Sevens stars and Olympians Charlotte Caslick and Tia Hinds make Wallaroos 40-player squad in World Cup year
Australian sevens star Tia Hinds has opted to miss Australia's world championship push at the Los Angeles finale and will instead join fellow Olympian Charlotte Caslick in pursuit of a Wallaroos World Cup berth.
Two-time Olympian Hinds, 22, who captained Australia's sevens outfit in their last event in Singapore this month, joins Olympic gold medallist Caslick and fellow sevens gun Bienne Terita in the 40-player Wallaroos squad ahead of Australia's first Test of the season against Fijiana on May 3 in Suva.
That's the same weekend as the sevens showdown in LA but Australia will forge on without Hinds who, like Caslick, has made the foray in to Super Rugby with the World Cup their aim and is among 11 uncapped players in the squad.
Coach Jo Yapp will reduce the squad to 30 prior to the Wallaroos' clash with Fijiana before a further six players can be added to the Wallaroos squad for the Pacific Four series.
'It's an exciting year for women's rugby and the preparation we have with seven Test matches over the next three months is going to be crucial ahead of the World Cup,' Yapp said.
'The squad is a mix of youth and experience with some new and returning players earning their opportunities.
'We are looking forward to seeing these players connect and grow throughout the upcoming camps and Pacific Four series.'
The Wallaroos will play at least 10 Test matches in 2025, including three fixtures at the World Cup in August and September, following on from 10 Test matches played in 2024.
WALLAROOS SQUAD
Katalina Amosa, Ruby Anderson, Bree-Anna Browne, Charlotte Caslick, Emily Chancellor, Lori Cramer, Annabelle Codey, Biola Dawa, Waiaria Ellis, Ashley Fernandez, Georgina Friedrichs, Martha Fua, Caitlyn Halse, Zoe Hanna, Tia Hinds, Eva Karpani, Lydia Kavoa, Kaitlan Leaney, Michaela Leonard, Ashley Marsters, Arabella McKenzie, Desiree Miller, Tiarah Minns, Faitala Moleka, Manua Moleka, Tiarna Molloy, Layne Morgan, Tania Naden, Alapeta Ngauamo, Bridie O'Gorman, Siokapesi Palu, Faliki Pohiva, Trilleen Pomare, Ella Ryan, Cecilia Smith, Maya Stewart, Adiana Talakai, Bienne Terita, Tabua Tuinakauvadra, Natalie Wright
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