DUBAI // Serenaded off the field with a rendition of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, the England women’s sevens team took another step to justifying their national body’s decision to offer full-time contracts to the country’s top players.
Under the floodlights on Thursday night at the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens, England defeated Canada 17-12 in a hard-fought match that was a repeat of August's 15-a-side Women's World Cup final. The victory was the team's third straight after easy wins over Fiji (26-0) and Brazil (29-7).
England raced to a 12-0 lead in the first half, but Canada battled back and England coach Simon Middleton said his side would have likely lost the match had the Rugby Football Union (RFU) not rewarded the World Cup win with the financial backing that allowed 20 of the country’s best players to receive full-time deals.
“Since turning professional, you can see the additional energy and staying power that the full-time programme affords you,” Middleton said. “That was demonstrated at the end here. We would probably have lost that game last year, but now we are stronger, fitter and able to see them out.”
Natasha Hunt, the English scrum-half, was a teacher when she decided to quit and focus on sevens. Centre Claire Allan took a sabbatical from the police force to go full-time.
"Some massive decisions had to be made," Middleton said. "Some of the girls were well on their way to having established careers. A lot of the girls are taking big pay cuts, so financially, they have had to readjust and go into shared houses just to make the dream come true and give it a shot. But this is their passion."
Hunt loved teaching, but she does not miss rising at 6.30am to train before work, and again afterward.
“Maybe it is because I have been in this sport for a long time and know how precarious it can be, but I think they are incredibly brave,” Middleton said.
“When they got the contracts, there were twinkles in their eyes and they didn’t take much signing – it’s days like this that make you understand why.”
gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter at @SprtNationalUAE
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Bundesliga fixtures
Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn (4.30pm)
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)
Sunday, May 17
Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)
Monday, May 18
Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Queen
Nicki Minaj
(Young Money/Cash Money)
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If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
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Film: Raid
Dir: Rajkumar Gupta
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Ileana D'cruz and Saurabh Shukla
Verdict: Three stars
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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Story of 2017-18 so far and schedule to come
Roll of Honour
Who has won what so far in the West Asia rugby season?
Western Clubs Champions League
Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners up: Bahrain
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons
Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Premiership Cup
Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners up: Dubai Exiles
Fixtures
Friday
West Asia Cup final
5pm, Bahrain (6pm UAE time), Bahrain v Dubai Exiles
West Asia Trophy final
3pm, The Sevens, Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Sports City Eagles
Friday, April 13
UAE Premiership final
5pm, Al Ain, Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
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BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.