Eng Women 7sSquad/Fixtures, San Diego 13-14 Feb 09
By Kath
January 27 2009
The England Women's squad to compete in the San Diego Sevens on February 13th and 14th, the penultimate sevens tournament before the IRB Rugby World Cup Sevens, has been announced. England Head Coach Simon Amor has named an experienced line-up for the tournament which kicks-off just three weeks before the inaugural Women's Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai (March 5-7).
England Women 7s - San Diego - 13th & 14th February 2009
England will, in fact, play against two of their Rugby World Cup pool rivals in the San Diego Sevens pool stages. They will take on the USA and Japan on February 13th.
Sue Day
Wasps player Sue Day has been named as captain of a sevens squad that includes former England captain Jo Yapp, and England's vice captain in the XVs game Rachael Burford.
England Women 7s Head Coach Simon Amor
Amor said: "In an ideal world, I would have
liked another tournament before the Rugby World Cup to try out some more players
in our sevens squad. That said this is an excellent tournament to be our final
test.
"The San Diego Sevens is ideal preparation because of the standard of the
tournament. All the teams competing will be at the Rugby World Cup. That is
going to give us three tough pool games just to get through to the latter stages
of the tournament."
"We have been making really good progress. There are still a few
areas to work on, but the players know this and their success in previous
tournaments is testament to their hard work and commitment.
"Our entire sevens year has been about the Rugby World Cup, and we are at
the stage where performance is more important than outcome but obviously we are
going to San Diego to give it our best shot."
England Women San Diego Sevens Squad
Sue Day Wasps Captain
Maggie Alphonsi Saracens
Heather Fisher Wasps
Emma Layland Richmond
Sarah Beale Lichfield
Jo Yapp Worcester
Rachael Burford Saracens
Danielle Waterman Blaydon Team Northumbria
Claire Allan Saracens
Kat Merchant Worcester
Michaela Staniford Wasps
Charlotte Barras Saracens
San Diego Sevens Schedule:
Friday February 13th
Pool Stages:
England v Japan
England v USA 2
England v USA1
Semi-final
Saturday February 14th
Final
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Worcester player Sarah Guest has been called into the England Women's Sevens squad for the remainder of this season.
Scrum-half Guest, 20, is now in contention to contest a place in the England squad that will compete in next month's San Diego Sevens and the inaugural Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai in March.
Guest impressed England coaches Simon Amor and Mike Friday in the Dubai Sevens in November when she played against England for the Wooden Spoon Team.
Head Coach Amor said: "Sarah was brought into the squad after a good performance in Dubai whilst competing for the Wooden Spoon alongside Katherine Merchant and Emma Layland. She is a young, up and coming number nine with a lot of potential and a great rugby brain, and is very fortunate to be mentored at her club, Worcester, by Jo Yapp."
Guest joins fellow Worcester players Merchant and Yapp in the sevens squad. Guest has previously represented England A, England Under 20s and England Under 19s.
England 7s squad 2008/2009
Claire Allan Saracens
Margaret Alphonsi Saracens
Charlotte Barras Saracens
Sarah Beale Lichfield
Rachael Burford Saracens
Sue Day Wasps
Heather Fisher Wasps
Sarah Guest Worcester
Sonia Green Saracens
Emma Layland Richmond
Vicky Massarella Saracens
Katherine Merchant Worcester
Alice Richardson Richmond
Michaela Staniford Wasps
Amy Turner Richmond
Danielle Waterman Blaydon Team Northumbria
Joanne Yapp Worcester