The Women's Sevens World Cup is a rugby sevens

Rugby sevens

Rugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...

competition.

Background

Date/Venue: March 5-7, Dubai (Source IRB and various national union web pages)

• A sixteen team competition played at the same time as the men's tournament. The federations representation is as follows - 2 Africa, 2 NAWIRA, 1 South America, 3 Asia, 6 Europe and 2 Oceania.
• The following appeared likely attendees based on past records: South Africa, USA, Canada, Brazil, Kazakhstan, France, England, Australia, New Zealand and ultimate qualification threw up only a few surprises.

• Fiji and Samoa both prepared well for the tournament so hoped to challenge Australia. It is not known what team New Zealand have used or will use. The second African qualifier depended largely on where the qualification tournament took place with Uganda and Tunisia both likely. The other European places were hotly contested with Wales, Scotland, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden, Ireland and Italy all likely challengers before the tournament.

• Unlike the mens tournament, Arabian Gulf did not prequalify as hosts.

Confirmed Qualifiers

(with date of qualification) - Brazil (28 January 2008), England, Netherlands, Russia, Spain, France, Italy (15 June 2008), Australia, New Zealand (26 July 2008), Japan, Thailand, China (5 October 2008) South Africa, Uganda, (21 September 2008), Canada, USA (26 October 2008)

Draw

The draw took place on 19 January 2009. The groups being:

• Australia, Netherlands, France, China
• England, Japan, Russia, USA
• Canada, Brazil, Spain, Thailand
• NZ, South Africa, Italy, Uganda

IRB Ones to Watch

The IRB selected the following individuals as ones to watch.

• Beatriz Futuro (Brazil)
• Kat Merchant (England)
• Maria Gallo (Canada)
• Helen Buteme (Uganda)
• Nicole Beck (Australia)
• Hannah Porter (New Zealand)
• Dana Teagarden (USA match official)

