Passing expectations

Cara D’Silva 

Age: 24
Occupation: Masters student, physiotherapy
Team: Scotland

My first encounter with rugby was as a 19-year-old while at university. I played basketball and I was poached by the rugby captain because anyone who could catch a ball was considered an asset.

I play as a winger for Royal High Corstorphine, a team based in Edinburgh and for our national team, Scotland.

Generally, my weekends are filled with club games and training. I have participated in all the major competitions since my first cap in the Six Nations tournament in 2007, including Dubai Sevens in 2007 and the European Championships in 2008 and 2009.

Some of my fondest rugby memories are when I achieved 25 caps for Scotland and when I was the top try scorer in Dubai 2007. Playing for your country and walking out with your friends is an unbeatable feeling.

Joanne O’Sullivan

Age: 28
Occupation: Events manager
Team: Pink Ba-Bas, England

I started when I was at university. I play for a club team, Richmond. In addition, I have 48 caps for Ireland. Rugby has taken me all over Europe and to South Africa and Canada.

To date, I have played in seven Six Nations tournaments, three European Championships and one World Cup.

There’s still enormous stigma attached to women’s rugby. But the Rugby Sevens tournament will be a part of the 2016 Olympics and the standard of rugby championships is also improving. For me, the game has provided immense highs, including beating Wales to qualify for the last World Cup and playing on Dubai’s main pitch in the final.

Bridie Johnson

Age: 31
Occupation: Brand manager, Sagari General Trading
Team: Arabian Gulf women’s team (Captain)

I played rugby league when I was young and also while at university. I play for an amazing club, the Dubai Hurricanes, as a fly-half, and participate in full-day tournaments every three to four weeks.

For the Dubai Sevens, I will be captaining and playing for the women’s team of the Arabian Gulf Rugby Football Union. I have played in many competitions in Australia, the UK, the UAE, Tunisia and Uzbekistan.

My cherished memories are those of playing rugby with friends at home in Australia and our first win. Rugby was fun then and it still is.

Lou Micklewright

Age: 29
Occupation: Administration manager for British Transport Police headquarters, London
Team: The Moody Cows (Captain)

I played rugby when I was at university, I gave up the sport when I moved to London to study musical theatre and dancing. I missed it so much I started playing again in 2006.

 I play for Saracens Women in the Premiership in the UK. The training is pretty intense but I play with some of the most talented players in the world.

Throughout the sevens season I play for The Moody Cows, an invitational sevens team. We travel all over the UK and Europe.

This is our fourth visit to the Dubai Sevens and this year, we plan to dedicate our performance to our dear friend, and teammate, Kay Booker who lost her battle with breast cancer in July this year.

We also hope to raise awareness for Macmillan Cancer Support, a charity that supported Kay throughout her illness.

Despite enduring a neck injury and a broken nose, I love playing rugby and I have met some great friends through the sport.

People always smile when I say I am the captain of The Moody Cows. The crowds love us and our cow mascot.

Stephanie Carte

Age: 25
Occupation: PE teacher at Emirates International School, Jumeirah
Team: TOA

I started playing rugby at the country and club levels, when I was at university. I play sevens for TOA and train twice a week.

I am a winger and a scrum half but I am the lead kicker, too.

I have played in tournaments in Dubai, England, Qatar and Thailand. I was also part of the Arabian Gulf national team when they participated in the Bangkok Sevens tournament — one of my proud moments.

Rugby is a challenging sport. Since I am relatively new to the game, it is a steep learning curve.

Though most of my friends think rugby is a violent sport, they admire my passion for the sport and support me wholeheartedly.

My greatest moment was when I was at university and my team won the fifteens league.
To win, I had to score the conversion, which, given the rain and the angle of the shot, was very difficult. I was ecstatic when I scored.