Dubai Sevens
HSBC World Series has got under way again after a long break. Ten teams are meeting this weekend in Dubai. Sadly New Zealand and Samoa cannot be there as they are still held back by travel restrictions. This is all the more disappointing as the Black Ferns were able to tour Europe recently, though they had to observe careful restrictions.
And the series has gained its first female head coach, Emilie Bydwell, who has moved across from her post as Director of USA Women’s High performance to lead the Sevens squad.
England are replaced by Great Britain (sponsors the National Lottery) for this series. The squad:
Abbie Brown (c), Meg Jones (c), Abi Boatman, Alicia Maude, Amy Wilson Hardy, Ellie Boatman, Emma Uren, Grace Crompton, Heather Cowell, Jasmine Joyce, Kelly Smith, Lisa Thomson, Shona Campbell.
As compared with the squad for the Fast Four tournament in Canada two months ago Chantelle Miell, Celia Quansah and Jodie Ounsley disappear, to be replaced by Boatman, Cowell and Smith. The three newcomers are welcome additions, but show the ongoing troubles Scott Forrest has building a stable group. Heather Cowell’s presence defies the claim that English players have to choose between 15s and 7s. It’s good to see Kelly Smith’s name appear here after too long an absence from representative rugby.
Early Results:
GB 12 Russia 7; GB 26 Ireland 15
Another World Cup
Only three years after the delayed 2021 RWC comes its successor in 2025. Two unions, the RFU and USA Rugby have already indicated a wish to act as host country. Now World Rugby has nominated the RFU as the Preferred Candidate.
This is rather like a government leaking policy details before an official statement.
The USA bid set great store on its history of staging major sporting events. To show their ambition they bid for both the women’s and the men’s versions. But it would take heroic levels of publicity to reach the size of crowds needed to outdo past numbers, including New Zealand’s determination to set new attendance records next autumn.
It would be fifteen years since England last hosted. 13,000 spectators watched an enthralling final at the Stoop. Almost inevitably the Black Ferns hung on to beat the not yet named Red Roses in a 13-10 thriller.
This decision may appear rather too cosy, only the top-dog nations getting a look-in. But World Rugby must want to ensure the biggest possible following for a sport that is still finding its feet.
Allianz Premier 15s
In England the AP 15s restart after the break for the autumn internationals.
The fixtures:
Saturday, 27 November
Sale Sharks v Harlequins
DMP Durham Sharks v Worcester
Exeter Chiefs v Loughborough Lightning
Gloucester-Hartpury v Saracens
Sale KO 2.30 pm
the others 3.00 pm
Sunday 28 November
Bristol Bears v Wasps KO 2.30 pm
This sixth round brings us one third of the way through the season, so league positions are still dependent on who has played whom. Bristol and Sarries lie equal top unbeaten; both have already played DMPDS once, but the Bears’ home game saw them score 40 points more than Sarries (115!) who had to travel north to meet their hapless opponents.
Exeter, Quins and Lightning are three clubs who’ll feel they need to set their house in order after one or two unwanted set-backs.
Bears will be fully tested when Wasps come visiting on Sunday; they have found the Londoners a tough nut to crack in the past. If they can post a sixth successive victory, that will set them up nicely for the Christmas run-in. Wasps in third place lie only 5 points ahead of Worcester in seventh. It’s tough at the …middle!
