# Australia national rugby sevens team

The Australia national rugby sevens team participates in international competitions such as the World Rugby Sevens Series and Rugby World Cup Sevens. Australia also competes at other international tournaments for rugby sevens, including at the Commonwealth Games. The current captain of the team is Nick Malouf, and the head coach is John Manenti .
Rugby sevens is an Olympic sport and made its debut at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Australia qualified for the tournament after winning the 2015 Oceania Sevens Championship.

## Team name

The Australia national sevens side does not have a nickname as of 2016. The team is sometimes erroneously referred to as the Aussie Thunderbolts in sections of the media, but that name refers to Australia's developmental sevens side (the second team) rather than the official national team.
At the inaugural Hong Kong Sevens tournament in 1976, Australia was represented by a selected team under the name Wallaroos, originally the name of one of the foundation clubs of the Southern Rugby Union in 1874, but now used for the Australian women's team in 15-a-side rugby. Australia has also been represented at international sevens tournaments by the Australian Barbarians club.

## Honours

Australia has won the following:
World Rugby Sevens Series
* Champion: 2021–22
* Runner-up: 2000–01
* Third place: 1999–2000, 2004–05
World Cup Sevens
* Silver medal: 2009, 2022
* Bronze medal: 2005
Commonwealth Games Sevens
* Silver medal: 2010
* Bronze medal: 1998, 2014
Rugby sevens at the World Games
* Silver medal: 2001
Major tournament wins
* Hong Kong Sevens: 1979, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1988, 2022
* Australian Sevens: 1987, 2002, 2018
* London Sevens: 2010, 2022
* Paris Sevens: 1998
* Wellington Sevens: 2001
* Kuala Lumpur Sevens: 2001
* Shanghai Sevens: 2001
* Tokyo Sevens: 2012
Regional and other tournament wins
* Oceania Sevens: 2010, 2012, 2015, 2019
* Oktoberfest Sevens: 2017

## Tournament record

A red box around the year indicates a tournament played in Australia. An asterisk (*) indicates a shared placing.

### Rugby World Cup Sevens

Rugby World Cup 7s :
| Year | Round | Position | P | W | L | D |
| 1993 | Final | | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| 1997 | Quarterfinals | 5 * | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 2001 | Final | | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| 2005 | Semifinals | * | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| 2009 | Plate final | 10 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 2013 | Quarterfinals | 5 * | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2018 | Challenge final | 10 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022 | Bronze Final | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 2026 | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined |
| Total | 0 Titles | 8/8 | 48 | 31 | 15 | 2 |

### World Games

World Games Rugby 7s :
| Year | Round | Position | P | W | L | D |
| 2001 | Final | | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2005 | did not participate | did not participate | did not participate | did not participate | did not participate | did not participate |
| 2009 | did not participate | did not participate | did not participate | did not participate | did not participate | did not participate |
| 2013 | did not participate | did not participate | did not participate | did not participate | did not participate | did not participate |
| Total | 0 Titles | 1/4 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 |

### Olympic Games

Olympic Games Rugby 7s :
| Year | Round | Position | P | W | L | D |
| 2016 | Quarter-finals | 8 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| 2020 | Quarter-finals | 7 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| 2024 | Bronze match | 4 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 2028 | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined |
| 2032 | Qualified as host | Qualified as host | Qualified as host | Qualified as host | Qualified as host | Qualified as host |
| Total | 0 Titles | 3/3 | 18 | 8 | 10 | 0 |

### Commonwealth Games

Commonwealth Games 7s :
| Year | Round | Position | P | W | L | D |
| 1998 | Third playoff | | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 2002 | Quarterfinals | 5 * | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 2006 | Third playoff | 4 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 2010 | Final | | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 2014 | Third playoff | | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2018 | Fifth playoff | 5 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 | Third playoff | 4 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 0 Titles | 6/6 | 38 | 26 | 12 | 0 |

### Oceania Sevens

Oceania Rugby 7s :
| Year | Round | Position | P | W | L | D |
| 2008 | did not participate | did not participate | did not participate | did not participate | did not participate | did not participate |
| 2009 | did not participate | did not participate | did not participate | did not participate | did not participate | did not participate |
| 2010 | Final | | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | Third playoff | 4 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| 2012 | Final | | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | Third playoff | | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 2014 | Third playoff | 4 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 2015 | Final | | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | Third playoff | | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 2017 | Semifinals | * | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 2018 | Third playoff | 4 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 2019 | Final | | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | round-robin | | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 2022 | round-robin | | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023 | Seventh playoff | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 2024 | Fifth playoff | 5 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined |
| Total | 4 Titles | 13/16 | 75 | 55 | 20 | 0 |
Notes:
^$^a$ Rugby Sevens was discontinued at the World Games after 2013 due to the sport returning to the Olympics in 2016.
^$^b$ Australia VII or development team entered

