In a significant career pivot, Faythe Manera, a prominent figure in rugby sevens, is now setting her sights on a future with the Queensland Reds in the traditional 15-a-side format, aiming to broaden her impact on the rugby landscape.
Today, Reds women’s coach Andrew Fraser announced the inclusion of 37 talented athletes in the Reds Wider Training Squad, which will embark on a rigorous pre-season training regimen through November and December, preparing for the highly anticipated 2025 Buildcorp Super Rugby Women’s competition.
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The excitement surrounding the crossover of elite rugby talent is palpable, especially with both Manera and the speedy finisher Piper Flynn showcasing their names on the roster, signaling a vibrant intertwining between the sevens and 15s formats in Australian rugby.
Manera, at just 21 years old, has already earned recognition as a reliable player for Queensland and Australia A in the sevens arena. She made an impressive debut for the national team at the prestigious 2022 HSBC SVNS event held in Cape Town, and now she looks forward to the challenge of transitioning into the 15s format as a versatile centre-flyhalf-halfback.
“I’m not leaving sevens, but having ambitions in 15s is genuinely exciting, especially with a World Cup on the horizon next year,” Manera articulated, highlighting her dual aspirations.
“I’ve personally experienced how playing 15s enhances one’s sevens game, and I’m eager to take this opportunity.”
Piper Flynn, known for her incredible speed, is another promising athlete bringing her sevens experience into the 15s realm; she has already made her mark playing for Easts in the Premier Rugby competition.
Recently, discussions have surfaced among Australian sevens stars, including Charlotte Caslick, Maddi Levi, and her sister Teagan, about integrating their time commitments with the Reds in the 15s format, whilst balancing their sevens responsibilities.
During the recent Next Gen 7s series, up-and-coming talent Carys Dallinger, alongside her dynamic Reds teammate Caitlin Urwin, embraced the sevens format, adding valuable experience to their development in the 15s game.
Manera is joining a cohort of nine players from the renowned Bond University club in this training group, with preparations kicking off on November 4 for the upcoming Super Rugby Women’s competition. This selection lays a solid foundation for the team’s aspirations moving forward.
More names are expected to be added to the squad as the coaches refine the list into a final roster for a more compact Super W squad.
This Wider Training Squad is brimming with intriguing names and narratives, promising an exhilarating season ahead.
The experienced former Wallaroo, Sarah Riordan, is on a mission to make a comeback to Super W, this time positioning herself not as a centre but as a tenacious backrower at the age of 32.
The addition of top recruit Eva Karpani provides a significant boost for the front-row unit, which is also bolstered by the return of Bree-Anna Cheatham, who missed the previous season due to knee surgery.
The Wallaroos stars will collaborate closely with hooker Cristo Taufua, who is back in the Brisbane scene after her stint in New Zealand, where she earned two caps for the prestigious Black Ferns.
Fraser has meticulously monitored performances across various platforms, including Super W, Premier Rugby, and sevens tournaments, to curate this diverse and talented squad, ensuring it represents the cream of rugby talent in the region.
“The most exciting aspect of this squad lies in its diversity of experience, ranging from promising teenagers like Jazlyn Leota and Bliss Wilkins to seasoned players like Eva, Sarah, Bree-Anna, and Ivania Wong,” Fraser noted with enthusiasm.
“Selecting a training squad of this caliber is invigorating, and I believe we can uncover even more potential as we commit to hard work and training.”
“We’ve witnessed successful transitions from sevens to 15s with several national teams, not just for competitions but also at the international level, marking a positive direction for rugby development,” he continued.
“It’s truly encouraging to have Faythe and Piper in our ranks, reflecting their determination and ambition.”
“We can see the motivation is palpable within the squad, as exemplified by Sarah Riordan, who took a leave of absence from her role in the army in Canberra to train and participate in the Reds Development game.”
“We are thrilled to welcome her back as she transitions back to Brisbane.”
REDS WIDER TRAINING SQUAD
FORWARDS
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
BACKS
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
