The final squads for the third round of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series have been announced.
With Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 just under six months away in San Francisco, teams will be battling it out not only for the HSBC Sydney Sevens title but also crucial World Cup seedings points which will determine the all important draw for the major tournament.
After two rounds New Zealand lead the way ahead of reigning series champions South Africa, Fiji and England.
Blitzbok veteran Kyle Brown has achieved many things on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series circuit but has never played at the Sydney Sevens. It will be his 61st tournament and he could play his 300th match at the tournament. South Africa won the Sydney Sevens last year and won Dubai the first tournament of the 2018 series.
Australia coach Andy Friend made two changes to his side ahead of the Sydney Sevens this weekend at Allianz Stadium kicking off on Australia Day. The home team placed fourth in 2017 but will be buoyed by home team support.
Veteran Jesse Parahi returns to the team while speedster Charlie Taylor has earned his first start of the 2018 season after impressing in Darwin last weekend at the Hottest Sevens. Friend also had to make a last-minute change when Simon Kennewell was injured in training midweek. Tom Connor comes into the squad to make his series debut.
Australia captain Lewis Holland said: “It's the first tournament of the year in front of family and friends on home soil so it is a great way to kick-off the year for us. Home support is a massive boost and we will try to use the crowd to our advantage and hopefully we will get the result we desire.
“We are focused on the parts of the game we can control rather that who we are playing. That said we do have specific game plans and we want to be better in the key high pressure points of the game that occur in sevens.”
New Zealand coach Clark Laidlaw has also introduced some new names. Counties Manukau's Etene Nanai-Seturo is set to make his All Blacks Sevens debut this weekend, while Luke Masirewa returns after last appearing on the series in 2013.
Likewise Fiji also have some new faces in Sydney with debutants Apete Daveta and Vasikali Mudu keen to make the country proud when they represent the team in Sydney. The duo are making their transition from fifteens rugby to sevens.