New Zealand warmed up for the start of their women’s world sevens series title defence by winning the first Abu Dhabi Sevens Festival on Friday evening.
The Black Ferns Sevens beat France 24-12 in the final at Abu Dhabi Cricket and Sports Hub.
The four-team competition, which also featured Brazil and Canada, was the pilot edition of what organisers hope will become a feature of the UAE sporting landscape.
Plans are in place to expand the competition next season and include a men’s event for sides travelling to the emirates for the beginning of the HSBC Svns – the newly-rebranded world series – in Dubai.
As in Dubai, which is renowned on the world circuit for the unique atmosphere created by having invitational tournaments running alongside the World Rugby series, the Abu Dhabi Festival is also focused on community involvement.
A team from the Small Blacks, the youth training programme of New Zealand Rugby based in Abu Dhabi, played a game against Ecole Francaise de Rugby in a break between the senior matches. Recreational sides also played fixtures earlier in the week.
New Zealand’s women have made a tradition of travelling to the capital for acclimatisation ahead of the Dubai Sevens.
It has served them well. They have been regular winners in Dubai, while last year they dominated the world series.
“It is amazing for us,” said Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, who was named World Rugby’s women’s sevens player of the decade in 2020.
“We get absolutely spoilt by Abu Dhabi Cricket. It is a special place and we love it. Back at home at this time, it’s nowhere near this heat. To come over here and have these facilities and this weather, it is all we could ask for.
“The grounds have grown from the first time we came here until now, and it will be awesome to see what they can put out for a big tournament, and compete with Dubai Sevens as well.”
Sarah Hirini, the New Zealand captain, said the Abu Dhabi Festival already feels like an established competition.
“We always think this is the best trip to get onto if we can make the Dubai squad as we get to come to Abu Dhabi for a week and hang out in the desert,” Hirini said.
“We get to train at some pretty amazing facilities. We get to prepare the best we can for a tournament, and it is just a cool place.
“And even now, this feels like a real tournament like on the world series. It is only going to get bigger and bigger, and hopefully we can be a part of it for a few more years yet.”
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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Basquiat in Abu Dhabi
One of Basquiat’s paintings, the vibrant Cabra (1981–82), now hangs in Louvre Abu Dhabi temporarily, on loan from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
The latter museum is not open physically, but has assembled a collection and puts together a series of events called Talking Art, such as this discussion, moderated by writer Chaedria LaBouvier.
It's something of a Basquiat season in Abu Dhabi at the moment. Last week, The Radiant Child, a documentary on Basquiat was shown at Manarat Al Saadiyat, and tonight (April 18) the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is throwing the re-creation of a party tonight, of the legendary Canal Zone party thrown in 1979, which epitomised the collaborative scene of the time. It was at Canal Zone that Basquiat met prominent members of the art world and moved from unknown graffiti artist into someone in the spotlight.
“We’ve invited local resident arists, we’ll have spray cans at the ready,” says curator Maisa Al Qassemi of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's Canal Zone Remix is at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Thursday April 18, from 8pm. Free entry to all. Basquiat's Cabra is on view at Louvre Abu Dhabi until October
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