Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp reacts to ‘really exciting’ announcement - sports news foot

Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp has opened up about last Thursday’s “really exciting” announcement, with Rugby Australia confirming that nine HSBC SVNS Series stars have linked up with Super Rugby Women’s clubs in a bid to play for the national team in 2025.

World Rugby’s reigning Sevens Player of the Year Maddison Levi headlines a star-studded Queensland Reds-bound group that also includes sister Teagan, three-time Olympian Charlotte Caslick, sevens captain Isabella Nasser, and Olympian Khali Henwood.

Sariah Paki is the only sevens representative who has committed to the NSW Waratahs, while the trio of Demi Hayes, Tia Hinds and Bienne Terita are all off to the ACT Brumbies. These nine athletes have all set their sights on playing at the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England.

It’s understood they’ll all be able to play a couple of matches for their respective SR Women’s clubs in March during a four-week break between SVNS Series stops in Vancouver and Hong Kong China. To play for Australia in 15s, they won’t have many opportunities to impress coach Yapp.

But, before a ball is kicked or a pass is thrown, coach Yapp seems incredibly enthusiastic and positive about this significant announcement. With the support of sevens coach Tim Walsh as well, it’s now up to the players to make their mark.

“From a depth point of view it’s really exciting, and it’s great because the girls seem really excited about being involved as well, which is what you want,” Yapp recently told Nathan Williamson at rugby.com.au.

“It started before the Olympics… just that expression of interest in the first instance and then obviously wanted to respect their time when they came back and then picked up conversations face to face since then.

“We’re just trying to get a good process because it’s important that we do get a good process and they feel that they’re being supported, but equally we’re respecting the players we’ve got and we’re creating playing opportunities for them to play and that’s through Super Rugby W.”

These nine are established within the nation’s sevens side, with some standing out as genuine world-class talents, but 15s is a new challenge. The Levi sisters, Paki and some others are yet to play a game of 15s at any level, but they’ll look to knock off Wallaroos for spots in the squad.

Australia are coming off a history-making end to their first international season under coach Yapp, where they won the first major trophy in team history at WXV 2. Maya Stewart and Desiree Miller were among the standouts as the Aussies knocked off Wales, South Africa and Scotland.

The Wallaroos had lost all three of their matches in World Rugby’s Pacific Four Series before falling to New Zealand, Ireland and the Welsh. But for this team to then finish the year as they did, and look supremely confident as they made history, is in itself a positive sign.

“I think it’s definitely huge in that list of names there’s Olympians, there’s incredible athletes, there’s a whole lot of rugby knowledge and experience,” captain Michaela Leonard told RugbyPass.

“It’s super huge for us as a Wallaroos group that one, players and athletes of that calibre are interested in challenging themselves to be part of the 15s game and putting their hand up to be part of what’s been a pretty special group this year and looking into a World Cup year next year is pretty special.

“It’s incredibly exciting for us too to be able to build the depth of our group, have a harder selection pool, a harder selection pool to select players from.

“That much opportunity to welcome some pretty phenomenal rugby athletes into our environment and take over the best team that we can into the World Cup next year.”