## World Rugby Sevens Series

| Africa and Middle East Asia | Africa and Middle East Asia | Africa and Middle East Asia | Africa and Middle East Asia | Africa and Middle East Asia | Africa and Middle East Asia | Africa and Middle East Asia | |
| Americas Europe | Americas Europe | Americas Europe | Americas Europe | Americas Europe | Americas Europe | Americas Europe | |
| Oceania | Oceania | | | | Australian event | Australian event | Australian event |

### 2000s

| World Sevens Series |
| I 99–00 | I 99–00 | II 00–01 | III 01–02 | IV 02–03 | V 03–04 |
| | 5th Dubai | rd* Dubai | no status** Dubai | rd* Dubai | 6th Dubai |
| | 5th Stellenbosch | rd* Durban | 5th Durban | rd* George | 7th* George |
| | rd* Wellington | st Wellington | 7th* Wellington | rd* Wellington | 10th Wellington |
| | nd Brisbane | cancelled$^‡$ Brisbane | st Brisbane | 5th Brisbane | – |
| | rd* Suva | – | – | – | – |
| | 5th Punta del Este | – | 7th* Santiago | – | 9th Los Angeles |
| | rd* Mar del Plata | –$^†$ | 5th Mar del Plata | – | – |
| | rd* Hong Kong | rd* Hong Kong | 5th* Hong Kong | 5th* Hong Kong | 5th* Hong Kong |
| | rd* Tokyo | nd Tokyo | rd* Singapore | cancelled$^§$ Singapore | 7th* Singapore |
| | – | st Shanghai | rd* Beijing | cancelled$^§$ Beijing | – |
| | – | st Kuala Lumpur | rd* Kuala Lumpur | – | – |
| | – | nd London | 5th London | 5th London | 7th* London |
| | rd* Paris | nd Cardiff | rd* Cardiff | 6th Cardiff | 6th Bordeaux |
| 10/10 118 pts rd | 10/10 118 pts rd | 9/9 150 pts nd | 11/11 108 pts 5th | 7/7 66 pts 5th | 8/8 34 pts 8th |
| Notes: * Shared placing (play-off matches for third were eventually introduced in 2012). ** Downgraded to non-series status in wake of September 11 attacks in 2001. $^†$ Mar del Plata hosted the Sevens World Cup instead of a leg in the 2001 series. $^‡$ Tournament cancelled by IRB in response to government sanctions against Fiji. $^§$ Tournament cancelled due to concerns about the SARS outbreak in Asia in 2002. |
| IRB Sevens World Series |
| VI 04–05 | VI 04–05 | VII 05–06 | VIII 06–07 | IX 07–08 | X 08–09 |
| | 7th* Dubai | 7th* Dubai | 7th* Dubai | 9th Dubai | 7th* Dubai |
| | 9th George | 7th* George | 9th George | 11th* George | 10th George |
| | 5th Wellington | 7th* Wellington | 11th* Wellington | rd* Wellington | 11th* Wellington |
| | – | – | 5th Adelaide | 7th* Adelaide | 6th Adelaide |
| | rd* Los Angeles | 7th* Los Angeles | 7th* San Diego | 12th San Diego | 9th San Diego |
| | –$^†$ | 5th* Hong Kong | 5th* Hong Kong | 5th* Hong Kong | 5th* Hong Kong |
| | 6th Singapore | 7th* Singapore | – | – | – |
| | 6th London | 11th* London | 6th London | 9th London | 7th* London |
| | 7th* Paris | rd* Paris | 11th* Edinburgh | 9th Edinburgh | 6th Edinburgh |
| 7/7 42 pts 7th | 7/7 42 pts 7th | 8/8 40 pts 8th | 8/8 32 pts 7th | 8/8 30 pts 8th | 8/8 30 pts 8th |
| Notes: * Shared placing (play-off matches for third were eventually introduced in 2012). $^†$ Hong Kong hosted the Sevens World Cup instead of a leg in the 2005 series. |

