England women's Sevens coach, former national men's captain Simon Amor, has included 15-a-side World Cup flanker Margaret Alphonsi in a strong squad for the women's tournament at the upcoming Dubai Sevens, a key warm-up event for next year's inaugural women's Rugby World Cup Sevens.
Alphonsi was the IRB Women's Personality of the Year in 2006 after an outstanding World Cup and adds forward firepower to Amor's side.
England were unbeaten in 2008 and enter the Dubai tournament as firm favourites, but Amor will use the all important game time to hone his team's patterns in attack and defence.
"We are going into this tournament on the back of a really good training weekend," said Amor. "We have made huge steps forward in our attack play and the general feeling in the 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."
Women's rugby takes global stage
For the first time in 2009 a 16-team women's Rugby World Cup Sevens will be played alongside the 24-team men's competition, on 5-7 March in Dubai.
Amor has named another experienced 15-a-side international Sue Day as captain for the trip and wecomes Sarah Beale to the fold for the first time alongside Sevens novice Alphonsi. The nine other players in the squad were regulars last season.
"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," said Amor, whose side will take part under their sponsor's name 'The Sporting Chance Foundation'.
"I am looking for a really good performance from all the players and am looking forward to seeing our new members in action for the first time."
Chance for USA newcomers to shine
USA Women's Sevens coach Julie McCoy has also named her squad for the Dubai tournament later this month as she looks to step up their preparations ahead of RWC Sevens 2009.
McCoy's side came through the NAWIRA [North America West Indies Rugby Association] qualifier as runners up to Canada to qualify for RWC Sevens 2009 and she is now keen to see how the four new players added to that squad fair.
"Now that the pressure of qualifying [for RWC Sevens] is off, our aim is to continue to practice our systems with different personnel in order to continue to improve our Sevens play for the World Cup," admitted McCoy.
England Women's Sevens squad: Sue Day (c), Sarah Beale, Maggie Alphonsi, Amy Turner, Heather Fisher, Charlotte Barras, Jo Hubbleday (nee Yapp), Danielle Waterman Blaydon, Alice Richardson, Vicky Massarella, Claire Allan, Michaela Staniford.
USA Women's Sevens squad: Kirsten Ahrendt, Amy Daniels, Pam Kosanke, Teena Mastrangelo, Melissa McKibben, Alison Price, Christy Ringgenberg, Jen Sinkler, Jen Starkey, Lindsey Stephenson, Jess Watkins, Kelly White.
