Two members of the CIS champion X-Women rugby team competed recently at the Dubai International Invitational tournament for national squads in women’s sevens action. Third year fullback Magali Harvey from Quebec City competed with the Canadian national sevens team, while fifth year winger Amanda Thornborough from Brandon, Man. played with the Canadian development team, the Maple Leafs.

Harvey and her teammates had captured the Dubai Invitational in 2011 but they were denied the defence of their title as they fell 14-10 to Russia in the championship game. The Canadian squad had an overall tournament record of 2-3-1. They had advanced to the final with a 24-0 shutout victory over England in the semi-finals. Harvey scored a try and a conversion in that game.

In earlier tournament action, the Canadians lost their first match to Russia 15-12, then followed up with a 32-0 win over China and a 12-12 draw with New Zealand. They also lost to the world champion Australian team 17-10. StFX alumnus Ghislaine Landry is also a member of the national sevens team though she suffered an injury at the Dubai tournament.
In sevens development action, Thornborough and her Maple Leafs teammates were a perfect 7-0 and they won their tournament, allowing only two tries and 12 total points scored against them.

They opened the international event with wins over Kenya (17-0), U.A.E. (36-0) and the Russian Selects (28-0), then went on to defeat The Tucks 31-0, a world leading women’s touring team. Their 22-7 victory over Sweden secured them a spot in the semi-finals where they again met The Tucks and played to a 26-0 win. In the championship game against Kenya, the Maple Leafs earned a 27-5 victory.

Next on the IRB women’s sevens circuit is a tournament in Houston, Texas on February 1-2, 2013. The World Cup is slated for Moscow in late June.