England squad for Hong Kong named
England have named their women's 7s squad to travel to Hong Kong to compete in the second IRB Women’s Sevens Challenge Cup from March 23-24.
Published by Scrum Queens, March 13th, 2012
3 minute read
Eight players who helped England reach the final of the inaugural Dubai Sevens Challenge Cup in December have been recalled while the likes of 2009 World Cup Sevens players, Heather Fisher and Alice Richardson, return from injury.
Wasps Michaela Staniford(pictured)will captain England and shell be joined by Rachael Burford, Isabelle Noel Smith and Georgina Roberts, who have all been part of Englands ongoing 6 Nations campaign.
England Sevens Head Coach Barry Maddocks said: Selection for Hong Kong has been very difficult with so many players in contention. We have retained a core group of players to ensure we have consistency within our game whilst its also nice to welcome back players with so much experience, like Rachel Burford, Alice Richardson and Heather Fisher.
12 teams will compete in the Hong Kong with Canada, England, Australia and the USA the top four seeds respectively. Olympic Games 2016 hosts Brazil, Asian Womens Sevens champions China, the Netherlands and Dubai Plate winners Spain are seeded five to eight. Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013 hosts Russia, Japan, Hong Kong and Tunisia complete the invitational line-up. England have been drawn in Pool B and will face Japan and China in the initial stages.
Maddocks added: We played China in Dubai and they ran us close in the first game. They are a very organised team and they are not afraid to use their pace. Japan, meanwhile, look like a very organised side with some very quick and agile players.
In Dubai we exceeded expectations by getting to the final. This time, well be looking to first focus on our group and from there, if we are successful, to again be challengers in the main competition. We have not had much game time, unlike a lot of the other nations well be up against, but we have prepared well and we head to Hong Kong in good shape.
England Sevens Squad for Hong KongRachael Burford (Richmond)Abigail Chamberlain(Richmond)Heather Fisher (Worcester)Sonia Green (VC) (Saracens)Sarah Guest(Worcester)Isabelle Noel-Smith (Bristol)Alice Richardson (Richmond)Leanne Riley (Saracens)Georgina Roberts (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks)Michaela Staniford (C) (Wasps)Lydia Thompson (Worcester)Joanne Watmore (Worcester)