Caslick, despite injury, leads Wallaroos at Women's Rugby World Cup

Caslick Headlines Australia’s Squad for Women’s Rugby World Cup Despite Injury

Rugby sevens star Charlotte Caslick has been included in the Australian Wallaroos squad for the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England, despite suffering an injury. Ashley Marsters and Trilleen Pomare have also been selected for their third World Cup campaign. The Australians, currently ranked number 8 in the world, will begin their participation in the tournament in Salford on August 23 (9 p.m. AEST), seeking to improve their performance after reaching the quarter-finals in the last tournament of 2021. Coach Jo Yapp announced a 32-player squad on Monday, which includes 15 World Cup debutants. The defending champions of the Super Rugby Women’s, the NSW Waratahs, will be represented by 13 players, while the ACT Brumbies will have eight representatives, Queensland six, and Western Force five. Caslick, an Olympic gold medalist, made the transition from sevens rugby this year with the ambition of playing in her first 15s World Cup, but suffered an ankle injury last month that required surgery. However, she and Tia Hinds, also from rugby sevens, were included, along with captain Siokapesi Palu, who missed the recent two test matches against Wales due to a foot injury. It is not clear when the injured players will be available to play. Teenager Waiaria Ellis, 17, could become the youngest Wallaroo to play in a World Cup after being included in the youth team, whose average age is 26. Veterans Marsters and Pomare, who recently surpassed 40 test match appearances, will bring the necessary experience to their third tournament. Reds winger Caitlin Urwin, with no international caps, has been included after impressing in Australia A. However, there was no place for Waratahs player Arabella McKenzie. The second-row Annabelle Codey is ready to follow in the footsteps of her father David Codey by playing in a World Cup, while Katalina Amosa, sister of Wallabies player Brandon Paenga-Amosa, is one of three hookers named.

“We are very proud of the team and the journey that the players and staff have undertaken over the last two years to get to this point,” said Yapp, who will leave the post after the tournament.
Jo Yapp

Charlotte Caslick [L] headlines Australia's Rugby World Cup squad despite battling a syndesmosis injury

Rugby legend Charlotte Caslick leads the Australian team for the Rugby World Cup despite battling an ankle injury. “We have a very special group of people within this team, diverse in culture and with a variety 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 act on the world stage and thank everyone who supports us on and off the field.” The tournament is expected to be the largest women’s rugby event in history, with more than 300,000 tickets sold. After Samoa, the Wallaroos will face the United States on August 31 and tournament hosts England on September 6 to complete their group matches.