While there are no Super Rugby matches this weekend, there’s plenty of Rugby news this week with the conclusion of the Women’s World Rugby Seven Series and the first Wallabies training camp leading the headlines. Madeline Ibrahim runs the rule over RUPA members and what they’ve had to say in the media in the latest edition of Look Who’s Talking Now!

The countdown to the 2016 Olympic Games is well and truly on, and this week the Australian Women’s Rugby Sevens team clinched their first ever World Series title to illustrate that they will be the force to be reckoned with in Rio de Janeiro.

While they were defeated by Canada in the Cup Final at the Clermont-Ferrand Rugby Sevens last weekend, they had done enough to secure the title. It was the first time ever that an Australian Rugby Sevens team, male or female, had secured a World Series title.

Speaking upon the team’s return to Australia, Co-Captain Shannon Parry insisted that this is only the beginning, with the hard part yet to come and the team remaining focused upon Rio.

“Our goals were very clear…the first box was getting consistency in our performances and winning that World Series,” she said. “We ticked that box, but it’s a short lived celebration as Rio is just around the corner.”

That defeat to Canada reminded the team of the fickle nature of Rugby Sevens, with the frenetic pace and short game length often allowing for upsets by less-fancied opposition as noted by Fox Sports’ Sam Worthington.

“It was a reality check for us, and a kick up the backside,” Parry admitted. “It shows we’ve got a lot of things to still work on, and we need extra game plans in our back pocket”.

Nonetheless the win was an incredible feat, and will make its way into the history books of Australian sport. Parry also hopes that this accomplishment will further act as a turning point in the way people perceive Rugby as a sport; “Rugby has traditionally been male dominated, but hopefully that’s now starting to change,” she said.

To the Sunshine Coast and the first Wallaby camp of the season, and uncapped Brumbies lock Rory Arnold hopes to find himself selected into the Wallabies side for the upcoming Test series against England which kicks off in Brisbane next Saturday.

Arnold is one of seven lock options Coach Michael Cheika has to choose from, including Dean Mumm and Rob Simmons who both played in the Rugby World Cup Final last year. According to the Canberra Times’ David Polkinghorne, Rory Arnold’s size makes him an “appealing prospect” for Cheika, and Arnold himself believes he is ready for the challenge and featuring in Wallaby camps in 2015 but not breaking through for his Test debut.

“I think my overall game is now a bit more stable all over the park – my lineout and scrum have gotten better so I’m more confident leading into this one,” Arnold said.

Arnold also believes this newfound control over his game, is a key difference between his preparation this year and his preparation last year, as he’s placed emphasis on learning to utilise his large frame to its full potential, as advised by Cheika in last year’s Wallabies camp. He attributes this sense of personal development down to the immense depth of the Brumbies squad, as they all “push each other to get better and better”.

In additional Wallabies news, fellow uncapped Test hopeful Karmichael Hunt’s fate in regards to whether he’ll be selected in the squad of 30 or not will be decided later today as the team is cut from down from 39 players.

Whilst his positon in the side is still up in the air, one things for certain though; Hunt won’t be going anywhere, as he declares his commitment to Rugby for the rest of his professional sporting career. Hunt, who’s previously accomplished stints in both the NRL and AFL, has revealed his days of code hopping are over.

“I want to finish my career playing Rugby,” he told Wayne Smith in The Australian, and when asked if Rugby has seen the best of him he adamantly professed, “No, not at all”. If chosen to make his Wallabies debut next Saturday night, the question will then be where he will play?

“I’m playing 15 at the moment but I feel my best position is centre,” he said. “It allows me to be closer to the ball and create some play.”

Another hopeful contender for a Wallabies jersey, and one who has been there before, is Brumbies Co-Captain Christian Leali’ifano. Exciting times lay ahead for Leali’ifano not only in terms of a potential return to the Wallabies side but more so in regards to family life, as he remains in Canberra alongside partner Luga to await the birth of their first child.

“Family is more important than anything, so if it means missing a Wallabies jersey, then so be it,” Leali’ifano told Chris Dutton. “To play footy is fun, but to be at the birth of your first child, I want to be there for that.”

Sometimes it’s even fascinating to look back on the alternatives RUPA members had to pursuing professional Rugby careers, and this is certainly the case when it comes to Rebels and Wallabies young gun Sean McMahon.

McMahon revealed to Iain Payten in The Daily Telegraph this week how he almost chose a career of service in the Australian Army over his professional Rugby dream. Back in 2011, McMahon “had the (Army) forms filled out, and they were ready to send in”.

“Nothing was really working for me footy wise, no one was interested,” he said, but that was until he was selected to play in a Barbarians-style Rugby Sevens team for a tournament held in Noosa aged just 17. This team, full of youngsters, went on to beat some big-name teams and win the event, including the Australian Rugby Sevens side.

“It was my first sevens tournament, the lungs were cutting up, and beating the Aussie boys, was just amazing,” he said. It was from there that Australian coach at the time, Mick O’Connor, sought out McMahon to play in the Australian Rugby Sevens side and the rest is history.

Initially, McMahon grew up believing League was his path to sporting success, however after a move to finish his schooling at Nudgee College, Rugby became his game.

“I have definitely brought what I learned in league. You just have to go in and go for the shot, you might knock yourself out but you still go for it,” he said.

And finally staying on Rugby League, and this week former NRL star and hopeful Wallabies debutant Eto Nabuli spoke to Jim Tucker about his journey from Fiji to a professional sporting career.

On a trip to Fiji in 2012, Rugby League royalty Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler were determined to find some talent amongst the Fijian community, but little did they know it was right in front of them at their hotel carrying their bags.

“(At that time) I asked my hotel manager to release me for a few hours. We went to my school oval to do some big bombs, some grubbers and drills,” Nabuli explained. After impressing the pair, they made the appropriate recommendations in Australia and Nabuli signed for NRL side St. George-Illawarra.

“I will always be grateful to them,” he continued, “but even before everything I prayed because I just wanted to go somewhere for a life where I could help my family.”

Having now crossed over to Super Rugby and the Queensland Reds, and on the cusp of making his Wallabies debut, Nabuli’s career means he is able to support his family in Fiji. Following his code switch, he’s also fulfilling his dream of playing the sport that is close to his heart.

“Where I was born, Sigatoka, is a Rugby Town, and I was brought up in the game. I definitely feel more comfortable, it’s like I’m back to the place I’m supposed to be,” he said of his switch from the NRL.