Turinui's daughter leads stacked Australia A Women's Sevens squad for Pirika Sevens

Darcy Turinui, daughter of Wallabies great and broadcaster Morgan Turinui, has been selected in Australia A’s Women’s Sevens squad for the Pirika Sevens in Sapporo, Japan, with Rugby Australia announcing the 12-person lineup on Friday ahead of the June 6-7 tournament hosted by Hokkaido Barbarians.

The squad blends established SVNS Series talent with emerging prospects from Australia’s development pathways. Amahli Hala, Bridge Clark, Kiiahla Duff, Rhani Hagan and Ruby Nicholas are among the six full-time national programme players included, bringing top-level sevens experience to a group otherwise drawn from the Next Gen Sevens Series and Australian Youth programmes.

Darcy Turinui is joined by another notable name in Layne Price, daughter of NRL Premiership winner Scott Prince. Mackenzie Davis, who was named Junior Women’s Player of the Year at the Rugby Australia Awards last October following a breakout sevens campaign, has also earned selection. Coby Ryan-Last, Anaia Cruickshank, Leilani Hills and Tiki Calliste complete the squad.

The Pirika Sevens falls on the same weekend as the final HSBC SVNS World Championship event of the season in Bordeaux, meaning the Australia A fixture serves as a parallel development opportunity rather than a clash with the senior programme’s primary commitments.

Head coach Lachlan Parkinson described the selection as a deliberate mix of experience and youth. “The squad selected is a fantastic balance of World Series players and the best next generation Australia has to offer,” he said. “The team have been victorious several times but are coming off a third-place finish in 2025 — the team will be looking to get back in the winner’s circle.”

The squad is set to depart for Japan on Sunday, giving them one week of preparation before the competition begins. Local side Hokkaido Barbarians Diana will also compete alongside a range of Japanese clubs.

The trip has been supported by the Australian Rugby Foundation. General Manager Holly Kelsall said international exposure at this level is central to the women’s game’s continued growth in Australia. “Real progress comes from investing in talented young players before they reach the top of the game,” she said. “International experiences like this accelerate development, build confidence and expose athletes to new environments and styles of play.”