Well-prepared Bond in the box seat

BOND University are ideally placed to hit the ground running when the inaugural Women’s University Sevens Series kicks off in less than a month, according to national star Brooke Walker.

Uncertainty surrounds which of the eight teams will emerge as a force when the first of four 2017 tournaments is held in Launceston on Au- gust 25-26. Throwing another element in is the way professional and rising amateur players will be pitted together.

Members of Olympic champions Australia’s squad have been spread between the various universities. Bond will have the services of Walker and Charlotte Caslick while fellow Gold Coast campus Griffith University boast Wallaroos skipper Shannon Parry and Demi Hayes.

Griffith’s large contingent of 15-a-side players – like Parry – has stalled training plans.

Bond by contrast have had the chance to often train as a group for many months now.

Walker has remained in Sydney training with the Australian sevens squad but has been impressed from afar.

“Bond Uni has obviously put a lot of funding into it. They are making quite a serious campaign for the uni comps,” she said.

The 22-year-old believes the extensive build-up will help Bond fight for silverware.

“It is going to be a mix of abilities together but I guess whoever gels the most and gets enough time to work together will come out on top,” she said.

High-profile players yesterday converged on Macquarie University in Sydney to officially launch the series.

Australian Rugby Union chief executive Bill Pulver said the launch marked “a new era of women’s rugby sevens”.