### 2010s

| World Sevens Series |
| XI 09–10 | XI 09–10 | XII 10–11 | XIII 11–12 | XIV 12–13 | XV 13–14 |
| | 5th Dubai | 6th Dubai | 5th Dubai | 15th* Dubai | 9th Dubai |
| | 7th* George | 7th* George | 7th* Port Elizabeth | 9th Port Elizabeth | 10th Port Elizabeth |
| | 5th Wellington | rd* Wellington | 10th Wellington | 5th Wellington | 5th Wellington |
| | rd* Adelaide | 7th* Adelaide | 4th Gold Coast | 7th* Gold Coast | nd Gold Coast |
| | rd* Las Vegas | 7th* Las Vegas | 10th Las Vegas | 13th Las Vegas | 6th Las Vegas |
| | – | – | – | cancelled$^†$ Mar Del Plata | – |
| | 5th Hong Kong | 6th Hong Kong | 7th* Hong Kong | 7th* Hong Kong | 4th Hong Kong |
| | – | – | st Tokyo | 7th* Tokyo | 5th Tokyo |
| | st London | 6th London | 5th London | nd London | nd London |
| | nd Edinburgh | nd Edinburgh | 5th Glasgow | 9th Glasgow | 7th* Glasgow |
| 8/8 122 pts rd | 8/8 122 pts rd | 8/8 80 pts 5th | 9/9 110 pts 6th | 9/9 89 pts 8th | 9/9 116 pts 5th |
| Notes: * Shared placing (play-off matches for third were introduced in 2012). $^†$ Event cancelled due to demands on UAR joining The Rugby Championship. |
| World Rugby Sevens Series |
| XVI 14–15 | XVI 14–15 | XVII 15–16 | XVIII 16–17 | XIX 17–18 | XX 18–19 |
| | nd Dubai | 6th Dubai | 5th Dubai | 5th Dubai | 4th Dubai |
| | rd Port Elizabeth | 7th* Cape Town | 11th* Cape Town | 9th Cape Town | 7th* Cape Town |
| | 6th Wellington | 5th Wellington | 10th Wellington | rd Hamilton | 7th* Hamilton |
| | 7th* Gold Coast | nd Sydney | 4th Sydney | st Sydney | 6th Sydney |
| | 5th Las Vegas | nd Las Vegas | 6th Las Vegas | 6th Las Vegas | 7th* Las Vegas |
| | – | rd Vancouver | 7th* Vancouver | 6th Vancouver | 9th Vancouver |
| | 5th Hong Kong | 4th Hong Kong | rd Hong Kong | 11th* Hong Kong | 11th* Hong Kong |
| | 9th Tokyo | 7th* Singapore | 4th Singapore | nd Singapore | 7th* Singapore |
| | nd London | 10th London | 6th London | 7th* London | nd London |
| | 7th* Glasgow | 6th Paris | 10th Paris | 11th* Paris | 11th* Paris |
| 9/9 120 pts 5th | 9/9 120 pts 5th | 10/10 134 pts 4th | 10/10 113 pts 6th | 10/10 123 pts 4th | 10/10 104 pts 7th |
| | Notes: * Shared placing (play-off matches for third were only introduced in 2012). | Notes: * Shared placing (play-off matches for third were only introduced in 2012). | Notes: * Shared placing (play-off matches for third were only introduced in 2012). | Notes: * Shared placing (play-off matches for third were only introduced in 2012). | Notes: * Shared placing (play-off matches for third were only introduced in 2012). |

### 2020s

| XXI 2019–20 | XXII 2021 | XXIII 2021–22 | XXIV 2022–23 | XXV 2023–24 |
| 5thDubai 12thCape Town | $_{cancelled}$$^‡$Dubai $_{cancelled}$$^‡$Cape Town | 5thDubai I  ndDubai II cancelled$^‡$Cape Town | 7th*Dubai 10thCape Town | 7th*Dubai  ndCape Town |
| rdHamilton 4thSydney | $_{cancelled}$$^‡$Hamilton $_{cancelled}$$^‡$Sydney | $_{cancelled}$$^‡$Hamilton $_{cancelled}$$^‡$Sydney | 5thHamilton 7th*Sydney | –  ndPerth |
| ndVancouver 4thLos Angeles | –Vancouver –Edmonton cancelled$^‡$Los Angeles | rdVancouver  rdLos Angeles | rdVancouver 4thLos Angeles | 10thVancouver 7thLos Angeles |
| $_{cancelled}$$^‡$Hong Kong $_{cancelled}$$^‡$Singapore | $_{cancelled}$$^‡$Hong Kong $_{cancelled}$$^‡$Singapore | $_{cancelled}$$^‡$Hong Kong  rdSingapore | Hong Kong I 12th*Hong Kong II –Singapore | 4thHong Kong 4thSingapore |
| $_{cancelled}$$^‡$Paris $_{cancelled}$$^‡$London | $_{cancelled}$$^‡$Paris $_{cancelled}$$^‡$London | 7th*Toulouse 4thMálaga  ndSeville  stLondon | –Toulouse –London | –  – |
| 6/681 pts4th | 0/2 — | 9/9126 ptsst | 8/899 pts6th | 7/783 pts4th |
| Notes $^‡$ Event cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic ↑ Although originally scheduled for ten rounds, the 2019–20 series was cut short after six tournaments due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ↑ Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, only two tournaments were played in the 2021 series and many top teams did not take part. | Notes $^‡$ Event cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic ↑ Although originally scheduled for ten rounds, the 2019–20 series was cut short after six tournaments due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ↑ Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, only two tournaments were played in the 2021 series and many top teams did not take part. | Notes $^‡$ Event cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic ↑ Although originally scheduled for ten rounds, the 2019–20 series was cut short after six tournaments due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ↑ Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, only two tournaments were played in the 2021 series and many top teams did not take part. | Notes $^‡$ Event cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic ↑ Although originally scheduled for ten rounds, the 2019–20 series was cut short after six tournaments due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ↑ Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, only two tournaments were played in the 2021 series and many top teams did not take part. | Notes $^‡$ Event cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic ↑ Although originally scheduled for ten rounds, the 2019–20 series was cut short after six tournaments due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ↑ Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, only two tournaments were played in the 2021 series and many top teams did not take part. |

