Wallaroos winger headlines talented squads for Global Youth Sevens

Rugby Australia has unveiled the Australian U18s 7s and Australian Schoolgirls squads for the 2025 Global Youth Sevens in Auckland, with Wallaroos winger Waiaria Ellis headlining the talented selections for the event on December 19-21.

Global Youth Sevens bring the next generation of HSBC SVNS Series stars together, allowing them to showcase their skill in an international arena. This event serves as a key pathway for senior sevens programs around the world.

90 per cent of the full-time Australia Sevens program played in Global Youth Sevens during their rise to the SNVS Series, including captain Isabella Nasser, try-scoring machine Maddison Levi, and 2025 Shawn Mackay Award winner Faith Nathan.

Ellis has been selected, about two months on from the Wallaroos’ quarter-final exit at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup. While Ellis didn’t take the field during the event, coach Jo Yapp did select the rising star in the squad.

The 18-year-old debuted for the Wallaroos earlier in 2025, having been named to start on the right wing against the Black Ferns in Wellington. Ellis has been named in the Australian Under 18s squad along with Darci Turinui, who was the top try-scorer in the recent Next Gen 7s competition.

“The Australian Under 18s team will be looking to go one better than last year after losing the final to Japan,” Rugby Australia Head of Women’s Pathways, Lachlan Parkinson, said in a statement.

“This has become a great rivalry with the Japanese girls after they won in 2022 before we regained the title in 2023 and they won it back in 2024.

“The Australian Schoolgirls Under 18s program is also a major part of the 7s pathway in Australia, providing additional opportunities for our elite youth players to participate in an international tournament.

“The two programs work closely together to support the development of the athletes.”

The Australian U18s side will go into Global Youth Sevens as one of the teams to beat yet again, with a talented squad looking to repeat the title-winning heroics of those who have worn the jersey in the past.

Australia won Global Youth Sevens in 2018, 2019 and 2023, and has finished as the runners-up on three occasions. They placed second in 2017, 2022 and 2024, with Japan’s women’s side taking out last year’s decider 26-15.

This Australian squad was chosen from a wider pool of 45 players who were selected for three camps throughout the year. Ellis is one of seven from New South Wales, and there’s six representatives from Queensland in coach Shannon Parry’s team.

“This year’s selection process was incredibly competitive, which is exactly what we want to see,” Australian Schools Rugby Union Executive, Sarah Ridgewell, added.

“We’ve assembled a squad that balances experience with emerging talent, with these student athletes having shown tremendous commitment to earning their places.

“We continue to see remarkable growth in schoolgirls 7s across Australia with more schools embracing the format for its fast-paced and fun nature and recognising it as an accessible entry point into rugby.

“What’s particularly encouraging is that schools are viewing 7s not just as a participation sport, but as a genuine pathway to high-performance school representative opportunities.”

2025 Australian Under 18 7s squad

• Aimee Henry – Queensland
• Charli Nikola – Queensland
• Cobi Ryan-Last – NSW
• Darci Turinui – NSW
• Darcie Prosser-Shaw – NSW
• Kaelyn Passi – Queensland
• Lacey Cross – NSW
• Layne Prince – Queensland
• Logan Lemusu – NSW
• Maddi Pomerenke – Queensland
• Peyton Lefau-Fakaosilea – Queensland
• Tahlia O’Brien – NSW
• Waiaria Ellis – NSW

• Head Coach – Shannon Parry
• Manager – Ryan Webster
• Athletic Performance – Katelyn Murray
• Physiotherapist – Emma Craig

Players unavailable for selection due to injury

• Coco Marsters
• Tekainga Enkera-Raveora
• Lola Harrison
• Poppi Flanders
• Anika McCarthy

2025 Australian Schoolgirls 7s squad

• Billie Backus – King’s Christian College, Queensland
• Chloe Sivewright – Richmond River High School, NSW
• Ellazae Elers – Hunter Sports High School, NSW
• Georgina Hayes – Mater Dei Catholic College, NSW
• Keira Callaghan – Hunter Sports High School, NSW
• Lusiana Vesikula – Kingsgrove High School, NSW
• Matilda Vial – Keebra Park State High School, Queensland
• Matilda Richards – Mt. St Michael’s College, Queensland
• Mia Byrnes – The Glennie School, Queensland
• Poppy Gibbons – The Glennie School, Queensland
• Reese Orcher – Clayfield College, Queensland
• Tiki Calliste – King’s Christian College, Queensland
• TJ Murray – King’s Christian College, Queensland
• Jenna Aiono – Copperfield College, Victoria (Shadow player)
• Laura-May McGovern – Siena Catholic College, Queensland (Shadow player)

• Head Coach – Luke Zeremes – St John’s College
• Assistant Coach – Kieran Smith – Dubbo College Senior Campus
• Manager – Sophie Shadlow – The Glennie School
• ASRU Executive – Sarah Ridgewell – Matthew Flinders Anglican College