Bull Sharks prodigy Amahli Hala has retained her place in the Australian squad for this weekend’s Singapore 7s after a dazzling debut at the Hong Kong Sevens, where she proved she belongs on the world stage.
The Hong Kong tournament may have been all about the new stadium, but for Australia, it was about the new stars stepping up—and none shone brighter than Hala. At just 19, the Bond Bull Sharks product seized her opportunity, scoring on debut and earning the trust of selectors for another campaign in gold.
Whenever the Australian Women’s Sevens team enters a tournament, reaching the final is the expectation, but with key figures missing—including the triple Olympian Charlotte Caslick, who has shifted to 15s—the dynamic of the squad has changed. The average age of the team in Hong Kong was just 21.5.
Hala, the youngest of the group, showed composure beyond her years. While some players transition from other sports and take time to develop rugby instincts, she has been immersed in sevens since the age of 11. Her calm presence and tactical awareness make her a natural leader on the field, despite her quiet nature.
Bond University has built a reputation as a sevens nursery, producing Olympians Maddison and Teagan Levi, as well as Hayden Sargeant. Hala is the latest to rise through the ranks, adding to her growing list of achievements, including two Queensland Premier Rugby premierships and three consecutive Queensland 7s titles.
Bond’s Head of Rugby, Grant Anderson, praised her rapid ascent.
“Bond University Rugby is incredibly proud of Amahli Hala for making her Australian Women’s Rugby 7s debut in Hong Kong. A John Eales Rugby Scholarship recipient and a dedicated member of our club since the age of 15, Amahli’s journey from Bond to the world stage is truly inspiring. Joining Maddie and Teagan Levi as another Bond University player to represent Australia, Amahli showcased her talent by scoring a try on debut, highlighting her impact at the highest level. She remains an integral part of our club, and it was fantastic to see her hard work and dedication rewarded on the international stage. Congratulations, Amahli!”
Hala’s talent earned her the 2024 John Eales Rugby Excellence Scholarship at Bond, where she enrolled in a Diploma of Health Science. However, she has deferred her studies to chase her rugby dream—knowing she’ll return when the time is right.
“I love learning. I’m giving everything I have to rugby, but you can’t play it forever,” Hala said.
For now, though, the focus is on Singapore, where she’ll look to build on her dream debut and continue her rapid rise in the green and gold.