Australia
Shirt badge/Association crest
UnionRugby Australia
Head coachJohn Manenti
CaptainNick Malouf
Top scorerJames Stannard (1,239)
Top try scorerLewis Holland (111)
First colours
Second colours
Rugby World Cup Sevens
Appearances7 (First in 1993)
Best resultRunners-up (1993, 2001)

The Australia national rugby sevens team participates in international competitions such as the World Rugby Sevens Series and Rugby World Cup Sevens. The current captain of the team is Nick Malouf, and the head coach is John Manenti .

Rugby sevens is now recognised as an Olympic sport and made its debut at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Australia qualified for the tournament after winning the 2015 Oceania Sevens Championship.

Australia also competes at other international tournaments for rugby sevens, including at the Commonwealth Games.

Team name

The Australia national sevens side does not have a nickname as of 2016.[1] The team is sometimes erroneously referred to as the Aussie Thunderbolts in sections of the media,[2][3] but that name refers to Australia's developmental sevens side (the second team) rather than the official national team.[1][4]

At the inaugural Hong Kong Sevens tournament in 1976, Australia was represented by a selected team under the name Wallaroos,[5] originally the name of one of the foundation clubs of the Southern Rugby Union in 1874,[6] but now used for the Australian women's team in 15-a-side rugby. Australia has also been represented at international sevens tournaments by the Australian Barbarians club.[7][8]

Honours

Australia has won the following:

World Rugby Sevens Series

World Cup Sevens

Commonwealth Games Sevens

Rugby sevens at the World Games 

Australia vs Spain at the 2013 World Cup 7s

Major tournament wins

Regional and other tournament wins

Tournament record

A red box around the year indicates a tournament played in Australia. An asterisk (*) indicates a shared placing.

Rugby World Cup Sevens[edit]

Rugby World Cup 7s
Year Round Position P W L D
Scotland 1993 Final 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 10 7 3 0
Hong Kong 1997 Quarterfinals  5 * 5 3 1 1
Argentina 2001 Final 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 8 7 1 0
Hong Kong 2005 Semifinals  3rd place, bronze medalist(s) * 7 5 2 0
United Arab Emirates 2009 Plate final 10 6 3 3 0
Russia 2013 Quarterfinals  5 * 4 2 1 1
United States 2018 Challenge final 10 4 2 2 0
South Africa 2022 Bronze Final 4 4 2 2 0
2026 to be determined
Total 0 Titles 8/8 48 31 15 2

World Games[edit]

World Games Rugby 7s a
Year Round Position P W L D
Japan 2001 Final 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 6 5 1 0
Germany 2005 did not participate
Chinese Taipei 2009
Colombia 2013
Total 0 Titles 1/4 6 5 1 0

Olympic Games[edit]

Olympic Games Rugby 7s
Year Round Position P W L D
Brazil 2016 Quarter-finals 8 6 2 4 0
Japan 2020 Quarter-finals 7 6 2 4 0
France 2024 to be determined
Total 0 Titles 2/2 12 4 8 0

Commonwealth Games[edit]

Commonwealth Games 7s
Year Round Position P W L D
Malaysia 1998 Third playoff 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 5 4 1 0
England 2002 Quarterfinals  5 * 4 3 1 0
Australia 2006 Third playoff 4 6 3 3 0
India 2010 Final 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 6 4 2 0
Scotland 2014 Third playoff 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 6 5 1 0
Australia 2018 Fifth playoff 5 5 4 1 0
England 2022 Third playoff 4 6 3 3 0
Total 0 Titles 6/6 38 26 12 0

Oceania Sevens[edit]

Oceania Rugby 7s
Year Round Position P W L D
Samoa 2008 did not participate
French Polynesia 2009
Australia 2010 Final 1st place, gold medalist(s) 6 6 0 0
Samoa 2011 Third playoff 4 7 4 3 0
Australia 2012 Final 1st place, gold medalist(s) 6 6 0 0
Fiji 2013 Third playoff 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 6 4 2 0
Australia 2014 Third playoff 4 6 4 2 0
New Zealand 2015 Final 1st place, gold medalist(s) 6 6 0 0
Fiji 2016 Third playoff 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 6 4 2 0
Fiji 2017 Semifinals  3rd place, bronze medalist(s) * 4 3 1 0
Fiji 2018 Third playoff 4 5 3 2 0
Fiji 2019 Final 1st place, gold medalist(s) 6 6 0 0
Australia 2021 round-robin 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 5 1 4 0
New Zealand 2022b round-robin 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 6 4 2 0
Australia 2023b Seventh playoff 7 5 3 2 0
Total 4 Titles 12/14 69 51 18 0

Notes:

^a Rugby Sevens was discontinued at the World Games after 2013 due to the sport returning to the Olympics in 2016.

