Caslick, despite injury, leads the Wallaroos at the Rugby World Cup

Caslick Headlines Wallaroos Squad for Women’s Rugby World Cup

Rugby sevens star Charlotte Caslick, despite suffering an injury, has been included in the Australian Wallaroos squad for the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England. Ashley Marsters and Trilleen Pomare were also selected for their third campaign. The Australians, currently in eighth place in the world ranking, will begin their participation in the tournament in Salford on August 23 (9 p.m. AEST). Their goal is to surpass their performance in the previous 2021 tournament, where they reached the quarter-finals. Coach Jo Yapp announced a 32-player squad on Monday, including 15 World Cup debutants. The current Super Rugby Women’s champions, the NSW Waratahs, will contribute 13 players to the team, followed by the ACT Brumbies with eight representatives, Queensland with six, and Western Force with five. Caslick, an Olympic gold medalist, switched from rugby sevens this year with the ambition of playing in her first 15s World Cup, but suffered an injury that required surgery last month. Alongside her, Tia Hinds, another player from rugby sevens, and captain Siokapesi Palu, who missed the recent test matches against Wales due to a foot injury, were also included. It is not yet known when they will be available to play. Waiaria Ellis, a 17-year-old teenage sensation, could become the youngest Wallaroo to play in a World Cup, after being included in the team. The average age of the team is 26 years old. The veterans Marsters and Pomare, who recently surpassed 40 test match appearances, will bring experience to their third tournament. Caitlin Urwin, who plays on the wing for the Reds, was included after her outstanding performance for Australia A. However, Waratahs player Arabella McKenzie was not called up. Annabelle Codey could follow in her father, David Codey’s footsteps by playing in a World Cup. Katalina Amosa, sister of Wallabies player Brandon Paenga-Amosa, is one of the three hookers selected.

We are very proud of the team and the journey the players and staff have taken over the last two years to get to this point.
Jo Yapp

Charlotte Caslick [L] encabezando el equipo australiano de la Copa Mundial de Rugby

Yapp, who will leave the position after the tournament, added: “We have a very special group of people within this team, diverse in culture and with a wide range of ages and levels of experience in the game. A World Cup is the pinnacle event in the sport, and women’s rugby will demonstrate this in England at the end of this month. We are ready to perform on the world stage and we thank everyone who supports us on and off the field.” The tournament is shaping up to be the largest women’s rugby event in history, with over 300,000 tickets sold. After facing Samoa, the Wallaroos will play against the United States on August 31 and against England, the host and current number one in the tournament, on September 6, to complete their group matches.