Dubai Sevens 2015/16
Women’s Pool B challenge: Potter leads USA Women’s Team, Canada Women name two newcomers for Dubai, Series Newcomer Ireland Names squad, as Fijiana hands debut to former Netball International.
_________________________________________________
Potter leads USA Women’s Team
Fourteen months after being diagnosed with a rare cancer, Jillion Potter will captain the USA Women’s Sevens team at the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series opener in Dubai on the 3rd-5th of December and Potter will be one of their most experienced players, alongside veteran Kelly Griffin. It will be the first time Potter will don the national jersey since diagnosis with a rare form of cancer in September 2014.
Potter, who last played for her country at the Women’s Rugby World Cup in France last August, is an influential member of the sevens squad and has been a regular visitor to the team’s Olympic Training Center base in Southern California, during her recovery and trained when her treatment allowed it.
“Jill has always been the consummate professional, but getting her back to the OTC full-time is truly a blessing,” new head coach Jules McCoy said. “Jill has learned first-hand that opportunities like these [Olympic Games qualification] only come once in a lifetime, so every day we see that big smile on Jill’s face reminds us all that we should be thankful we get the opportunity to be a part of history.”
While Potter and fellow US player Griffin provide plenty experience in Dubai, two players will make their debut in Richelle Stephens and Nia Williams. Jessica Javalet also returns to the squad, after taking a break from the sport and will be a threat to all defences, with her pace and enthusiasm.
The USA will face neighbors Canada, Fiji and new core Sevens side Ireland in Pool stages at the Dubai event, and they will be hoping for at bright start next weekend, as they bid to better than their fifth place finish in the 2014-15 series.
“We have been practicing a new approach to attack and defence, as well as spending valuable time in our mental preparation with the mind-set that we will make daily progress” explained McCoy. “The men’s coaching staff have embraced us here at the OTC, and Mike [Friday] and his team are helping me get on my feet. The players all seem eager and ‘ready to go’ as they work to embrace this new approach.
“We are all enjoying the challenge laid before us, and have every intention of rising strong”.
USA Women’s Eagles Squad:
Kathryn Johnson, Kristen Thomas, Jillion Potter (c), Alev Kelter, Jane Paar, Nia Williams, Lauren Doyle, Kate Zachary, Kelly Griffin, Megan Bonny, Richelle Stephens, Jessica Javelet.
_________________________________________________
Canada Women name two newcomers for Dubai
Canada Coach John Tait has named his squad for the opening round of the HSBC Women’s World Sevens Series 2015-16, with Jen Kish to again captain a team which will see Megan Lukan and Caroline Crossley make their Sevens Series debuts.
Lukan is a crossover athlete who previously played four years of collegiate basketball at the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay, Minnesota. She has made two appearance for Canada’s Maple Leafs, playing in the Amsterdam and recent Central Coast Sevens in Australia.
Crossley who is only 17, has been a rising star in Canada’s ranks for the last year and was part of the Maple Leafs squad at the Hong Kong Sevens last season and also played in Amsterdam alongside Lukan. In September, she represented her country at the Youth Commonwealth Games in Samoa, where Canada clinched the silverware.
Canada Squad:
Britt Benn, Caroline Crossley, Arielle Dubissette-Borrice, Julia Greenshield, Magali Harvey, Jen Kish (c), Ghislaine Landry, Megan Lukan, Mandy Marchak, Kayla Moleschi, Karen Paquin, Kelly Rusell.
__________________________________________________
Series Newcomer Ireland Names squad
The Ireland Women’s team travel to Dubai as one of the newest core sides that will participate in the World Sevens Series, having qualified alongside Japan at the Dublin qualifying tournament, held in August. A young team who will are grouped with the USA Women’s team, Canada and Fiji, the newcomer must ‘hit the ground running’ if they are to gain vital experience and maintain competitiveness against the best sides in Women’s rugby.
Ireland squad:
Ashleigh Baxter (Cooke/Ulster) Megan Willams (St.Mary’s/Leinster) Sene Naoupo (Galwegians/Connacht) Claire Keohane (UL Bohemians)/Munster) Stacey Flood (Railway Union/Leinster) Lucy Mulhall (Rathdrum/Leinster) Captain, Eimear Considine (TID) Louise Galvin (UL Bohemians/Munster) Amee-Leigh Crowe (St.Mary’s/Munster) Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Connacht) Audrey O’Flynn (TID) Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock/Leinster)
___________________________________________________
Fijiana Hands Debut to former Netball International
Fiji Women’s head coach Iliesa Tanivula has named former netball International Vaiti Waqatabu for her debut tournament in Dubai, along with 18 year old Jiowana Sauto. The duo replace the injured Asinate Savu and Brittney Coates.
With Olympics qualification archived [in winning the Oceania Sevens tournament] the team focus now shifts to the Women’s Sevens World Series where they will try to improve from last season. That task will be boosted with the services of former Aussie Pearl captain Rebecca Tavo, who had an outstanding tournament at the Central Coast Sevens and the recent Qualifier event held in Auckland.
The Fiji nation believe the high-flying side will be a threat this season to the champion New Zealand side. Led by ‘nippy’ captain Ana Maria Roqica, the side will push their Pool opposition sides, like the Canadians and the Americans. The advantage must be realized in pool play.
The team will be supported well with the likes of ‘Women Mountain’ Litia Naiqato, the twinkle-toed Tima Ravisa, hard running Rusila Nagasau. Fast yes, but with Lavenia Tinai providing all the much needed strength at the breakdown which is a key to the modern game, and that area could be the winning and losing of many tight games.
Fijiana squad
Ana Maria Roqica (c) Rebecca Tavo, Rusila Nagasau, Vaiti Waqatabu, Litia Naiqato, Lavenia Tinai, Luisa Tisolo, Talica Vodo, Timaima Tamoi, Viniana Riwai, Tima Ravisa and Jiowana Sauto.
__________________________________________________
The HSBC Women’s Sevens Series kicks-off in Dubai on the 3-4th of December and can be watched on livestream at worldrugby.org
Follow the Women’s Series with coverage on Last Word On Sports with Jovilisi Waqa and Scott Hornell.
“Main photo”
