New Era for Australia Women's Sevens as captain steps down

NEWS: Three-time Olympian Charlotte Caslick will step down as Australian Women’s Sevens team captain ahead of the 2024/2025 season with Isabella Nasser to replace the decorated legend.

Caslick is the country’s longest-serving women’s Rugby Sevens players in history with an incredible career spanning over 300 games.

The 29-year-old will enter a 12th season as part of the Aussie Women’s Sevens team this year after making her debut as a teenager in 2013.

Australia’s all-time leading try-scorer, Caslick has been influential in leading the charge to overall series titles in 2015-16, 2018, 2022 and more recently 2023-2024 season, winning the Madrid SVNS Grand Final.

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Her reign as captain began in 2022 and included a Commonwealth Games gold medal win in Birmingham during her first year in charge.

Former Australian Women’s Sevens captain Charlotte Caslick said: “The last few seasons captaining this team has been one of the biggest highlights of my career and a true honour.

“Moving forward into the new season I’ve decided to step away from this role to allow the girls to grow in this space leading into the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028.

“I pride myself on always putting the team first and I have always had that expectation on the girls too. I will continue to put my heart and soul into the Aussie Sevens program, this group and the jersey.

“I’ve watched Bella grow from a high school student at Brisbane State High School to an incredible rugby player, person and leader, and cannot wait to support her any way I can throughout the upcoming season.”

Nasser, who made her Australian Rugby Sevens debut in 2022, has become a mainstay in the line-up after being inspired to play the sport following the side’s success at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

The sister of Wallaby Josh Nasser and daughter of former Wallaby Brendan Nasser, Isabella was part of the Sevens team that finished fourth at the Paris Olympics in July.

New Australian Women’s Sevens captain Isabella Nasser said: “It is an honour and privilege to be named captain of the Australian Women Sevens Rugby team.

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“There have been incredible leaders who have gone before me and I only hope to follow in their footsteps and to lead the team to future success.

“Charlotte is and always will be such an immortal legend of the game and it’s an honour to have her in the team.

“As a team and program we are evolving and maturing and we are looking forward to performing this season and leading into the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.”

Nasser’s side will kick off their first tournament of the season in Dubai on Saturday against China before clashes with Fiji and Ireland in the pool stages.

Australian Women’s Sevens Head Coach Tim Walsh said: “The program has always been blessed with strong, authentic and pioneering leaders.

“Bella is a very impressive young woman possessing huge leadership potential and I am looking forward to working with Bella and the team to further unlock our potential.

“This squad will get better with age, and the best is yet to come.”