^b Australia VII or development team entered

World Rugby Sevens Series

Logo 2008–2017
Key to tournament locations
Africa and Middle East
Asia
Americas
Europe
Oceania Australian event 

2000s

Summary for Series I to X
World Sevens Series
I
99–00 		II
00–01 		III
01–02 		IV
02–03 		V
03–04
 
5th
Dubai 		3rd place, bronze medalist(s) rd*
Dubai 		  no status** Dubai 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) rd*
Dubai 		6th
Dubai
5th
Stellenbosch 		3rd place, bronze medalist(s) rd*
Durban 		5th
Durban 		3rd place, bronze medalist(s) rd*
George 		7th*
George
 
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) rd*
Wellington 		1st place, gold medalist(s)st
Wellington 		7th*
Wellington 		3rd place, bronze medalist(s) rd*
Wellington 		10th
Wellington
2nd place, silver medalist(s) nd
Brisbane 		cancelled‡ Brisbane 1st place, gold medalist(s)st
Brisbane 		5th
Brisbane 		–
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) rd*
Suva 		– – – –
 
5th
Punta del Este 		– 7th*
Santiago 		– 9th
Los Angeles
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) rd*
Mar del Plata 		 –† 5th
Mar del Plata 		– –
 
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) rd*
Hong Kong 		3rd place, bronze medalist(s) rd*
Hong Kong 		5th*
Hong Kong 		5th*
Hong Kong 		5th*
Hong Kong
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) rd*
Tokyo 		2nd place, silver medalist(s) nd
Tokyo 		3rd place, bronze medalist(s) rd*
Singapore 		cancelled §
Singapore 		7th*
Singapore
– 1st place, gold medalist(s)st
Shanghai 		3rd place, bronze medalist(s) rd*
Beijing 		cancelled§
Beijing 		–
– 1st place, gold medalist(s)st
Kuala Lumpur 		3rd place, bronze medalist(s) rd*
Kuala Lumpur 		– –
 
– 2nd place, silver medalist(s) nd
London 		5th
London 		5th
London 		7th*
London
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) rd*
Paris 		2nd place, silver medalist(s) nd
Cardiff 		3rd place, bronze medalist(s) rd*
Cardiff 		6th
Cardiff 		6th
Bordeaux
 
10/10
118 pts

rd [9]

9/9
150 pts

nd [10]

11/11
108 pts

5th [11]

7/7
66 pts

5th [12]

8/8
34 pts

8th [13]

 Notes:
* Shared placing (play-off matches for third were eventually introduced in 2012).
** Downgraded to non-series status in wake of September 11 attacks in 2001.
† Mar del Plata hosted the Sevens World Cup instead of a leg in the 2001 series.
‡ Tournament cancelled by IRB in response to government sanctions against Fiji.
§ Tournament cancelled due to concerns about the SARS outbreak in Asia in 2002.
IRB Sevens World Series
VI
04–05 		VII
05–06 		VIII
06–07 		IX
07–08 		X
08–09
 
7th*
Dubai 		7th*
Dubai 		7th*
Dubai 		9th
Dubai 		7th*
Dubai
9th
George 		7th*
George 		9th
George 		11th*
George 		10th
George
 
5th
Wellington 		7th*
Wellington 		11th*
Wellington 		3rd place, bronze medalist(s) rd*
Wellington 		11th*
Wellington
– – 5th
Adelaide 		7th*
Adelaide 		6th
Adelaide
– – – – –
 
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) rd*
Los Angeles 		7th*
Los Angeles 		7th*
San Diego 		12th
San Diego 		9th
San Diego
– – – – –
 
 –† 5th*
Hong Kong 		5th*
Hong Kong 		5th*
Hong Kong 		5th*
Hong Kong
6th
Singapore 		7th*
Singapore 		– – –
– – – – –
– – – – –
 
6th
London 		11th*
London 		6th
London 		9th
London 		7th*
London
7th*
Paris 		3rd place, bronze medalist(s) rd*
Paris 		11th*
Edinburgh 		9th
Edinburgh 		6th
Edinburgh
 
7/7
42 pts

7th [14]

8/8
40 pts

8th [15]

8/8
32 pts

7th [16]

8/8
30 pts

8th [17]

8/8
30 pts

8th [18]

 Notes:
* Shared placing (play-off matches for third were eventually introduced in 2012).
† Hong Kong hosted the Sevens World Cup instead of a leg in the 2005 series.




