England name Women's 7's squad
NOV
England Women's 7s Head Coach Simon Amor has today (Monday) named his squad for the Dubai Exiles Rugby 7s later this month.
The Dubai 7s is England's first test of the new season and will act as a vital warm-up tournament ahead of the 2009 iRB inaugural Women's Rugby World Cup 7s, in March in Dubai also.
The tournament, which England will enter under the name of their sponsors The Sporting Chance Foundation, kicks-off on Thursday November 27th and sees England take on the Aylesford Bulls in their first of two pool games.
On day two England complete their pool fixtures against the Wooden Spoon team. The top two teams from each pool then play off in the quarter-finals. On day three, England will then compete in either the Trophy or Plate semi-finals, with a chance to compete in the final that day also.
England head into this season on the back of a highly successful year in 2008, which saw them record a clean sweep of wins in the Amsterdam 7s, the London Emirates Airline 7s and the Home Nations Cup.
Amor has named Wasps' Sue Day as captain and the squad includes 7s newcomers Maggie Alphonsi and Sarah Beale. The nine other players were regular 7s players last season.
Amor said: "We are going into this tournament on the back of a really good training weekend. We have made huge steps forward in our attack play, and the general feeling in the 7s squad is very upbeat.
"This tournament comes at a good time for us as we look ahead to the World Cup. It will be good to go to Dubai and get a dry run of what the World Cup is going to be like and iron out any problems, whilst at the same time the players have their chance to stake their claim for that squad.
"It's going to be a tough tournament, with a hard game against the Wooden Spoon side, while the likes of Canada and the USA will also be pushing to get through to the latter stages of the competition. I am looking for a really good performance from all the players and am looking forward to seeing our new 7s squad members in action for the first time."
England 7s squad
Sue Day (c) Wasps
Sarah Beale Lichfield
Maggie Alphonsi Saracens
Amy Turner Richmond
Heather Fisher Wasps
Charlotte Barras Saracens
Jo Hubbleday (nee Yapp) Worcester
Danielle Waterman Blaydon Team Northumbria
Alice Richardson Richmond
Vicky Massarella Richmond
Claire Allan Saracens
Michaela Staniford Wasps
