Swansea welcomes stars of the future

2014 Champions, Canada.

The FISU World University Championship takes place every two years, and for the first half of its 12-year history was something of a Cinderella competition, taking place well under the radar. In the early days, while some up-and-coming players tasted international competition for the first time, existing members of international squads tended to stay away.

However, the rise of international sevens has resulted in the status of the competition growing significantly in recent years, with many of the world’s leading young players taking part. Spain’s Berta Garcia lifted the trophy in 2010, England’s Emily Scarratt captained Great Britain to the title in 2012, and in the most recent tournament in 2014 Bianca Farella led Canada to their win.

That win was Canada’s third, as they had also won the first two tournaments in 2004 and 2006. Spain have won it twice, in 2008 and 2010, and Great Britain once.

This year in Swansea the event breaks new ground. For the first time the women’s tournament is as big as the men’s, with a record 10 teams taking part.

This should be one of the year’s most competitive and unpredictable tournaments, with players who will become the stars of the 2020 Olympics. Although not all squads have yet been announced, the holders, Canada, will be strong and Australia and New Zealand – who are taking part for the first time - can be expected to be highly competitive. Italy’s squad is almost certainly the strongest they have ever fielded in this event with seven players who have played international rugby, and rising stars such as Giada Franco, a very fast and physical winger from Benevento. More than half of the Great Britain squad also have international caps with England or Wales, while France (who, according to their coach, are "here to win not just take part")  also field several internationals including as Lenaig Corson and Joanna Sainlo - all of their squad play elite club rugby, most in the Top 8.

Pool draw:

POOL A: Great Britain; France; Japan; New Zealand; Italy

POOL B: Canada; China; Australia; Spain; Portugal

Match schedule

Squads

Australia:Emily Bass (QLD), Marioulla Belessis (QLD), Lauren Brown (QLD), Emily Chancellor (NSW), Erica Fowler (QLD), Sarah Halvorsen (NSW), Kiri Lingman (QLD), Darcie Morrison (NSW), Alana Patison (NSW), Olivia Patterson (NSW), Brianne Rossato (QLD), Emma Sykes (QLD)

France:Blandine Gadioux (Bordeaux) Megane Delavalle (Bordeaux) Emma Roubinet (Mont de Marsan) Morgane Peyronnet (St. Toulousain) Roxane Bilon (St. Toulousain) Juliette Fregier (St. Toulousain) Amélie Mugnier (St-Orens) Caroline Drouin (Rennes) Lenaïg Corson (Rennes) Yolaine Laurent Yengo (Rennes) Joanna Grisez (Bobigny) Joanna Sainlo (Bobigny)

Great Britain:1. Emily Wood (England) – University of Gloucestershire; 2. Tatyana Heard (England) – Cardiff Metropolitan University; 2. Abigail Rose Walker (England) – University of Gloucestershire; 4. Sydney Gregson (England) – University of Bath; 5. Rebecca Defilippo (Wales) – University of Exeter; 6. Devon Holt (England) – University of Gloucestershire; 7. Lucy Nye (England) – Loughborough University; 8. Robyn Wilkins (Wales) – Cardiff University; 9. Hannah Jones (Wales) – Hartpury College; 10. Charlotte Holland (England) – University of Bath; 11. Kelly Smith (England) – Hartpury College; 12. Emma Hennessy (England) – Swansea University

Canada:Sam Alli (Ottawa); Dria Bennett (Ottawa); Christina Branch (Humber); Pam Buisa (Victoria); Emma Chown (Queen’s); Ashley Gordon (McMaster); Nakisa Levale (Victoria); Ciara Malone (UBC); Arielle Normandin-Leclerc (Montreal); Irene Patrinos (Ottawa); Julia Schell (Guelph); Erika Scott (Bishop’s)

Italy:Giulia Barbieri (Rugby Colorno F.C.); Lucia Cammarano (Rugby Monza 1949); Giada Franco (Us Rugby Benevento); Livia Guariglia (Valsugana Rugby Padova); Carlotta Guerreschi (Monferrato Rugby); Isabella Locatelli (Rugby Monza 1949); Maria Magatti (Rugby Monza 1949); Beatrice Rigoni (Valsugana Rugby Padova); Claudia Salvadego (Valsugana Rugby Padova); Michela Sillari (Rugby Colorno F.C.); Sofia Stefan (Federazione Italiana Rugby); Sara Tounesi (Cremona Rugby)

New Zealand:1. Savannah Purcell, AUT; 2. Briar-Anne McNamara, AUT; 3. Ilacy Tomu, Waikato University; 4. Joanah Ngan-Woo, Victoria University; 5. Sauimoana Solia, Victoria University; 6. Lizzie Goulden, Victoria University; 7. Georgia Daals, Victoria University; 8. Holly McDonald, Victoria University; 9. Shantelle Peters, University of Auckland; 10. Rebecca Davidson, Lincoln University; 11. Ruby Finau, Massey University; 12. Amanda Rasch, Massey University

Previous tournaments

2004(Beijing). Final: Canada 26-5 Kazakhstan. (3rdRussia, 4thChina, 5thChina 2, 6thThailand)

2006(Rome). Final: Canada 21-0 Italy (3rdChina, 4thFrance, 5thBulgaria)

2008(Cordoba, Spain). Final: Spain 17-12 Canada. (3rdGreat Britain, 4thItaly, 5thFrance)

2010(Porto, Porugal). Final: Spain 17-10 Russia. (3rdPortugal, 4thCanada, 5thItaly, 6thGreat Britain, 7thUkraine, 8thGuam, 9thNorway)

2012(Brive, France). Final: Great Britain 24-7 France. (3rdItaly, 4thJapan, 5thBelgium, 6thCanada, 7thSpain, 8thRomania

2014(Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil) Final: Canada 26-17 France. (3rdBrazil, 4thGreat Britain, 5thChina, 6thBelgium, 7thJapan, 8thMorocco)