Charlotte Caslick – “Every Year We Can Showcase In Dubai the New Talented Girls Coming Through”

The Australia women’s 7s team always seem to do well at the Emirates Dubai 7s, and they notched up three wins from three on the opening day of the new SVNS 2025 season on Saturday – thumping China 52-0, Fiji 42-7, before beating Ireland 24-5 in the cool desert evening at the Sevens Stadium. We spoke with former captain Charlotte Caslick about her decision to step down from the captaincy, why she loves Dubai and how Rugby Australia is getting pathways right for the Sevens.

The defending champions are targeting a fifth straight title in Dubai, and like so many sides, they have new debutantes in the squad, but Charlotte Caslick is now the most experienced player in the team with 53 events and more than 890 points coming into the weekend.

Teammate Maddi Levi had already racked up 7 tries (and two hattricks in the wins over China and Fiji) by the time we spoke with Caslick but the World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year ended the day with 9 tries on the opening day of the new season. Faith Nathan also claimed her 100^th try on day one in Dubai.

Caslick explained why they had done so well at the Emirates Dubai 7s over the years, “The conditions really suit us with the dry sunny weather and the fast field – it suits our style of play. I feel like we always have a good pre-season, and we have built good depth in our squad, so I think we can showcase every year in Dubai the new talented girls coming through.”

She also acknowledged there is plenty of hard work behind the scenes and a strategic plan that’s bearing fruition. “I think it’s a credit to our program that we have so much quality in this group.”

There are more than 90 debutantes across the teams in Dubai and the Australia women have three themselves at the Emirates Dubai 7s with one more likely to make her debut in Cape Town next week.

Asked what she thinks Australia is doing well, Caslick explained: “I think we have a good system in place and our development pathway is pretty strong. As a whole, in Australia, we love playing sport and a majority of young kids play some sort of sport. We are fortunate due to the weather conditions and the environment our country provides, we have those opportunities. 

Rugby Australia, and especially Queensland and New South Wales and the pathways they have developed over the past decade are producing a lot of talent.”

Photo Credit- Zach Franzen / World Rugby – Maddi Levi

You can follow all of the results and fixtures from the Emirates Dubai 7s here.

Passing On the Mantle

Caslick had stepped down from the captaincy role to Isabella Nasser and she explained to us; “I loved my time being captain but in this next phase and cycle I wanted the girls to have a stable leadership group. I am still a part of that and I will still guide as much as possible, but I think for them as players to grow, they will need that leadership responsibility themselves. I think it’s already made a massive difference with how some of them have stepped up and taken on more responsibility in the group – it will take them to another level.”

Asked if there was still fire in the belly to make another Olympics and if LA 2028 was a target, Caslick added: “It is a goal of mine and doing three Olympics already I am so proud but I would love to do one more if it’s possible – you never know with Sevens Rugby.”

Favourite Moments – Asian SVNS Series Legs

Of the SVNS legs in Asia, Charlotte Caslick said she loves Dubai, and this weekend the Australia A team are also participating so the senior squad is trying to support them as much as possible but they love supporting the other teams.

“We love getting around and getting to see other people play and from countries all over the world. It is amazing and for me, its one of the most special parts of Rugby Sevens and why I love to see young girls pick up the footy and play sevens.”

Of Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore, and her favourite aspects she said, “With Dubai, the atmosphere especially on the outside playing fields and tournaments provides such a great vibe for Dubai. For Hong Kong, it is just so iconic and when everyone thinks of Sevens rugby, they still think of Hong Kong. Singapore, even though I have not played there yet, I have been a spectator and I am really looking forward to playing there – but the food, the people and of course the city is so clean and beautiful.”

Emirates Dubai 7s 2024 News

• HSBC SVNS 2025 Season Sees 90+ Debutantes in Action On Day 1 Of Emirates Dubai 7s 2024.
• Asian Teams To Keep An Eye On – Emirates Dubai 7s 2024.
• Emirates Dubai 7s 2024 – Fan Guide To Everything That’s Happening.
• Teams Ready For A New SVNS Season At Emirates Dubai Sevens 2024 – Host Of New Stars To Debut.