Gritty half back James Stannard is the latest of nine Australian Sevens stars to earn a Super Rugby contract for 2011 after signing on for a second stint with the Western Force last week.

Stannard joins the ever-growing list of 2009/2010 Sevens representatives who, after achieving Australia's best finish on the international circuit in almost a decade, have earned a prized call-up to represent their states in the expanded 15-team Super tournament from next year.

The Australian Sevens finished third behind victors Samoa and runners-up New Zealand in an outstanding season on the IRB Sevens World Series, including a Cup victory in the London Sevens at Twickenham, the team's first tournament victory since 2002.

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"I don't find it surprising at all that a bunch of the younger boys are going to make the step up to Super Rugby next year," said Stannard.

"They've been on the radar of the Academies for quite a while and I guess good performances in Sevens this year and also in the 20s have helped push that along."

Sevens fans do, however, have one more chance to see the class of 2009/10 play together when they compete for Australia at the Commonwealth Games on 11-12 October.

As well as featuring the best of the talent from the eight events on the most recent World Series, Michael O'Connor's Commonwealth Games squad also looks set to boast the likes of Qantas Wallabies winger Lachlan Turner and 2008/09 Sevens star and Reds full back Luke Morahan.

O'Connor will unveil his Games squad after a second intensive training camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in mid-August.

Sevens stars sign on

Stannard's signing for the Force is the most recent of nine Sevens graduations for Australia.

The Queensland Reds have snapped up a raft of exciting Sevens talent including flanker Liam Gill, full back Dominic Shipperley, back-rower Ed Quirk and centre Kimami Sitauti.

All four also recently returned from the IRB Junior World Championship where the Australian Under 20 side finished runners-up to arch-rivals New Zealand.

Sevens captain Pat McCutcheon earned his NSW Waratahs stripes at the back end of the 2010 Super 14 competition and will be an asset to the sky blue pack in 2011, while electric wing Brackin Karauria-Henry has also signed on with the Moore Park-based franchise for next season.

Centre Ed Stubbs is another to graduate from the Sevens ranks, signing with the Brumbies squad for the next two years, while Nick Phipps will become a foundation member of the Melbourne Rebels after committing to a one-year deal.

Phipps, a member of the extended training squad, says the Australian Sevens are confident of their chances in Delhi at the Commonwealth Games and should be considered genuine medal contenders.

"We have our sights firmly set on that gold medal and truly believe we are capable of getting there," Phipps told Rugby.com.au.

"However we know it isn't going to be easy and everybody is putting in the hard yards now to ensure that we are ready and we are prepared for the challenges of the Commonwealth Games.

"Sevens gives you an opportunity to play against some of the best and most exciting players in the world. It's a fantastic stepping stone but Sevens is its own competition now and it's good to see players be so loyal to it and good to see it get the recognition it deserves."

The Australian Sevens team will spend a week in Darwin in preparation for the Commonwealth Games and will take on IRB Sevens World Series reigning champions Samoa in a Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions (FORU) tournament on 1-3 October, which will serve as challenging warm-up event.

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Australian Rugby Sevens training squad: Bernard Foley, Liam Gill, Brackin Karauria-Henry, Patrick McCutcheon, Luke Morahan, Nicholas Phipps, Edward Quirk, Brian Sefanaia, Clinton Sills, Kimami Sitauti, James Stannard, Jacob Taylor, Lachie Turner, Daniel Yakapo