Faythe Manera has made the bold jump from rugby sevens specialist to exploring a future with the Queensland Reds in the 15-a-side game.
Reds women’s coach Andrew Fraser today announced the 37-player Reds Wider Training Squad for a pre-season training block in November and December.
Seeing Manera and pacy finisher Piper Flynn amongst the names is just the latest sign of an exciting and expanding cross-over between formats for Australia’s top rugby talent.
Manera, 21, a regular for Queensland and Australia A in sevens, made her debut for Australia at the 2022 HSBC SVNS event in Cape Town. She is making the move to 15s as a potential centre-flyhalf-halfback of real utility value.
“I’m not leaving sevens but it’s definitely cool to have ambitions in 15s as well and see where it takes me with a World Cup next year,” Manera said.
“I know from experience that playing 15s makes you a better sevens player and vice versa. I’m excited to have a crack.”
The blonde-haired Flynn has real gas. She is another with Australia A sevens pedigree and has already dabbled with 15s for Easts in the Premier Rugby competition.
It follows recent discussions involving Australian sevens stars Charlotte Caslick, Maddi Levi and sister Teagan about the possibility of integrating time with the Reds in 15s with their sevens commitments.
For the recent Next Gen 7s series, 2023 Wallaroo Carys Dallinger and pacy Reds teammate Caitlin Urwin dived into the abridged format as a successful value-add to their progress in 15s.
Manera is one of nine players from the champion Bond University club in the training group which will make a November 4 start to preparations for the 2025 Buildcorp Super Rugby Women’s competition.
More players are likely to be added to the squad before it is refined to the final names for a smaller Super W squad.
Wallaroos fullback Lori Cramer and American prop Charli Jacoby, both key parts of the Reds team this season, are currently playing with Exeter in England.
The Wider Training Squad includes some interesting names and storylines.
Experienced former Wallaroo Sarah Riordan is bidding for a return to Super W at 32, not as a centre but as hard-running backrower.
On the flipside, Haidee Head has been named as a potential winger in a shift from her previous life in the backrow.
The presence of top recruit Eva Karpani is a massive lift for the front-row which also welcomes back Bree-Anna Cheatham, who missed the 2024 campaign because of knee surgery.
The Wallaroos stars will train beside hooker Cristo Taufua, back in Brisbane after playing in New Zealand and earning two caps for the Black Ferns.
Fraser has tracked form across Super W, Premier Rugby, the recent Reds Development XV trial against NZ Universities, the Australian Rugby Shield, the Reds tour to Tonga, sevens tournaments and further afield to hatch this squad.
“The best thing about the squad is the breadth of experiences from teenagers like Jazlyn Leota, Bliss Wilkins and Sky Faimalie to players who have been there and done it like Eva, Sarah, Bree-Anna and Ivania Wong,” Fraser said.
“It’s exciting to pick a training squad of this ability and know we can unpack more by working hard.
“We’ve seen girls transition successfully from sevens to 15s with the Irish and Welsh teams, not just for national competitions but to international level.
“That integration is a really positive step so it’s good to have Faythe and Piper involved.
“We know there is motivation in the squad. Sarah Riordan took leave from her job with the army in Canberra to train and play that Reds Development game.
“We are delighted to have her now she is on the move back to Brisbane.”
Bree-Anna Cheatham - Brothers
Sky Faimalie - Sunnybank
Madison Schuck - Bond University
Tiarna Molloy - Easts
Zophronia Setu - University of Queensland
Cristo Taufua - Brothers
Eva Karpani - Bond University
Olivia Fidow - Caboolture
Deni Ross - Brothers
Dillyn Blackburn - Wests
Lucy Thorpe - Bond University
Nena Williamson - University of Queensland
Tiarah Minns - University of Queensland
Carola Kreis - Easts
Bliss Wilkins - Brothers
Jemma Bemrose - Bond University
Maraea Tupai - Wests
Sarah Riordan - Brothers
Zoe Hanna Bond - University
Ana Afuie - Sunnybank
Evie Sampson - Bond University
Natalie Wright - University of Queensland
Sarah Dougherty - GPS
Carys Dallinger - Easts
Chanelle Kohika-Skipper - University of Queensland
Faythe Manera - Bond University
Ariana Hira - Bond University
Briana Dascombe - Wests
Jazlyn Leota - Brothers
Melanie Wilks -Bond University
Caitlin Urwin - University of Queensland
Ivania Wong - Sunnybank
Michelle Curry - Wests
Tess Littleton - University of Queensland
Haidee Head - Easts
Piper Flynn - Easts
Renae Nona - Sunnybank
