Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp believes the nine Aussie Sevens stars set to join Super Rugby Women's clubs will only spur the national team on further as they prepare for a World Cup.
Yapp and Sevens coach Tim Walsh were at the announcement on Thursday, which will see the likes of Charlotte Caslick, the Levi sisters, Bienne Terita and Sariah Paki link up with the Queensland Reds, ACT Brumbies and NSW Waratahs respectively.
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The group will go between SRW and Sevens to press their claim for potential national team selection for the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England.
It is expected they will be available for round two and three of the competition, which could see the Queensland quintet of Caslick, Levis, Bella Nasser and Kahli Henwood face defending champions NSW Waratahs, stacked with Wallaroos talent from the WXV 2 title winning campaign.
"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 told Rugby.com.au
“It started before the Olympics was the conversation, 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.”
The success of the Wallaroos in finishing the year solidified the notion that the Sevens players won't walk straight into the squad, with Yapp telling the current group of their intentions in a camp earlier in the year.
“We've always wanted to be really transparent with everybody. They knew that we'd had conversations and expressions of interest," Yapp explained.
“We told them in the last camp that we'd had nine players put their hand up, explained that there were going to be windows of opportunity around Super Rugby W for them to show what they can do and to put their hand up.
“We've been really transparent and I think on the whole our squad are excited and can see that all it is is creating more depth and opportunity for us.”
Outside of the Sevens players coming to Super Rugby W, Yapp and the Wallaroos will be boosted by a host of returning stars from injuries.
Hooker Adiana Talakai, prop Bree-Anna Browne (née) Cheatham and flanker Emily Chancellor are amongst several that did not feature in 2024 after long-term injuries.
Backrower Piper Duck was one of Australia's best yet did not go to WXV 2 as her luckless injury run continued.
“It was a tough start to the year with little prep but what this year's done is actually create loads of depth," Yapp added.
“We've seen some really young players step up in WXV 2 and we were missing a lot of players that would have traditionally been in that 23. To see the likes of ‘Boo’ (Tabua Tuinakauvadra) and ‘Tala’ (Faitala Moleka) as well as some of these youngsters like Caitlyn Halse really step up and take their opportunities has been awesome,
“With these players coming in and players returning from injury, it puts us in an exciting position going into this next year.
