mens
Sevens
Australia Men’s sevens co-captain Henry Paterson will target a return to the HSBC SVNS series this season after putting pen to paper on a contract extension alongside two rising young stars.
Patterson has been sidelined for the past 12 months after suffering a season-ending ACL tear in training. But the Paris Olympian wants to make a comeback at the Kick On Sevens in Sydney on October 16.
Jayden Blake and Ethan McFarland earned new contracts with the program after promising performances in the first World Sevens circuit. Blake made his SVNS Cape Town debut in late 2024, before donning the Aussie green and gold for a further 12 events.
Blake was part of the Randwick first grade side that took out the Shute Shield premiership and is a product of NSW Waratahs Academy. The utility back made several impressive stops on defense as a SVNS rookie and backed that up with seven more tackles last season.
McFarland played in nine contests as a rookie, with a key try to help the men’s team in Valladolid, Spain, win a drought-breaking SVNS title. The Brisbane born talent is a product of the GPS Rugby Club.
“We look forward to having Henry back on the pitch soon and his leadership of the team will be invaluable in 2026-2027,” said director of high performance Peter Horne.
“Jayden and Ethan are exciting players coming through the program and complement our experience in the group.
“Jayden’s speed and athleticism have been evident in his first two seasons and we expect Ethan to continue his freshman year after impressing the coaching staff.”
