Beck to carry Australian flag at Pacific Games opening ceremony

PORT MORESBY, July 3 – The Australian team has chosen the captain of the women’s rugby 7’s squad, Nicole Beck, as the country’s flag bearer for the opening ceremony at the Port Moresby 2015 Pacific Games on July 4.

The 27-year-old told the Australian Olympic Committee recently that being picked to carry the flag was a big surprise.

“I was just very happy to be selected in the team to go to PNG and to also captain that team,” Beck said.

“It’s a huge honour to be able to carry the flag for Australia.”

Beck said she is excited about the team’s prospects at the Games.

“The squad is fit and raring to go and we’re all eager to bring back the gold medal,” Beck said.

“We have a nice mixture of youth and experience in the squad, all keen to impress the rugby 7’s management and the watching public back in Australia.”

The team’s head coach, Tim Walsh, said he believes the tournament is an important build up to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

“The Pacific Games is a perfect opportunity for members of the Australian women’s 7’s programme to gain tournament experience for what is the most important year in the sport’s history,” Walsh said.

Aboriginal athlete Tanisha Stanton has also been named to the squad. The 19-year-old is an exciting prospect in the sport, but is yet to make her world series debut.

Australia’s Chef de Mission Malcolm Page said he’s excited Australia is sending a contingent to the Games for the first time.

“I think it’s going to be an amazing cultural experience for the Australian Team,” Page said.

Of the 12 players heading to Port Moresby, only two were part of the Australian team at the world series tournaments this year. They were Beck and Nikki Etheridge.

The other 10 members of the team will be out to impress the selectors as they head into Rio 2016.

The women’s rugby 7’s competition begins on Wednesday, July 8.