## Players
### Current squad

The following players have been selected to represent Australia during the 2023–24 SVNS tournament beginning in December 2023.
Note: Caps reflect the total number of SVNS events competed in as of the 2023 Dubai Sevens.
| Player | Position | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Club/province |
| Tim Clements | Forward | (1997-04-08) 8 April 1997 (age 27) | 14 | Sydney University |
| Nathan Lawson | Forward | (1999-01-23) 23 January 1999 (age 26) | 18 | Southern Districts |
| Nick Malouf (c) | Forward | (1993-03-19) 19 March 1993 (age 31) | 54 | University of Queensland |
| Josh Turner | Forward | (1995-09-23) 23 September 1995 (age 29) | 27 | Manly |
| Dally Bird | Back | (2002-07-20) 20 July 2002 (age 22) | 10 | Eastwood |
| Ben Dowling | Back | (2000-03-05) 5 March 2000 (age 24) | 7 | Randwick |
| Matt Gonzalez | Back | (1994-06-01) 1 June 1994 (age 30) | 68 | Eastwood |
| Maurice Longbottom | Back | (1995-01-30) 30 January 1995 (age 30) | 39 | Randwick |
| Dietrich Roache | Back | (2001-07-06) 6 July 2001 (age 23) | 21 | Western Sydney Two Blues |
| Hayden Sargeant | Back | (1998-03-11) 11 March 1998 (age 26) | 7 | Bond University |
| James Turner | Back | (1998-08-29) 29 August 1998 (age 26) | 8 | Norths Rugby |

## Records and statistics
### Player records

The following shows leading career Australia players based on statistics from the World Rugby Sevens Series. Players in bold are still active.
Tries scored :
| No. | Player | Tries |
| 1 | Henry Hutchison | 115 |
| 2 | Lewis Holland | 114 |
| 3 | Maurice Longbottom | 113 |
| 4 | Ed Jenkins | 109 |
| 5 | Peter Miller | 107 |
Points scored :
| No. | Player | Points |
| 1 | Maurice Longbottom | 792 |
| 2 | Dietrich Roache | 753 |
| 3 | Nick Malouf | 410 |
| 4 | Nathan Lawson | 345 |
| 5 | Josh Turner | 277 |
Matches played :
| No. | Player | Matches |
| 1 | Nick Malouf | 304 |
| 2 | Maurice Longbottom | 221 |
| 3 | Josh Turner | 170 |
| 4 | Dietrich Roache | 159 |
| 5 | Nathan Lawson | 139 |

### Award winners

The following Australia Sevens players have been recognised at the World Rugby Awards since 2004:
World Rugby Men's 7s Player of the Year :
| Year | Nominees | Winners |
| 2018 | Ben O'Donnell | — |
| 2022 | Nick Malouf | — |
| 2022 | Corey Toole | — |
World Rugby Men's 7s Dream Team :
| Year | No. | Player |
| 2024 | 5. | Nathan Lawson |

### Captains

| Name | Year |
| Ed Jenkins | 2011–2016 |
| Sam Myers | 2016 |
| Lewis Holland | 2018–2019 |
| James Stannard | 2018 |
| Con Foley | 2018 |
| Jesse Parahi | 2018 |

## Coaches

| Name | Tenure |
| Bill Millard | 2002–2005 |
| Glen Ella | 2005–2007 |
| Bill Millard | 2007–08 (interim) |
| Michael O'Connor | 2008–2014 |
| Geraint John | 2014–15 |
| Tim Walsh | 2015 (interim) |
| Scott Bowen | 2015–16 (interim) |
| Andy Friend | 2016–2018 |
| Jarred Hodges | 2018 (interim) |
| Tim Walsh | 2018–2021 |
| John Manenti | 2022–present |