Former Narrabri High School vice-captain and junior Blue Boar Sid Harvey flew into Perth earlier this week where he will line up for the Australian men’s rugby sevens team during the third round of the World Rugby Sevens campaign.
The tournament kicks off on Friday, January 24, and will run through to Australia Day on Sunday, January 26 at HBF Park.
The Aussies are looking to produce an improved performance after they missed out on podium finishes at the first two events. They finished seventh in Dubai and ninth in Cape Town in December, which sees them ranked eighth on the overall 12-team ladder.
Teams are allocated points at each tournament depending on where they place, with the winners earning 20 and the 12th-placed team earning just one. Fiji are currently ranked first with 36 points after winning the Dubai event and placing third in Cape Town, while Australia are 24 points back on 12.
Sid and his teammates in green and gold are determined to find success on home soil, and they will be boosted by the return of Maurice Longbottom.
They also have a new coach on board as Liam Barry takes the side for his first tournament since replacing John Manenti.
“John (Manenti) and ‘Chucky’ (Stannard) have done a great job with the group, (but) at the same time, we’ve lost (Nick) Malouf, Dietrich (Roache) to injury, Nathan (Lawson), Henry Paterson to injury, and Corey Toole. There’s five from the Olympics,” he explained to Rugby.com.au.
“We’re not replacing them, but we have to get better and learn quickly.
“They’re a smart group, so they’ll do that, but they’re talented fellas we don’t have around.
“It’s my role (to get the best out of the younger guys). It’s education and knowing how we work, how us as a management group work, and setting high standards and letting them try and go and achieve those.
“There are a couple of young guys coming in but there’s a mid-tier group and a leadership group that can carry the baton, and hopefully our performances will improve as we go.”
There have been three changes for the Australians from the team that played in South Africa, with sevens icon Longbottom making his return from injury.
“The team have prepared well and can’t wait to play their home tournament in front of family and fans in Perth,” Barry told Rugby.com.au.
“We are stoked to welcome back Josh Turner and Maurice Longbottom to the squad, while Hadley Tonga is looking to debut in Perth and that’s exciting for everyone.
“Very few teams have a home tournament so the players know it comes with expectation and it’s a great opportunity for us.”
For Harvey, this will be his third event after he debuted in Dubai and retained his spot for Cape Town.
The full men’s squad is as follows:
1. Henry Hutchison (c), 2. Ben Dowling, 9. Matt Gonzalez, 10. Ben Dalton, 11. Maurice Longbottom, 13. Jayden Blake, 14. James Turner, 15. Sid Harvey, 23. Aden Ekanayake, 25. Hayden Sargeant, 29. Josh Turner, 71. Hadley Tonga, 87. Michael Icely.
Their pool fixtures are as follows:
Friday, January 24 v Argentina (2:01pm AWST; 5:01pm AEDT); Friday, January 24 v South Africa (7:52pm AWST; 10:52pm AEDT); Saturday, January 25 v USA (1:28pm AWST; 4:28pm AEDT).
Meanwhile, the Aussie women’s team are currently ranked second overall following their win in Dubai and a fourth-placed finish in Cape Town. They are four points behind Dubai runners-up and Cape Town winners New Zealand and will be looking to wrestle back the lead this weekend.
This year’s Perth tournament will make history as the women’s final wraps up the weekend as the main event on Australia Day. Traditionally, the men’s final has closed out each tournament, but the women will take centre stage in Perth and the Aussies are determined to feature in that match.
Their squad is as follows:
1. Piper Simons, 3. Faith Nathan, 4. Mackenzie Davis, 5. Teagan Levi, 7. Charlotte Caslick, 9. Tia Hinds, 10. Isabella Nasser, 11. Demi Hayes, 12. Maddison Levi, 13. Heidi Dennis, 15. Kahli Henwood, 23. Ruby Nicholas, 28. Kiiahla Duff.
Their fixtures are as follows:
Friday, January 24 v China (2:45pm AWST; 5:45pm AEDT); Friday, January 24 v Spain (8:36pm AWST; 11:36pm AEDT); Saturday, January 25 v France (4:09pm AWT; 7:09pm AEDT).