Squads

Nation	Squad
Australia	Cheryl Soon (Captain), Nicole Beck, Tricia Brown, Bo De la Cruz, Alexandra Hargreaves, Debby Hogkinson, Shelley Matchem, Tui Ormsby, Ruan Sims, Rebecca Tavo, Selena Tranter, Tobie McGann
Netherlands	Annemarije van Rossum, Kelly van Harskamp (RC The Bassets, Sassenheim), Dorien Eppink (RUS, Utrecht), Elke van Meer (RC Tilburg, Tilburg), Femke Bakkers (captain) (LRC DIOK, Leiden), Linda Franssen, Mara Moberg (AAC, Amsterdam), Lorraine Laros, Xandra Benthem de Grave, Kitty Vloemans, Pien Selbeck (SRC Thor, Delft), Wikke Tuinhout (URC, Utrecht)
France	Corinne Lapebie, Celine Allainmat, Lucille Godiveau, Anais Lagougine, Sandrine Agricole, Fanny Horta, Emilie Verouil, Francoise Gomez, Julie Pujol, Marie Bourret, Jeanne Laurence, Alexandra Pertus
China	Bai Ying, Yang Hong, Sun Tingting, Gao Yan, Liu Tingting, Liu Yan, Zhao Xinqi, Fan Wenjuan, Guan Qishi, Wang Qianli, Liu Qianqian, Ma Jiale
England	Sue Day (c), Heather Fisher, Michaela Staniford (Wasps), Maggie Alphonsi, Rachael Burford, Claire Allan, Charlotte Barras (Saracens), Alice Richardson, Emma Layland (Richmond), Jo Yapp, Katherine Merchant (Worcester), Danielle Waterman (Blaydon Team Northumbria), Non-Playing Reserves - Sarah Beale (Lichfield), Amy Turner (Richmond)
Japan	Ayaka Suzuki / Kameriya Club (Yokohama area), Chie Tanaka / Kyoto WRFC, Mami Okada / Nagoya Ladies, Ayumi Inui / Hyogo Ladies (Kobe area), Tsukasa Tsujimoto / Hyogo Ladies, Keiko Kato / Setagaya District Ladies (Tokyo), Naoko Hasebe / Setagaya Dist. Ladies, Ryoko Tsuboi / Phoenix Ladies (Yokohama), Marie Yamaguchi / Phoenix Ladies, Tae Shinto (Shindo?)/ Phoenix Ladies, Mayumi Takahashi / Japan PE University (Yokohama), Haruka Kamada
Russia	Anastasiya Mukharyamova, Elena Shevtsova, Elena Gamova, Anna Gotseva, Anna Goryshkina, Ekaterina Andriyanova, (RGUTIS Moscow region), Marina Dumler, Alexandra Kerzhentseva (Burevestnik Novokuznetsk), Evgeniya Prikhodko (Prokopchanka Prokopyevsk), Natalia Selutina, Alexsandrina Mukhina, Alexsandra Smirnova (Slavyanka Moscow).
USA	Ines Rodriguez, Jen Sinkler (Keystone), Lauren Hoeck, Jen Starkey (NOVA), Amy Daniels (Beantown), Alison Price (New York), Ellie Karvoski (Little Rock), Pam Kosanke, Teena Mastrangelo (Chicago Northshore), Christy Ringgenberg (Minnesota Valkyries), Jess Watkins (Stanford University), Kelly White
Canada	Nat Bendavid, Rosie Cobbett, Tara Eckert, Maria Gallo, Brooke Hilditch, Mandy Marchak, Tanja Ness, Ashley Patzer, Cheryl Philips, Kelly Russell, Laura Stoughton, Brittany Waters
Brazil	Beatriz Futuro, Bruna Lotufo, Gabriela Bittencourt, Julia Sarda, Jessica Santos, Nasasha Olsen, Mariana Ramalho, Paula Ishibashi, Gabriella Avila, Barbara Santiago, Emily Barker, Crisitana Futuro
Spain	Laura Llado, Julia Pla, Marina Bravo, Isabel Roderiguez, Raquel, Socias, Barbara Pla, Berta Garcia, Montserrat Poza, Marta Pocurull, Angela Del Pan, Agurtzane Obregozo, Georgina de Swert
Thailand	Naritsara Worakitsirikun, Jutamas Butket, Tidarat Sawatanam, Butsaya Bunrak, Aoychai Tummawat, Piyamat Chomphumee, Chitchanok Yusri, Rungrat Maineiwklang, Uthumporn Liamrat, Sujitra Suphaphattranon, Phanthippha Wongwangchan, Rasamee Sisonkham
New Zealand	Julie Ferguson (Hawkes Bay), Carla Hohepa (Otago) Victoria Grant, Linda Itunu, Justine Lavea, Huriana Manuel, Hannah Porter(c), Teresa Te Tamaki, Angela McGregor (Auckland), Renee Wickliffe (Counties Manukau), Rachel Wikeepa (Waikato), Selica Winiata (Manawatu)
South Africa	Yolanda Meiring (Blue Bulls), Natasha Hofmeester (Boland), Mandisa Williams (Border), Saloma Booysen, Lorinda Brown, Lamla Momoti, Nomathamsanqa Faleni, Phumeza Gadu, Zenay Jordaan (all Eastern Province), Marilize Jordaan (Free State), Nombulelo Mayonga (Griffons), Aimee Barret (Western Province)
Italy	Giovanna Bado, Sara Barattin, Manuela Furlan, Silvia Peron, (Benetton Treviso), Cristina Molic, Silvia Pizzati, Valentina Schiavon, Veronica Schiavon, Maria Diletta Veronese (Sitam Riviera del Brenta), Sara Pettinelli (Red&Blu Roma), Paola Zangirolami, Maria Grazia Cioffi
Uganda	Christine Kizito, Roseburg Kanyunyuzi, Agnes Nantongo, Helen Buteme (captain), Winnie Atyang, Harriet Kayonjo, Charlotte Mudoola, Justine Bayigga, Brenda Kayiyi, Prossy Nakakande, Aliyah Adania, Rachel Babirye

Group Stages

Games marked * played on the main pitch. Note the extra information is from the IRB and was noted from the fourth game that it didn't add up on their ticker, with a later four discrepancies between the ticker and the tables. The problem games will be investigated where possible to establish the exact scorers of tries.

