England Women’s Sevens head coach Simon Amor has named an 18-strong training squad for the 2008/09 season, including all of the players who impressively qualified for the inaugural Rugby World Sevens women’s competition in Dubai from March 5-7 2009.
Charlotte Barras, Rachael Burford, Sue Day, Heather Fisher, Emma Layland, Vicky Massarella, Katherine Merchant, Michaela Staniford, Amy Turner and Jo Yapp then proved too strong for their European rivals, scoring 216 and conceding just five points in six matches en route to the title.
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That performance, allied with an unbeaten record in 2008 with other successes at tournaments in Amsterdam and London, has subsequently seen England named top seeds in the women’s competition at the RWC Sevens 2009 ahead of Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
Amor, though, will be taking nothing for granted in the build up to Dubai and believes he has the right mix of experience and players new to the Sevens game, including Maggie Alphonsi, one of six players who played for the England XVs side in the Women’s RWC final loss to New Zealand in 2006.
Big challenges lie ahead
“I am really happy with the strength and balance we have got in this squad,” said Amor, the former England Sevens captain and a veteran of the side who lost to eventual winners Fiji in the RWC Sevens 2005 semi finals in Hong Kong.
“I have also brought in some exciting new 7s players in Maggie Alphonsi and Sarah Beale, who I think have the potential to make a big impact.
“The players’ progress last season was particularly pleasing, but we have got a big challenge ahead of this season. The likes of New Zealand, the USA and Canada, know what to expect from us now and I am sure they’ve been working very hard to up their game ahead of Dubai, San Diego and the Rugby World Cup.
“This is of course a huge year for us.”
England will have an early chance to sample the new purpose built venue ‘The Sevens’ in Dubai which will host RWC Sevens 2009, when they compete in the women’s competition at the Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens next month. They will also play in San Diego in February.
England Women’s Sevens training squad:
Claire Allan (Saracens), Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens), Charlotte Barras (Saracens), Sarah Beale (Lichfield) Rachael Burford (Saracens), Sue Day (Wasps), Heather Fisher (Wasps), Sonia Green (Saracens) Emma Layland (Richmond), Vicky Massarella (Saracens), Katherine Merchant (Worcester), Alice Richardson (Richmond), Georgina Roberts (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), Gemma Sharples (Worcester), Michaela Staniford (Wasps), Amy Turner (Richmond), Danielle Waterman (Blaydon Team Northumbria), Joanne Yapp (Worcester).
