of Aussie Sevens players who’d put their hands up for the Wallaroos, but in the end only Charlotte Caslick, Tia Hinds and Bienne Terita committed to Jo Yapp’s side.

With Caslick and Terita now both ruled out through injury, it’s left on the shoulders of Hinds to show sevens players in Australia what they too could do in the future.

Luckily for the Wallaroos, there’s a very calm head on those shoulders as Hinds has shown time and again the ability to come up with a big play when her team needs it. Thrust in to play at fly-half, Hinds has taken on a massive challenge and has grown with every minute she’s played so far.

6. EVE HIGGINS (Ireland)
Eve Higgins has been the rock in middle of the Ireland sevens line since making her debut aged 18, and has now brought that same reliability to Ireland’s midfield as they make a long-awaited return to Rugby World Cup.

Higgins has dabbled with 15s over recent years but was one of handful of sevens stars who committed fully post the Paris Olympics, making an instant impact in a side surging up the rankings.

Her close quarter footwork, playmaking ability and abrasive defence makes Higgins a multiple threat.

7. ASIA HOGAN-ROCHESTER (Canada)
Truth be told, Asia Hogan-Rochester should have been in the HSBC SVNS season dream team. I’m a judge, mea culpa, we got that wrong. After a wretched run of injuries, Hogan-Rochester has shown they thrive on the big stage, becoming a key component of the silver medal winning team then helping guide a new look Canada side through the most recent sevens season, scoring tries and saving them.

If they overcome the broken leg suffered in the draw with New Zealand in May, Hogan-Rochester will be a name to remember.

8. NADINE ROOS (South Africa)
Although this will be Roos’s second Rugby World Cup, the South African pocket rocket deserves her flowers. Tough as nails and as fast as anyone going, Roos has set the standard for the Springbok Women in sevens and 15s, as both programmes start to see the benefits of increased resource and investment.

Roos is possibly one of the fittest players in the game, with a work ethic that is hard to match. Women’s rugby in South Africa is starting to flourish and Roos is at the forefront.

9. YASMIM SOARES (Brazil)
While all the eyes have been on Thalia Costa, the Brazilian sevens sensation, Yasmim Soares came into her own this past season as the Yaras pulled off some outstanding results. After largely being used as a scrumhalf off the bench, Soares played more regularly out wide in 2025, cutting teams apart with her brilliant footwork and incredible pace.

With Brazilian rugby really still in its infancy, the bulk of the sevens squad is making the switch for their historic Rugby World Cup debut and Soares is one who could be a game-breaker.

10. VERENAISI DITAVUTU (Fij)
Verenaisi Ditavutu is one of the new breed of Fiji’s sevens stars, making her way in an increasingly professionalised programme and seizing the opportunities that come with more eyes on the game and the success. A mainstay of the sevens side since 2022, Ditavutu spent some time away from Fijiana in favour of a stint at the Rhinos academy in the USA.

Making her test debut at centre last month against the USA, she’s a rangy, powerful runner and tough defender, with the ability to produce an audacious offload.