Classification Stages

Bowl Quarter Finals (note losers do not play again)

China (7) 21-5 (0) Japan

• 1st half, Zhao Xinqi, 1 con v 0
• 2nd half, Bai Ying, Yang Hong, 2 cons v Mami Okada

Italy (5) 17-0 (0) Thailand

• 1st half, Manuela Furlan, v 0
• 2nd half, Maria Diletta Veronese, Valentina Schiavon, 1 con v 0

Brazil (5) 12-7 (0) Uganda

• 1st half, Beatriz Futuro v 0
• 2nd half, Emily Barker, 1 con v Justine Bayiga, 1 con

Russia (0) 12-5 (5) Netherlands

• 1st half, 0 v Kelly van Harskamp
• 2nd half, Anastasiya Mukhar'yamova, Alexsandrina Mukhina, 1 con v 0

Cup Quarter Finals

France (0) 0 v 19 (0) USA

• 1st half, 0 v 0
• 2nd half, 0 v Jess Watkins (2), Christy Ringgenberg (prob), 2 cons

New Zealand (26) 33-12 (0) Canada

• 1st half, Carla Hohepa (3), Selica Winiata, 3 cons v 0
• 2nd half, Selica Winiata, 1 con v Mandy Marchak, Kelly Russell, 1 con

Spain (7) 7-15 (5)South Africa

• 1st half, Laura Llado, 1 con v Lorinda Brown
• 2nd half, 0 v Thamie Faleni, Tash Hofmeester

England (10) 10 - 17 (5) Australia

• 1st half, Claire Allan, Sue Day v Tobie McGann
• 2nd half, 0 v Nicole Beck, Rebecca Tavo, 1 con

Bowl Semi Finals

China (14) 28-0 (0) Italy

• 1st half, Yang Hong, Fan Wenjuan, 2 cons (Wenjuan) v 0
• 2nd half, Yang Hong, Fan Wenjuan, 2 cons (Wenjuan) v 0

Brazil (7) 12-12 (12)Russia

Sudden Death - 17-12

• 1st half, Beatriz Futuro , 1 con v Natalia Selyutina (2), 1 con
• 2nd half, Beatriz Futuro v 0

SD, Barbara Santiago v 0

Plate Semi Finals

France (12) 12-19 (5) Canada

• 1st half, Emilie Verouil (2), 1 con (Lagougine) v Brooke Hilditch
• 2nd half, 0 v Mandy Marchak, Brooke Hilditch, 2 cons (Patzer)

Spain (7) 7-12 (5) England

• 1st half, Berta Garcia, 1 con v Rachael Burford
• 2nd half, 0 v Charlotte Barras, 1 con (Burford)

Cup Semi Finals

USA (5) 12-14 (7) New Zealand*

• 1st half, Amy Daniel v Huriana Manuel, 1 con
• 2nd half, Christy Ringgenberg, 1 con v Hannah Porter, 1 con

South Africa (5) 10-19 (7) Australia*

• 1st half, Saloma Booysen v Rebecca Tavo, 1 con, YC Alex Hargreaves
• 2nd half, Phumeza Gadu v Bo De La Cruz, Tricia Brown, 1 con

Bowl Final

China (5) 10-7 (7) Brazil*

• 1st half, Wang Qianli v Barbara Santiago, 1 con
• 2nd half, Yang Hong v 0

Plate Final

Canada (0) 0-12 (12) England*

• 1st half, 0 v Danielle Waterman, Kat Merchant, 1 con (Burford)
• 2nd half, 0 v 0 , YC Rachael Burford

Cup Final

Australia (10) 10-10 (5) New Zealand*

Sudden Death - 15-10

• 1st half, Nicole Beck, Debby Hodgkinson, YC Rebecca Tavo v Justine Laveya
• 2nd half, 0 v Carla Hohepa

SD, Shelly Matcham v 0

Score Sequence - 5-0, 10-0, YC, 10-5, HT, 10-10, FT, 15-10

INAUGURAL WORLD CUP WINNERS: AUSTRALIA

Statistics

The following is the concluded scoring accreditation drawn from the IRB summary (does not show all points and tries) and the score schedules attached to the games above. This has involved some assumptions about conversions. The following tries are still unallocated - Netherlands (v China), USA (v Japan), South Africa (v Uganda), Canada (2) (v Thailand). There are also some unallocated conversions - USA, Brazil, Spain (2), Thailand. Note not all conversions are named above (i.e. it is known that certain individuals scored conversions, just not in which games). Finally, there may be a third Canadian try to allocate, and one player listed for New Zealand with 1 or 2 tries may have it removed as there appears to have been a double count.

