Walker agrees to Sevens deal
The Australian Men's Sevens program has announced its list of contracted players for 2015 and represents the second year that the Men's Sevens program will be centrally based at Narrabeen on Sydney's Northern Beaches.
The list of 20 contracted players includes recent additions to the squad Michael Wells and Brad Wilkin, while speedy outside back Shannon Walker has also agreed a new deal with the Sevens program.
Australia's most-capped Sevens player Ed Jenkins will represent the country for a seventh year having made his World Series debut in February 2008.
"I have talked before about performing consistently well at tournaments across the World Series. If we are to achieve that and be successful then I believe it is imperative that we are consistent with the group of players I work with day in, day out. The players are enjoying working at our centralised base in Narrabeen and I am enjoying working with them," head coach Geraint John said.
"We still have plenty of work to do and there are many goals to achieve, but as you can see from our last two performances in Dubai and Port Elizabeth, there are positive signs. In fact, if you look at the last five Sevens tournaments we have participated in, this group finished second at Twickenham in May, third at the Commonwealth Games, runners-up in Dubai and a third place finish in South Africa, so that consistency is coming.
"I have read the media speculation with regards to Shannon Walker, but I am delighted he has re-signed, as I am with all of the players. We still have a bit of work to do to get Shannon back to full fitness and available for selection, but on his day he is a match winner and he has that x-factor."
After promising tournaments in Dubai and Port Elizabeth in December, Australia currently sit fourth in the 2014/15 Sevens World Series ahead of the next leg in Wellington in February. Along with hosts Brazil, only the top four countries in this season's World Series automatically qualify for the Olympic Games at Rio 2016.
Australia Sevens Squad: Paul Asquith, Cameron Clark, Tom Cusack, Allan Fa'alava'au, Con Foley, Pama Fou, Alex Gibbon, Lewis Holland, Greg Jeloudev, Ed Jenkins, Tom Lucas, Nick Malouf, Sam Myers, Afa Pakalani, Jesse Parahi, Peter Schuster, James Stannard, Shannon Walker, Michael Wells, Bradley Wilkin.