2010s

Summary for Series XI to XX
World Sevens Series
XI
09–10 		XII
10–11 		XIII
11–12 		XIV
12–13 		XV
13–14
 
5th
Dubai 		6th
Dubai 		5th
Dubai 		15th*
Dubai 		9th
Dubai
7th*
George 		7th*
George 		7th*
Port Elizabeth 		9th
Port Elizabeth 		10th
Port Elizabeth
 
5th
Wellington 		3rd place, bronze medalist(s) rd*
Wellington 		10th
Wellington 		5th
Wellington 		5th
Wellington
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) rd*
Adelaide 		7th*
Adelaide 		4th
Gold Coast 		7th*
Gold Coast 		2nd place, silver medalist(s) nd
Gold Coast
 
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) rd*
Las Vegas 		7th*
Las Vegas 		10th
Las Vegas 		13th
Las Vegas 		6th
Las Vegas
– – – cancelled†
Mar Del Plata 		–
 
5th
Hong Kong 		6th
Hong Kong 		7th*
Hong Kong 		7th*
Hong Kong 		4th
Hong Kong
– – 1st place, gold medalist(s)st
Tokyo 		7th*
Tokyo 		5th
Tokyo
 
1st place, gold medalist(s)st
London 		6th
London 		5th
London 		2nd place, silver medalist(s) nd
London 		2nd place, silver medalist(s) nd
London
2nd place, silver medalist(s) nd
Edinburgh 		2nd place, silver medalist(s) nd
Edinburgh 		5th
Glasgow 		9th
Glasgow 		7th*
Glasgow
 
8/8
122 pts

rd [19]

8/8
80 pts

5th [20]

9/9
110 pts

6th [21]

9/9
89 pts

8th [22]

9/9
116 pts

5th [23]

 Notes:
* Shared placing (play-off matches for third were introduced in 2012).
† Event cancelled due to demands on UAR joining The Rugby Championship.
World Rugby Sevens Series
XVI
14–15 		XVII
15–16 		XVIII
16–17 		XIX
17–18 		XX
18–19
 
2nd place, silver medalist(s) nd
Dubai 		6th
Dubai 		5th
Dubai 		5th
Dubai 		4th
Dubai
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) rd
Port Elizabeth 		7th*
Cape Town 		11th*
Cape Town 		9th
Cape Town 		7th*
Cape Town
 
6th
Wellington 		5th
Wellington 		10th
Wellington 		3rd place, bronze medalist(s) rd
Hamilton 		7th*
Hamilton
7th*
Gold Coast 		2nd place, silver medalist(s) nd
Sydney 		4th
Sydney 		1st place, gold medalist(s)st
Sydney 		6th
Sydney
5th
Las Vegas 		2nd place, silver medalist(s) nd
Las Vegas 		6th
Las Vegas 		6th
Las Vegas 		7th*
Las Vegas
– 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) rd
Vancouver 		7th*
Vancouver 		6th
Vancouver 		9th
Vancouver
 
5th
Hong Kong 		4th
Hong Kong 		3rd place, bronze medalist(s) rd
Hong Kong 		11th*
Hong Kong 		11th*
Hong Kong
9th
Tokyo 		7th*
Singapore 		4th
Singapore 		2nd place, silver medalist(s) nd
Singapore 		7th*
Singapore
 
2nd place, silver medalist(s) nd
London 		10th
London 		6th
London 		7th*
London 		2nd place, silver medalist(s) nd
London
7th*
Glasgow 		6th
Paris 		10th
Paris 		11th*
Paris 		11th*
Paris
 
 
9/9
120 pts

5th [24]

10/10
134 pts

4th [25]

10/10
113 pts

6th [26]

10/10
123 pts

4th [27]

10/10
104 pts

7th

Notes:
  • * Shared placing (play-off matches for third were only introduced in 2012).

