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Phoenix Debuts in Dubai

  • 26 Nov 2018
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Phoenix is making its first trip to Dubai, the site of the second stop on the World Rugby HSBC Women’s Sevens Series (WSS) as well as a massive amateur tournament. The event hosts a stellar women’s invitational and draws national teams, WSS core teams’ developmental sides, and some of the best select-side programs.

“It’s probably the highest-level tournament for women right now,” explained Phoenix founder and head coach Eyal Hakim, who prefers this event over other end-of-year 7s events in New York and Barbados.

As such, Hakim is bringing a diverse group that includes international players Magali Harvey, the Canadian start who played with Phoenix throughout the summer and club 7s nationals; Bahamas National Team member Carlene Johnson, a track-and-field crossover; and USA 7s Eagle Kelsi Stockert, who along with Sarah Levy, recently returned from the USA 15s November tour.

Deanna Nash serves as captain for a second weekend in a row. The Northeast Academy skipper led the team to a New York 7s Premier Division title last weekend and earned MVP in the process. Nash heads to Dubai with Wolfpack teammates Claire Stingley, Jennifer Salomon and Shamira Robles (who also played for the USA Falcons in Japan this September). Levy also represented the academy on Randall’s Island last weekend, and New York’s Lisa Roselin is an alumna as well.

Phoenix is rooted in the South, and there is a solid presence once again. Raleigh has supplied T Fletcher and Caitlin Davis, while Tanya Siford of the Dallas Harlequins has also returned to select side play. Fletcher and Siford are USA South Panthers and helped the all-star squad to a Rugby Americas North 10s title during the summer (Stingley also competed on that tour).

“The team speaks for itself – there isn’t one weak link on it at all,” Hakim enthused. “It should be fun to see how they all mesh together.”

Phoenix is the only mostly U.S.-based team in the tournament and will compete in Pool A against Ireland Developmental, Germany and Australia’s Tribe. The three other pools include teams from Belgium, France, Japan, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Africa, Ukraine, Wales. For the full schedule, click here, keeping in mind that the continental U.S. is 9-12 hours behind Dubai.

PHOENIX @ DUBAI INVITATIONAL

Caitlin Davis – Raleigh

T Fletcher – Raleigh

Magali Harvey – Canada WNT

Carlene Johnson – Bahamas WNT

Sarah Levy – New York

Deanna Nash (c) – Boston

Shamira Robles – New York

Lisa Roselin – New York

Jennifer Salomon – New York

Tanya Siford – Dallas Harlequins

Claire Stingley – Beantown

Kelsi Stockert – USA WNT

PHOENIX SCHEDULE

Pool Play (all times Eastern)

Nov. 28 11:40 p.m. vs. Germany

Nov. 29 2:20 a.m. vs. Ireland Dev

Nov. 29 5:40 a.m. vs. Tribe

Phoenix

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