Wallaby returns to Sevens
Wallaby Luke Morahan has been confirmed in the Australia squad for the Gold Coast Sevens, as all 16 coaches declared their final line-ups for the opening round of the IRB Sevens World Series.
Morahan lines up alongside fellow Gold Coast local Shannon Walker as part of an experienced home side captained by Ed Jenkins.
Having missed the Gold Coast tournament in 2011 through injury, this year Walker is fit, while Morahan has only returned from Argentina after being called into the Wallabies squad.
“I’d pay money to come and watch Shannon and Luke play, they are two really exciting young players,” said coach Michael O’Connor.
“Luke is a very good mover, he has good speed and a good understanding of Sevens.
“While he hasn’t been playing regularly, he picks it up very quickly and he has been able to integrate in to the team seamlessly.
“Shannon is the same and if both of them have a good tournament then Australia will have a good tournament.”
Australia will start on the Gold Coast having not won on home soil in a decade.
“While it isn’t something that keeps me up at night, I do think we’ve got a lot of improving to do from last year and it would certainly be nice to break the decade long drought," added O'Connor.
“Ten years is a long time, but when you look at other tournaments like Hong Kong, where we haven’t won in 25 years and the fact that South Africa have never won there, then a decade doesn’t seem too bad.
“Looking forward though I’m really happy with the side, we’ve had a good prep and we’ve got some really good experience in the squad."
In all there are 51 World Series debutants with hosts Australia, England and France the only sides fielding 12 players will experience at this level.
Defending Gold Coast champions Fiji are the least experienced side in the competition with seven debutants, one more than reigning Series champions, New Zealand.
