On Wednesday, World Rugby announced a new look men’s and women’s Sevens Series schedule which included six combined men’s and women’s events.

The change sees the women’s series increased to eight rounds over the next four-year cycle, a first time in its history.

Dubai, Cape Town, New Zealand, Sydney, Hong Kong and Paris will host the combined men’s and women’s tournament while Langford and Glendale will host the stand-alone events.

They will also have five back-to-back tournaments, at the start of the season, four of which are being held in conjunction with the men. The women's schedule has only seen two back-to-back legs this season, that being Glendale and Dubai.

"We are going to have to get used to that," Australian women's Rugby Sevens captain Sharni Williams said. 

"The six tournaments that we've had have been quite strenuous on our body and we've got a lot of injuries.

"It will give us the opportunity to extend the squad and the opportunity for the girls playing Aon Uni Series to really step up and ply themselves and make a spot in the team."

Australia went through an injury crisis after the 2018 Commonwealth Games with Alicia Quirk, Ellia Green, Emilee Cherry, Charlotte Caslick, Emma Tonegato and Shannon Parry all spending time on the sidelines, even as recently as February this year. 

However, this opened an opportunity for younger players including Sariah Paki and Lily Dick to throw their hat into the ring and make their debuts.

The Series has grown from the inaugural season in 2012/13, where there just four legs in Dubai, Houston, Guangzhou and Amsterdam.

"It's great to see World Rugby, Rugby Australia and all of the companies jumping on board and recognising women and what they are capable of doing," Williams said.

"It's really great to see we have that extra leg involved."