New Zealand's Portia Woodman-Wickliffe at the Abu Dhabi Sevens Festival. Chris Whiteoak / The National
New Zealand's Portia Woodman-Wickliffe at the Abu Dhabi Sevens Festival. Chris Whiteoak / The National
New Zealand's Portia Woodman-Wickliffe at the Abu Dhabi Sevens Festival. Chris Whiteoak / The National
New Zealand's Portia Woodman-Wickliffe at the Abu Dhabi Sevens Festival. Chris Whiteoak / The National

New Zealand warm up for world series defence by winning first Abu Dhabi Sevens Festival


Paul Radley
  • English
  • Arabic

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.

  • Chloe Pelle of France during a Abu Dhabi Sevens Festival match against Canada at the Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub. All images Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Chloe Pelle of France during a Abu Dhabi Sevens Festival match against Canada at the Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub. All images Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • France took on Canada at the Abu Dhabi Sevens Festival on Friday
    France took on Canada at the Abu Dhabi Sevens Festival on Friday
  • The Abu Dhabi Sevens Festival got off to a memorable start
    The Abu Dhabi Sevens Festival got off to a memorable start
  • Krissy Scurfield of Canada is tackled during the match against France at the Abu Dhabi Sevens Festival
    Krissy Scurfield of Canada is tackled during the match against France at the Abu Dhabi Sevens Festival
  • New Zealand's Tenika Willison passes the ball during their match against Brazil at the Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub
    New Zealand's Tenika Willison passes the ball during their match against Brazil at the Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub
  • Krissy Scurfield of Canada gets tackled
    Krissy Scurfield of Canada gets tackled
  • Caroline Drouin of France goes on a run
    Caroline Drouin of France goes on a run

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.”

The past Palme d'Or winners

2018 Shoplifters, Hirokazu Kore-eda

2017 The Square, Ruben Ostlund

2016 I, Daniel Blake, Ken Loach

2015 DheepanJacques Audiard

2014 Winter Sleep (Kış Uykusu), Nuri Bilge Ceylan

2013 Blue is the Warmest Colour (La Vie d'Adèle: Chapitres 1 et 2), Abdellatif Kechiche, Adele Exarchopoulos and Lea Seydoux

2012 Amour, Michael Haneke

2011 The Tree of LifeTerrence Malick

2010 Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (Lung Bunmi Raluek Chat), Apichatpong Weerasethakul

2009 The White Ribbon (Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte), Michael Haneke

2008 The Class (Entre les murs), Laurent Cantet

Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23

UAE fixtures:
Men

Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final

Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final

DSC Eagles 23 Dubai Hurricanes 36

Eagles
Tries: Bright, O’Driscoll
Cons: Carey 2
Pens: Carey 3

Hurricanes
Tries: Knight 2, Lewis, Finck, Powell, Perry
Cons: Powell 3

The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

The specs

Engine: 2.3-litre, turbo four-cylinder

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Power: 300hp

Torque: 420Nm

Price: Dh189,900

On sale: now

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Updated: November 26, 2023, 10:38 AM