Left to Right: Tatum Muller, Ruby Sheehan, Annabelle Garner, Megan Theocharis, Femke Soens, Tara Aksoy, Jodie Qursha
The Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens has evolved into the world’s largest rugby tournament with over 10,000 boys and girls aged 11 – 18 competing annually at the world famous tournament in London, England. Dubai College entered a team in the Under 18 Girls competition for the first time this season and the entire squad did an amazing job before narrowly losing out in the semi-finals to Saracens affiliated Oaklands College.
The girls not only did themselves and their school proud, they also represented their clubs and flew a very high flag for UAE Girls’ Rugby on the International stage. Three good wins in the pool stages of the tournament, 45 – 12 win over Denstone College, 28 – 10 over Blundell’s School, and a 29 – 10 win over St John’s School, Leatherhead sent them into a quarter final match on Pitch 1 against Cross Keys Coleg Gwent.
The Exiles‘ girls are no strangers to playing on a showpiece pitch. They played their Emirates Dubai 7s tournament final, in which they swept to a 43 – 0 win, in front of over 14,000 spectators, on Pitch 1 at the The Sevens Stadium in December.
Tara Aksoy
Annabelle Garner
Tatum Muller
Femke Soens
Megan Theocharis
Ruby Sheehan
Jodie Qursha
The Cross Keys Coleg Gwent quarter-final was a close affair, Dubai College eventually squeezing their way through to the semi-final and past their tough Welsh opposition by 12 points to 7.
In the semi-final the girls got off to a great start, Annabelle Garner crossing for the opening score, converted by Femke Soens. Their opponents, Oakland College, are a very experienced side, it wasn’t long before the Saracens RFC affiliated college hit back and as the half time whistle blew the team from St Albans, Hertfordshire had crossed again and lead by 10 points to 7.
It was another Dubai Exile, Ruby Sheehan, who score next and moved the Dubai College side’s nose in front. 12. 10. Two quick stores from Oakland opened up a 20 – 12 lead over the Dubai College side, but the Dubai Girls weren’t ready to throw the towel in. With just a minute left to play they almost score under the posts to set-up a grandstand finish, but the faintest of knock-ons halted proceedings and the referee brought a thrilling semi-final to an end.
Congratulations to all of the girls on doing such a magnificent job of bringing such a high standard of play and proudly representing UAE Girls Rugby on such a glittering stage.
