The England squad to compete in the first ever IRB-sanctioned Women’s
International Sevens tournament on December 2nd and 3rd in Dubai has been
announced.
The tournament, which will be integrated into the second round of the
men’s HSBC Sevens World Series, will see some of the top women’s
international teams go head-to-head.
2009 Rugby World Cup Plate champions England will join the likes of Sevens
world champions Australia as well as South Africa, the USA, Canada, Brazil,
China and Spain who’ll all be competing for the IRB Women’s
Sevens Challenge Cup crown.
With England also competing in a three test series against world champions
New Zealand in England in the XVs game at the same time, Head Coach Barry
Maddocks has selected a relatively young squad. Sonia Green and Michaela
Staniford are England’s most experienced players and will spearhead
the campaign, with Staniford being a survivor of England’s 2009 RWC
Sevens campaign. Jennifer Brightmore, Sarah McKenna and Isabelle Noel Smith,
who all made their England debuts this year, are also named in the squad.
England Head Coach Barry Maddocks said: “With several uncapped
players in the squad and with an average age of just 23 I am extremely
excited about the potential of this team. We have some exciting
youngsters with a promising future in Sevens and alongside them we have some
experienced players who I and Susie Appleby (Assistant Coach) have been
working with for the last three seasons. This tournament will provide them
with the opportunity to show how they can perform at this level ahead of the
World Cup Sevens in 2013 and also us with the opportunity to see where they
are.”
Dubai represents the first step in the IRB’s strategy to develop a
new IRB International Women’s Sevens Series. This exciting
addition to the international women’s rugby calendar is a milestone on
the road to Rio 2016, the first Olympic Games for both men’s and
women’s rugby since the IOC overwhelmingly voted to include the
sport.
“I am extremely pleased the IRB have sanctioned this event and
provided an opportunity for the game of Sevens to grow,” added
Maddocks. “Dubai will no doubt help to raise the standard and the
profile of the game leading into the Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2013 but also
looking further ahead to the Olympics in 2016.
“There are some seriously strong teams in this tournament with world
champions Australia in the mix with the likes of Canada, Spain and the USA
who will all have their strongest teams available. For us this will be
an extremely important tournament to look at certain players at this level.
It will be a tough tournament and certainly a step up for England but one
that the team and management staff are looking forward to.”
England Squad
JennyBrightmore (Worcester)
Abigail
Chamberlain(Richmond)
SoniaGreen(Saracens)
Sarah
Guest(Worcester)
Charlotte
Keane
(Worcester)
SarahMcKenna (Wasps)
Sophie
Nicholas (Richmond)
Isabelle
Noel-Smith (Bristol)
Emily Scott (Thurrock)
Michaela
Staniford (Wasps)
Lydia Thompson (Worcester)
Joanne
Watmore (Worcester)
