Rebecca Tavo will spearhead Australia’s title defence at the upcoming women’s sevens World Cup in Moscow.

Coach Chris Lane named Tavo in his 12-woman squad on Friday alongside captain Sharni Williams, Iliseva Batibasaga and Shannon Parry – who all played in the 15-a-side 2010 World Cup.

Tavo, the face of the sport who in 2006 became BHP Billiton’s first female train driver, is the only member of the squad that played in the first-ever women’s sevens World Cup in 2009.

Australia recorded a 15-10 sudden-death extra-time win over New Zealand in the 2009 final, and the side will be one of the nation’s major medal hopes when sevens is added to the Olympic program at the 2016 Rio Games.

“This is almost a completely new squad to that which won it in 2009,” Lane said.

“We’ve been focussed on this tournament for 18 months and we’ve put a squad together that we believe will be competitive.”

Australia face China, Ireland and South Africa in pool play at the tournament, which runs June 29-30.

Australia women’s sevens squad for 2013 World Cup: Iliseva Batibasaga, Katrina Barker, Charlotte Caslick, Emilee Cherry, Nikki Etheridge, Shannon Parry, Tiana Penitani, Saofaiga Saemo, Shontelle Stowers, Rebecca Tavo, Amy Turner, Sharni Williams (capt).