Australia coach Paul Verrell has unveiled a squad for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017 that includes two Olympic gold medallists and two uncapped players.

Sevens co-captains Sharni Williams and Shannon Parry (pictured above left and centre) led Australia to the first rugby sevens Olympic medal in Rio last year and both will be playing at their third 15s World Cup.

Mahalia Murphy (pictured right), who played four tournaments alongside Williams and Parry on the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series in 2016-17, and fly-half Trilleen Pomare are the uncapped players.

The squad has a total of 156 test appearances between them with a number of the players having only made their Wallaroos' debuts last month in the International Women's Rugby Series where the Wallaroos lost to England (53-10), New Zealand (44-17) and Canada (45-5).

Mollie Gray missed that tournament through injury but returns to the squad for WRWC 2017, while Ashleigh Hewson is only two points away from surpassing Tricia Brown as Australia's leading point scorer.

“We have had some solid preparation during our test series in New Zealand earlier this month, and had the opportunity to blood some new talent at test level,” said Verrell, who coached Australia to seventh place at France 2014.

Pressure off the Wallaroos

“That tour in New Zealand really showed us the standard of the best three teams in the world and we know what we need to do to reach that level now, so it’s time for the next generation of Wallaroos to really step up.

“We have a really competitive pool with Ireland, France and Japan and we know that there’s no such thing as an easy game at a World Cup. We’re really looking forward to pulling on that gold jersey and doing it proud.”

Australia will begin their WRWC 2017 campaign against host nation Ireland at UCD Bowl on 9 August before tackling France and Japan with only the Pool C winner guaranteed a place in the semi-finals on 22 August in Belfast. 

“At the end of the day we are the underdogs, the pressure is on the host nation, the pressure is on the powerhouse nation in France,” added Parry. “For us it is going there and treating every game and every minute as it comes. We have got a really good squad with a lot of depth and talent and I have no doubt that will put us in good stead moving forward.”

The Wallaroos will come together for a three-day camp in Sydney in late July before travelling to Ireland on 1 August.

Australia squad

Forwards: Millie Boyle, Chloe Butler, Cheyenne Campbell, Rebecca Clough, Mollie Gray, Grace Hamilton, Alisha Hewett, Evelyn Horomia, Kiri Lingman, Hana Ngaha, Shannon Parry, Liz Patu, Emily Robinson, Hilisha Samoa, Alexandra Sulusi, Violeta Tupuola.

Backs: Katrina Barker, Fenella Hake, Ashleigh Hewson, Nareta Marsters, Mahalia Murphy, Trilleen Pomare, Sarah Riordan, Kayla Sauvao, Huia Swanell, Ashleigh Timoko, Samantha Treherne, Sharni Williams.