Women’s Club Stuns Rivals, Secures Maiden Trophy Inscription.

Emily Eglen, in her debut appearance on Pitch 1 at the Emirates Dubai Sevens, admitted to being overwhelmed by nerves to the point of speechlessness. However, for Dubai Phoenix, Eglen let her exceptional performance speak volumes, guiding the newly-formed club to their inaugural Gulf Women’s title at the Sevens.

Despite being a standout in UAE girls’ rugby, Eglen had never reached the final at the Sevens during her time at Dubai English Speaking College. In her first year in the senior women’s tournament, she played a pivotal role in Phoenix’s 22-5 victory over Dubai Hurricanes in the final.

Reflecting on her pre-final jitters, Eglen confessed, “I was so nervous, I was sat in silence, unlike everyone else. I was so, so, so scared. Stood in the tunnel, I was starting to feel less nervous because I could hear the music, but once we were on there, I didn’t notice anything else.”

The pressure on Phoenix was intensified by their previous inability to defeat the Hurricanes in the ongoing domestic campaign. However, Eglen suggested that this circumstance actually lessened the burden, stating, “We knew how good our team is, so we were still confident.”

Helen Amos, the team’s captain, expressed astonishment at finding Phoenix four tries ahead before the Hurricanes managed to score. Despite not securing a victory against their rivals earlier in the season, the team’s preparation and confidence paid off in the final.

“We were shocked. We were looking at the scoreboard and thinking, ‘What?’ It was the best we have played, everyone gave 110 per cent, and it just clicked for us today, whereas in other tournaments [in the regular season], it hasn’t quite,” Amos remarked.

Having played in multiple Sevens and secured victory with the team in its previous incarnation as the Dubai Knights Eagles, Amos emphasized the positive impact of young talents like Eglen on the squad.

“We just say, ‘Ems, do your thing, you are the fastest player out there, just back yourself’. She is great. If she just goes for it, they can try and get her, but they are not going to get her,” Amos praised Eglen’s contribution.

Amos also highlighted the significance of playing on Pitch 1 on finals day, acknowledging the nerves that come with it. She emphasized that such opportunities weren’t always guaranteed and expressed the team’s desire to maintain the tradition.

“As soon as you are in the tunnel, the nerves kick in, and I think they should. It means you are excited to get out there. This is not an opportunity we have always had. We have played in many finals on Pitch 2, but it has been here for the past three seasons. We want that to keep going, and we needed a good game. It was a great game. We need it to be so they look at it and say, ‘Right, next year the women’s final is staying on Pitch 1’. It is fantastic to play on here,” Amos concluded.