2020s

World Rugby Sevens Series
XXI
2019–20[a] 		XXII
2021[b] 		XXIII
2021–22 		XXIV
2022–23 		XXV
2023–24
  • cancelled‡
  • Dubai
  • cancelled‡
  • Cape Town
  • cancelled‡
  • Cape Town
  • cancelled‡
  • Hamilton
  • cancelled‡
  • Sydney
  • cancelled‡
  • Hamilton
  • cancelled‡
  • Sydney
  • 5th
  • Hamilton
  • 7th*
  • Sydney
  • –
  •  
  • cancelled‡
  • Los Angeles
  • 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) rd
  • Vancouver
  • –
  •  
  • –
  •  
  • cancelled‡
  • Hong Kong
  • cancelled‡
  • Singapore
  • cancelled‡
  • Hong Kong
  • cancelled‡
  • Singapore
  • cancelled‡
  • Hong Kong
  • 12th*
  • Hong Kong II
  • –
  • Singapore
  • –
  •  
  • –
  •  
  • cancelled‡
  • Paris
  • cancelled‡
  • London
  • cancelled‡
  • Paris
  • cancelled‡
  • London
  • –
  • Toulouse
  • –
  •  
  • –
  •  
  • 6/6
  • 81 pts
  • 4th
  • 0/2
  •  
  • —
  • 9/9
  • 126 pts
  • st
  • 8/8
  • 99 pts
  • 6th
Notes

Players

Current squad

The following players have been selected to represent Australia during the 2023–24 SVNS tournament beginning in December 2023.

Note: Caps reflect the total number of SVNS events competed in as of the 2023 Dubai Sevens.

Player Position Date of birth (age) Caps Club/province
Tim Clements Forward (1997-04-08) 8 April 1997 (age 27) 14 Sydney University
Nathan Lawson Forward (1999-01-23) 23 January 1999 (age 25) 18 Southern Districts
Nick Malouf (c) Forward (1993-03-19) 19 March 1993 (age 31) 54 University of Queensland
Josh Turner Forward (1995-09-23) 23 September 1995 (age 28) 27 Manly
Dally Bird Back (2002-07-20) 20 July 2002 (age 21) 10 Eastwood
Ben Dowling Back (2000-03-05) 5 March 2000 (age 24) 7 Randwick
Matt Gonzalez Back (1994-06-01) 1 June 1994 (age 29) 68 Eastwood
Maurice Longbottom Back (1995-01-30) 30 January 1995 (age 29) 39 Randwick
Dietrich Roache Back (2001-07-06) 6 July 2001 (age 22) 21 Western Sydney Two Blues
Hayden Sargeant Back (1998-03-11) 11 March 1998 (age 26) 7 Bond University
James Turner Back (1998-08-29) 29 August 1998 (age 25) 8 Norths Rugby

Records and statistics

Player records

The following shows leading career Australia players based on statistics from the World Rugby Sevens Series. Players in bold are still active.

Tries scored[29]
No. Player Tries
1 Henry Hutchison 115
2 Lewis Holland 114
3 Maurice Longbottom 113
4 Ed Jenkins 109
5 Peter Miller 107

Olympic squads

Captains

Name Year Ref
Ed Jenkins 2011–2016 [30]
Sam Myers 2016 [31]
Lewis Holland 2018–2019
James Stannard 2018
Con Foley 2018 [32]
Jesse Parahi 2018 [33]