Player	Nation	Points	Tries	Goals
Selica Winiata	New Zealand	52	4	16
Carla Hohepa	New Zealand	45	9	0
Yang Hong	China	40	8	0
Ashley Patzer	Canada	38	4	9
Debby Hodgkinson	Australia	35	7	0
Christy Ringgenberg	USA	29	3	7
Tricia Brown	Australia	27	3	6
Brooke Hilditch	Canada	25	5	0
Jess Watkins	USA	25	5	0
Mandy Marchak	Canada	25	5	0
Natalia Selyutina	Russia	25	5	0
Tobie McGann	Australia	25	3	5
Rachel Burford	England	22	2	6
Bo De la Cruz	Australia	20	4	0
Charlotte Barras	England	20	4	0
Fan Wenjuan	China	20	2	5
Sue Day	England	20	4	0
Tash Hofmeester	South Africa	20	4	0
Anais Lagougine	France	18	2	4
Anastasiya Mukhar'yamove	Russia	17	3	1
Liu Yan	China	17	1	6
Beatriz Futuro	Brazil	15	3	0
Berta Garcia	Spain	15	3	0
Laura Llado	Spain	15	1	5
Linda Itunu	New Zealand	15	3	0
Alexandra Pertus	France	15	3	0
Danielle Waterman	England	15	3	0
Hannah Porter	New Zealand	15	3	0
Hurian Manuel	New Zealand	15	3	0
Rachel Wikeepa	New Zealand	15	3	0
Alice Richardson	England	15	1	5
Lorraine Laros	Netherlands	14	1	4
Yolanda Meiring	South Africa	13	1	4
Gabriela Avila	Brazil	11	1	3
Claire Allan	England	10	2	0
Michaela Staniford	England	10	2	0
Kat Merchant	England	10	2	0
Nicole Beck	Australia	10	2	0
Rebecca Tavo	Australia	10	2	0
Bai Ying	China	10	2	0
Zhao Xinqi	China	10	2	0
Chitchanok Yusri	Thailand	10	2	0
Barbara Santiago	Brazil	10	2	0
Marta Pocurull	Spain	10	2	0
Julie Ferguson	New Zealand	10	2	0
Lorinda Brown	South Africa	10	2	0
Phumeza Gadu	South Africa	10	2	0
Maria Diletta Veronese	Italy	10	2	0
Justine Bayigga	Uganda	10	2	0
Kelly Van Harskamp	Netherlands	10	2	0
Emilie Verouil	France	10	2	0
Rosie Cobbett	Canada	8	0	4
Jutamas Butket	Thailand	7	1	1
Ekaterina Andrianova	Russia	6	0	3
Jenn Stanley	USA	5	1	0
Ines Rodriguez	USA	5	1	0
Amy Daniel	USA	5	1	0
Christine Mastrangelo	USA	5	1	0
Alexsandrina Mukhina	Russia	5	1	0
Ryoko Tsuboi	Japan	5	1	0
Marie Yamaguchi	Japan	5	1	0
Mami Okada	Japan	5	1	0
Maggie Alphonsi	England	5	1	0
Ru Sims	Australia	5	1	0
Chez Soon	Australia	5	1	0
Sel Tranter	Australia	5	1	0
Shelly Matcham	Australia	5	1	0
Liu Tingtang	China	5	1	0
Wang Qianli	China	5	1	0
Mara Moberg	Netherlands	5	1	0
Celine Allainmat	France	5	1	0
Fanny Horta	France	5	1	0
Laura Stoughton	Canada	5	1	0
Naritsara Worakitsirikun	Thailand	5	1	0
Uthumporn Liamrat	Thailand	5	1	0
Natasha Olsen	Brazil	5	1	0
Emily Barker	Brazil	5	1	0
Julia Pla	Spain	5	1	0
Marina Bravo	Spain	5	1	0
Raquel Social	Spain	5	1	0
Barbara Pla	Spain	5	1	0
Victoria Grant	New Zealand	5	1	0
Renee Wickliffe	New Zealand	5	1	0
Justine Laveya	New Zealand	5	1	0
Salomo Booysen	South Africa	5	1	0
Thamie Faleni	South Africa	5	1	0
Valentina Schiavon	Italy	5	1	0
Silvia Pizzati	Italy	5	1	0
Sara Barattin	Italy	5	1	0
Manuela Furlan	Italy	5	1	0
Kelly Russell	Canada	5	1	0
Rachel Babirye	Uganda	4	0	2
Sandrine Agricole	France	4	0	2
Veronica Schiavon	Italy	4	0	2
Elena Gamova	Russia	2	0	1
Lucille Godiveau	France	2	0	1
Piyamay Chomphumee	Thailand	2	0	1
Rungrat Maineiwklang	Thailand	2	0	1