Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013
Australia well placed to defend World Cup
May 31, 2013

Rebecca Tavo will spearhead Australia's Rugby World Cup Sevens title defence in Moscow after coach Chris Lane named her in his 12-woman squad alongside captain Sharni Williams, Iliseva Batibasaga and Shannon Parry - who all played in the 15-a-side World Cup in 2010.

Tavo, the face of the sport in Australia, who became BHP Billiton's first female train driver in 2006, is the only member of the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009-winning squad heading to Russia to contest the second finals.

Australia recorded a 15-10 sudden-death extra-time win over New Zealand in the 2009 final, and the side will be one of the nation's major medal hopes when Sevens debuts as an Olympic sport at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.

"This is almost a completely new squad to that which won it in 2009," Lane said. "We've been focused on this tournament for 18 months and we've put a squad together that we believe will be competitive."

Australia face China, Ireland and South Africa in pool play at the tournament, which runs from June 29-30.

Australia Women's Sevens squad: Iliseva Batibasaga, Katrina Barker, Charlotte Caslick, Emilee Cherry, Nikki Etheridge, Shannon Parry, Tiana Penitani, Saofaiga Saemo, Shontelle Stowers, Rebecca Tavo, Amy Turner, Sharni Williams (captain).

© AAP

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