Coaches

Name Tenure Ref
Bill Millard 2002–2005 [34]
Glen Ella 2005–2007 [35]
Bill Millard 2007–08 (interim) [34]
Michael O'Connor 2008–2014 [36][37]
Geraint John 2014–15 [37][38]
Tim Walsh 2015 (interim) [38]
Scott Bowen 2015–16 (interim) [39]
Andy Friend 2016–2018 [40]
Jarred Hodges 2018 (interim) [32]
Tim Walsh 2018–2021 [41]
John Manenti 2022–present [42]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Matt Rowley (10 May 2016). "Podcast 209: 7s Masterclass with Andy Friend". Green and Gold Rugby (Podcast). Event occurs at 18:38 to 19:26. Archived from the original on 16 May 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  2. ^ "Aussie men in rugby seven's heaven". Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  3. ^ Spiro Zavos (6 February 2012). "How the Australian Sevens side can live up to its 'Aussie Thunderbolts' nickname". The Roar.
  4. ^ "Aussie Thunderbolts Win Plate Final in Fiji". Australian Rugby. 21 January 2013. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  5. ^ "Thomas in the Wallaroos". The Canberra Times. 11 March 1976. p. 24. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  6. ^ "Football Conference". The Sydney Mail. 27 June 1874. p.182 col.1–2. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  7. ^ "Youngsters may get Hong Kong chance". The Canberra Times. 11 March 1994. p. 28. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  8. ^ Growden, Greg (25 February 1995). "Mix-up in dates presents a poser for Ella". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  9. ^ "2000 IRB Sevens Standings". Rugby7.
  10. ^ "2001 IRB Sevens Standings". Rugby7. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  11. ^ "2002 IRB Sevens Standings". Rugby7. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  12. ^ "2003 IRB Sevens Standings". Rugby7. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  13. ^ "2004 IRB Sevens Standings". Rugby7.
  14. ^ "2005 IRB Sevens Standings". Rugby7.
  15. ^ "2006 IRB Sevens Standings". Rugby7.
  16. ^ "2007 IRB Sevens Standings". Rugby7.
  17. ^ "2008 IRB Sevens Standings". Rugby7.
  18. ^ "2009 IRB Sevens Standings". Rugby7.
  19. ^ "2010 IRB Sevens Standings". Rugby7. Archived from the original on 10 April 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  20. ^ "2011 IRB Sevens Standings". Rugby7. Archived from the original on 10 April 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  21. ^ "2012 IRB Sevens Standings". Rugby7. Archived from the original on 10 April 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  22. ^ "2013 IRB Sevens Standings". Rugby7.
  23. ^ "2014 IRB Sevens Standings". Rugby7.
  24. ^ "2015 IRB Sevens Standings". Rugby7.
  25. ^ "2016 IRB Sevens Standings". Rugby7.
  26. ^ "World Series Standings". World Rugby. 2017. Archived from the original on 21 May 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  27. ^ "World Series Standings". World Rugby. 2018. Archived from the original on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  28. ^ Davidson, Neil (10 September 2021). "Field for Canadian rugby sevens events diluted by pandemic-related issues". Lethbridge News Now. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021.
  29. ^ World Rugby website, current as of 15 March 2023
  30. ^ "Ed Jenkins relinquishes Australia men's sevens captaincy". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 October 2015. Archived from the original on 26 November 2016.
  31. ^ "Men's Sevens: All in the family for Caslicks". Australian Rugby. 25 November 2016. Archived from the original on 26 November 2016.
  32. ^ a b "Australia to field youthful men's lineup at 2018 Hong Kong Sevens". News.com.au. 6 April 2018. Archived from the original on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  33. ^ "Parahi wants to do sidelined skippers proud". rugby.com.au. 4 April 2018. Archived from the original on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  34. ^ a b "Australia 7s trial squad named". ESPN. 31 October 2007. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022.
  35. ^ "Glen Ella appointed Australian sevens coach". ESPN. 1 March 2005. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022.
  36. ^ "O'Connor takes charge of Australia 7s". ESPN. 3 September 2008. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022.
  37. ^ a b "ARU appoints Geraint John as new Qantas Men's Sevens Head Coach". Australian Rugby. 27 May 2014. Archived from the original on 26 June 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  38. ^ a b Browning, Jennifer (7 September 2015). "Australia's men's rugby sevens coach confident of qualifying for Rio Olympics despite upheaval". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 8 September 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  39. ^ Men's Sevens finish seventh in Cape Town
  40. ^ "Andy Friend appointed Qantas Australian Men's Sevens coach". ARU. 5 January 2016. Archived from the original on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  41. ^ "Aussie women lose coach to men". The Daily Examiner. Grafton. 19 March 2018. Archived from the original on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  42. ^ "Australia's rugby sevens coaches swap jobs; director leaves". AP News. 10 December 2021. Archived from the original on 5 February 2022.

External links

Australia national rugby union team
Rugby union in Australia
National rugby sevens teams
National sports teams of Australia
Categories