EK Firebirds ready for Dubai Rugby Sevens challenge

DUBAI: After six months of training, drills, and preparation, the EK Firebirds, an all-women’s rugby club comprised of Emirates Cabin Crew coming from 14 different nationalities, is ready to compete at the 2018 edition of the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens invitational women’s tournament, which kicks off at The Sevens Stadium on Thursday.

Earlier on Wednesday, the EK Firebirds squad met with the USA Women’s Eagles, the national sevens rugby team, for a mini-training camp ahead of the tournament, where they ran through practice scrums, along with kicking and tackling techniques and exercises.

The EK Firebirds team members come from rugby loving nations including the UK, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, as well as other diverse nations like Romania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Namibia, the Philippines and Nigeria - reflecting the multi-cultural Cabin Crew team at the airline and the global make up of Dubai.

The team members have found time to practice and train during theirbusytravelrosters,andorganise themselves to ensure that as many of them train together as possible, using the Sevens Stadium, Zaabeel Park and other venues in Dubai as their training grounds.

The club started in 2012 with four Emirates Cabin Crew members taking a keen interest in playing rugby.

Since then the team has grown to over 15 members, and it continues to actively recruit within the Emirates Cabin Crew community.

The EK Firebirds developed from touch rugby to a fully practicing contact rugby 7’s club, and the club has participated in several tournaments.

This is the first time that many of the EK Firebirds players will taking to the pitch for a rugby 7’s match at the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens.

The invitational tournament is held in conjunction with the World Rugby Men’s and Women’s Sevens World Series tournaments.