Exciting Australian sevens dasher Amahli Hala will be easily sighted from 7000km away when she makes her debut at the Hong Kong SVNS.
It’s all thanks to a pact sealed in pink with her grandma Kaye when the Queensland teenager's elusive stepping, speed and anticipation first started to gain attention.
Suddenly, it meant her games for Queensland, Bond University and youth sevens sides were being livestreamed.
“There was no plan to wear headgear but Nan said she couldn’t tell where I was on the field when she was watching the livestreams,” Hala said.
“Pink headgear it is. I’ve been wearing it for two years so Nan can see a pink thing running around the field.”
Hala is main event status now with her expected debut to be screened live on Stan Sport across March 28-30.
Hala may be just 19 but her maturity stands out. She may not say that much but she’s a calm schemer in the way she leads on the field.
Unlike many of the converts from other sports who take time to build rugby instincts on the field, Hala has been immersed in sevens since she was 11.
Her Gold Coast alma mater King’s Christian College is renowned for developing sevens talent. She is the latest.
She’s put on hold a Diploma of Health Science to pursue her sevens dreams. She knows she’ll get back to it.
“I love learning. I’m giving everything I have to rugby but you can’t play it forever,” Hala said.
Hala showed her skills in last year’s Next Gen 7s series before a knee injury sidelined her late in the year and delayed this debut chance.
In the Toowoomba leg of the series, she scooted 75m for her own try, freed her hands to set up another try for a teammate and made a try-saving tackle in the corner.
Australian Rugby Sevens coach Tim Walsh has been forced to adapt selections for the feature tournament in Hong Kong in the HSBC SVNS World Series.
Triple Olympian Charlotte Caslick has committed to the Queensland Reds for the remainder of the SMARTECH Super Rugby Women’s season. Demi Hayes (fractured hand) and Heidi Dennis (knee) are also on the injured list.
Try-scoring trump Maddison Levi and Sariah Paki do return from injury to play in the new Kai Tak Stadium which will make Hong Kong bigger than ever.
"A revamped Hong Kong Sevens awaits us with a new stadium, and another iconic location,” Walsh said.
"We are fielding our youngest team in our history, our least number of total caps since 2015 (the World Series began in 2012) and have had our most disruptive preparation ever.
"A perfect storm for an Aussie Sevens performance demonstrating character and resilience.
"As we are heading into China we are embracing ancient Chinese wisdom to prepare ourselves for the challenges ahead. ‘True Gold does not fear the flame’ is our mantra."
For the men’s team, Barry has recalled teenager Hadley Tonga to his 13-man squad with Michael Icely ruled out due to a knee injury.
The Aussie men have been drawn into Pool B with matches against New Zealand, South Africa and Uruguay.
Australia’s women meet Spain and Canada on the opening day in Pool C before a clash against Japan leading into the final.
Every round of the HSBC SVNS series will be shown live and exclusive, ad-free and on demand on Stan Sport.
Australia Women’s Sevens team for HSBC SVNS Hong Kong:
1. Piper Simons
2. Amahli Hala*
3. Faith Nathan
4. Mackenzie Davis
5. Teagan Levi
9. Tia Hinds
10. Isabella Nasser (c)
12. Maddison Levi
14. Bridget Clark
15. Kahli Henwood
23. Ruby Nicholas
28. Kiiahla Duff
65. Sariah Paki *denotes debut
Australia Men’s Sevens team for HSBC SVNS Hong Kong:
1. Henry Hutchison (c)
2. Ben Dowling
6. Henry Paterson (c)
9. Matt Gonzalez
10. Ben Dalton
11. Maurice Longbottom
13. Jayden Blake
14. James Turner
15. Sid Harvey
23. Aden Ekanayake
25. Hayden Sargeant
29. Josh Turner
71. Hadley Tonga
HSBC SVNS 2024/2025 HONG KONG SCHEDULE AUSTRALIA WOMEN - POOL C
Friday, March 28: Australia v Spain – 12:53pm AEST
Friday, March 28: Australia v Canada – 3:57pm AEST
Saturday, March 29: Australia v Japan – 11:53pm AEST
AUSTRALIA MEN - POOL B
Friday, March 28: Australia v New Zealand – 7:30pm AEST
Friday, March 28: Australia v South Africa – 10:39pm AEST
Saturday, March 29: Australia v Uruguay – 3:20pm AEST
