Emily Scarratt to captain Team GB rugby sevens squad
Tuesday 19 July 2016 16:51, UK
World Cup winner Emily Scarratt will captain Team GB women's rugby sevens squad at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Leicester centre Scarratt will lead a team that features a number of experienced names from England's 2014 World Cup winning side with only one non-English player, Jasmine Joyce of Wales.
The women's squad, who have competed in the HSBC World Rugby Women's Sevens Series last season as professional athletes, overpowered New Zealand 31-14 to win this year's final of the Langford Sevens in Canada.
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The players have been training full time as a Great Britain group since October and head coach Simon Middleton said the 12 selected players are raring to go in Rio.
"This is a hugely exciting moment for women's rugby with sevens making its debut at the Olympic Games and we believe we have selected the best possible group of players to achieve success in Rio," Middleton said.
"The World Series this season proved how competitive the women's rugby sevens circuit is and we're very much looking forward to competing against the very best as a Team GB squad."
It will be the first time in 108 years that Team GB have had representation in rugby at Olympic level and Scarratt is looking forward to the challenge.
"To wear the GB shirt and compete in the Olympics is a childhood dream that we are now, as a team, turning into reality," she said.
"As a squad, we are looking forward to being among the first athletes to play rugby sevens on the world's biggest sporting stage. I am immensely proud to be representing Great Britain and introducing women's rugby to new audiences."
The tournament takes place over six days with the women competing first from August 6 to 8 at the Deodoro Stadium in a pool which includes hosts Brazil, Japan and Canada.
Squad: Claire Allan, Abbie Brown, Heather Fisher, Natasha Hunt, Jasmine Joyce, Katy McLean, Alice Richardson, Emily Scarratt, Emily Scott, Danielle Waterman, Joanne Watmore, Amy Wilson-Hardy, Travelling reserves: Megan Jones, Kay Wilson
