RUGBY: Sevens stars Sharni Williams and Shannon Parry headline Australia's 28-strong squad for the 2017 women's World Cup to be held in Ireland in August.

Williams and Parry were co-captains of the Australian sevens side that won a historic gold medal at last year's Rio Olympics.

Wallaroos coach Paul Verrell's squad also features two potential debutants, with fellow sevens star Mahalia Murphy joined by Western Australian fly half Trilleen Pomare.

The squad features 156 caps of Test experience with nine having tasted World Cup action before, as the Wallaroos aim to build on their seventh place at the 2014 tournament.

"We have had some solid preparation during our Test series in New Zealand earlier this month, and had the opportunity to blood some new talent at Test level," Verrell said.

"That tour in New Zealand really showed us the standard of the best three teams in the world and we know what we need to do to reach that level now, so it's time for the next generation of Wallaroos to really step up.

"We have a really competitive pool with Ireland, France and Japan and we know that there's no such thing as an easy game at a World Cup.

"We're really looking forward to pulling on that gold jersey and doing it proud."

Australia lost 53-10 to England, 44-17 to New Zealand and 45-5 to Canada during the three Test June tour.

In other notable squad news, forward Mollie Gray returns from injury after missing the New Zealand tour while young guns Kayla Sauvo and Millie Boyle punched their ticket to Ireland following good form across the Tasman.

Star back Ashleigh Hewson needs just two more points to become the highest points scorer in Wallaroos history.

The record is currently held by former flyer Tricia Brown (65 points).

The squad will convene in Sydney at the end of July for a three-day camp, before flying to Ireland on August 1.

Fox Sports will have television coverage of the women's World Cup.

WALLAROOS WORLD CUP SQUAD

Forwards

Millie Boyle, 3 Tests, ACT

Chloe Butler, 9 Tests, South Australia

Cheyenne Campbell, 12 Tests, Queensland

Rebecca Clough, 13 Tests, Western Australia

Mollie Gray, 8 Tests, Australian Services Rugby Union/Sydney

Grace Hamilton, 4 Tests, Sydney

Alisha Hewett, 12 Tests, Australian Services Rugby Union/Queensland

Evelyn Horomia, 2 Tests, Sydney

Kiri Lingman, 3 Tests, Queensland

Hana Ngaha, 4 Tests, Queensland

Shannon Parry, 10 Tests, Aussie 7s/Queensland

Liz Patu, 12 Tests, Queensland

Emily Robinson, 2 Tests, Sydney

Hilisha Samoa, 3 Tests, Queensland

Alexandra Sulusi, 3 Tests, Sydney

Violeta Tupuola, 2 Tests, ACT

Backs

Katrina Barker, 5 Tests, NSW Country

Fenella Hake, 3 Tests, Queensland

Ashleigh Hewson, 15 Tests, Sydney

Nareta Marsters, 4 Tests, Sydney

Mahalia Murphy*, Aussie 7s/Sydney

Trilleen Pomare*, Western Australia

Sarah Riordan, 4 Tests, Australian Services Rugby Union/NSW Country

Kayla Sauvao, 3 Tests, Sydney

Huia Swanell, 2 Tests, Western Australia

Ashleigh Timoko, 1 Test, Western Australia

Samantha Treherne, 3 Tests, Queensland

Sharni Williams, 14 Tests, Aussie 7s/ACT

*denotes uncapped player

AUSTRALIA'S POOL GAMES

Wallaroos v Ireland at UCD Bowl, Dublin, 10th August, 4am AEST

Wallaroos v France at UCD Bowl, Dublin, 14th August, 4.45am AEST

Wallaroos v Japan at Billings Park UCD, Dublin, 18th August, 2am AEST