There’s plenty of exciting stories to come out of our Australian team announcement for the 2016 Trans Tasman Series.
Join us as we look through the teams, pointing out some honourable mentions for the upcoming series.
Men’s Open
The Australian Men’s Open team sees 10 players return from the successful 2015 World Cup team, as well as 2015 World Cup Mixed Open champions Scott Bundy and Daniel Barton.
Shaun Francis will wear the green and gold for the first time, while Jordan Marshall-King, Jayden Love and Lachlan Pierce have all transitioned through the Youth program into the Men’s Open team, with Marshall-King playing in the 2011 and 2013 Youth Trans Tasman Series events (20’s Boys), Love in the 2015 Youth Trans Tasman Series (20’s Boys) and Pierce in the 2013 Youth Trans Tasman Series (18’s Boys).
Pierce, the 2015 Elite Eight Player of the Final and Player of the Series, follows in his late father’s footsteps by being selected in the Australian Men’s Open team. Craig Pierce represented Australia on 37 occasions, including three World Cups, and was inducted into the TFA Hall of Fame in 2003. Lachlan joins Peter Norman and Daniel Barton in the current team as players whose fathers have also represented Australia in the Men’s Open division.
Women’s Open
Nine players return to the Australian Women’s Open team from last year’s World Cup winning side, as well as Yasmin Meakes, who has moved into the Women’s team after two years in the Mixed program.
The side welcomes Hayley Maddick for the first time in Australian colours in her international debut.
Sisters being selected in the Australian Women’s Open team has been a regular occurrence over the past decade, with the likes of the Judd’s, Winchester’s, Hopkin’s and now the Davis’ sisters, Danni and Shellie. After captaining the Australian 18’s Girls team in 2015, Shellie joins Danni in the Women’s Open side for the 2016 series, with Danni heading into her third campaign in the Australian Women’s Open team.
Four players from the Australian 18’s Girls team have transitioned into the Women’s Open side for the 2016 Trans Tasman Series – Shellie Davis, Tayla Clifford, Mia Johnstone and Emma Sykes. There’s plenty of youth in this Australian team, with three 18-year-olds (Shellie Davis, Tayla Clifford and Hannah Dyball) as well as two 17-year-olds (Mia Johnstone and Emma Sykes).
Mixed Open
Like the Women’s Open team, nine players from the 2015 World Cup winning side return to the Mixed Open team for the 2016 Trans Tasman Series.
The six debutants in the team have all progressed through to the Open’s divisions from the Youth program in recent years – James Blackwood (2015 Australian 20’s Boys), Ciaran Toner (2013 Australian 18’s Boys and 2015 Australian 20’s Boys), Adam Pryde (2011 Australian 18’s Boys and 2013 Australian 20’s Boys), Paige Parker and Katherine Stevens (2015 Australian 20’s Girls) and Zara Nicholas (2015 Australian 18’s Girls).
Keep up-to-date with all of the latest news and information in the lead up to the 2016 Trans Tasman Series:
Website – www.touchfootball.com.au
Facebook – www.facebook.com/touchfootballaustralia
Twitter – www.twitter.com/touchfootyaus (Be sure to use the #transtasman2016 hashtag)
Instagram – www.instagram.com/touchfootballaustralia
YouTube – www.youtube.com/touchfootballaus
Related Links
- Aussie Team Announcement
