Players Australian schools girls sevens coach wants in his 2025 squad

News.com.au

8 hours ago

Australian coach Luke Zerames has a long wish list of traits, skills and characteristics he wants to find to fill two Australian school girls squads and help develop and bolster young Sevens talent ahead of the LA and Brisbane Olympics.
Zerames and selectors will closely watch three days of school girls sevens competition to identify players to go into Australian schools 18s and U16s merit squads.
Only players selected next month in the U18s schools team from these two squads will play at the Global Youth Sevens in New Zealand later this year.
However selection on the Sunshine Coast is important as it provides all players with a unique opportunity to learn from the best and impress coaching staff working with the elite Australian sevens squad being formed for the next Olympics in LA and then the Brisbane Olympics in 2032.
'We are looking for girls who can perform well across a number of fixtures with a big load of a day of four fixtures,'' Zerames said.
SCHOOLS SEVENS DAY 1 WRAP
'We want ones that can be consistent and those with X-factor or good social skills.
'Girls who have endurance, have that little bit of grit late in the game when energy levels are low and the chips are down.
'Plus athletic ability, speed, acceleration, high IQ and eyes-up awareness.
'With sevens its not one size fits all. We also need players who are physical, we want girls who thrive with that physiclaity. Physical prowess, a beast at the breakdown.''
Aside from skills Zerames said he wants good people.
'Their character is more important than anything,'' he said.
'We want good people on and off the field, that are coachable and can play a team game.
'That ability in a sevens tournament to move on, not dwell on a bad game.
'This is a major pathway for them.''