The Australian Women’s Rugby Sevens squad will be looking to make it two from two this weekend, as they head to Sao Paulo, Brazil, for Round Two of the 2015/2016 World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series.
Chloe Dalton and Sharni Williams are on the injured list and miss out this time around, with Mahalia Murphy and Taleena Simon called up in their place, but it’s an exciting young squad which will look to replicate the Cup winning exploits of Dubai.
One of those talented young players is twenty year old Evania Pelite, who made four appearances last year and is fast cementing her place in the team ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, where Australia will start as one of the medal favourites.
Speaking with RUPA, ‘Vani’ explained that the team’s high level of performance is a result of the detail involved in their planning over the past two seasons.
“I think you need to take it back to 2014 when the program was first centralised in Sydney, and the hard work we have put in since then; being able to all be together training, day in and day out, counts for a lot,” she tells us. “We then had a really good pre-season leading into Dubai, and that’s where we wanted to set our platform for the rest of the season and that’s exactly what we’ve done.”
There’s no taking things for granted in Sao Paulo, however.
“We want to win every tournament we play, but we need to go through the motions in Sao Paulo and do everything right and take it one game at a time.”
The Australians head in to the tournament with good match fitness, after playing a three game series against Ireland as part of the hugely successful Sydney Sevens at Allianz Stadium earlier this month. Not only did the girls get to fire up their competitive spirit, but they also got to showcase one of the world’s fastest growing female sports to a captive audience who were very impressed indeed!
“The Sydney Sevens was quite surreal; it was honestly just an amazing experience to be able to play in front of an entire stadium who were supporting Australia and to showcase Women’s Rugby,” Pelite said. “Doing the lap of honour at the end of the third game, there were a lot of people who wanted our autographs. People actually got to watch and see firsthand the skillset we have, and seeing young girls come up and ask about our pathways into Rugby and aspiring to be like us was amazing.
“Now, I hope Sydney gets the opportunity to host a Women’s World Series event next year, especially as we are trying so hard to grow the sport in Australia and raise awareness for how much hard work our team has put into preparing for the Olympics.”
Pelite, whose family came down from Brisbane to watch the Sydney Sevens, is well and truly settled into life at Narrabeen and enjoys some great home comforts as well.
“I live with (teammate) Nicole Beck, her partner and her young daughter, which is great,” she said. “Since I moved out of home I have always lived with my families, which is great as I come from a large family myself. This will be my third year away from home since moving down in 2014.
Away from Rugby, Evania realises the importance of having other things to focus on; just not quite yet!
“At the moment, Rio is the ultimate goal and then after that I am looking to start my studies,” she explained. “I do find the prospect of juggling study and Rugby quite daunting, but I also appreciate how important it will be and that when the time comes (to start studying) I will just have to find a way to make both things work, as my Rugby career won’t last forever.
“I have always wanted to work with children, so I’m looking at possibly going down the path of childcare teaching.”
She’ll have the opportunity to get career and study advice along the way, with RUPA currently going through the process of hiring a permanent Player Development Manager for the Australian Rugby Sevens teams.
“[Waratahs’ Player Development Manager] Lachie McBain comes out and sees us a lot, and it’s always really helpful when he’s here,” Pelite said. “The girls really enjoy working with him and take full advantage of his services, but to have a dedicated Player Welfare Manager for Rugby Sevens will be really beneficial.”
Pelite won Rugby Sevens gold for Australia at the 2013 Youth Olympics Festival, so if she’s lining up in Rio come August she’ll be able to draw on that past experience.
“Representing Australia at the Youth Olympics was an amazing experience, and words can’t even describe what it meant to me,” she said. “When I first started playing Rugby Sevens in Queensland I didn’t actually know it was due to become an Olympic sport, but as soon I found out I have used it as a big motivation to keep improving and do the best I can in the sport.
“Knowing that we are now less than half a year away from Rio and a chance to win a medal is so exciting, but we’re focused on this weekend first and foremost.”
Australian Women's Sevens fixtures in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 21-22 February
Australia v Fiji, Pool A, 12.44am AEDT (21 February)
Australia v Ireland, Pool A, 3.28am AEDT (21 February)
Australia v Canada, Pool A, 6.12am AEDT (21 February)
Knockout games (22 February)
Australian Women’s Sevens squad for Sao Paulo Sevens
Nicole Beck, Charlotte Caslick, Emilee Cherry, Gemma Etheridge, Ellia Green, Mahalia Murphy, Shannon Parry, Evania Pelite, Alicia Quirk, Taleena Simon, Emma Tonegato, Amy Turner
