West Norfolk and Dubai 7s winner gets Team GB call-up for Cape Town

Dubai 7s winner Georgie Lingham will be back in the national spotlight this weekend after a Team GB call-up at the 11th hour.

With her bags packed and ready to head back to North Wootton on Saturday night, Lingham instead found herself heading to South Africa to compete having been called up to the Team GB squad.

Lingham will be part of the Great Britain Women’s squad for the Cape Town Sevens Series, where they will meet New Zealand, Ireland and Brazil in Pool B.

The West Norfolk Rugby Club ace was part of the Hammerheads team to win the International Women’s category in the Dubai 7s.

Having registered a critical try in the final, a victorious Lingham is looking to continue her scorching form and take her talents to the pitch once more, this time representing her country.

Lingham said: “It’s like something out of a dream – I was absolutely buzzing to have been part of an amazing Hammerheads squad and to have taken the title at Dubai, and out of the blue I get that call and now I’m here in Cape Town, getting ready to do my best alongside the rest of the Team GB girls.

“My feet have hardly touched the ground.”

West Norfolk club chairman Ian Trundley said: “As a club, we are beyond proud to see one of our own taking such a major step onto the international rugby stage.

"We know that everything Georgie does not only sets a hugely positive example for young people in our local area, but also for our club and our community. We are all cheering her on.”

Lingham is due to return to West Norfolk once this tournament is over, and will continue to coach, play and support rugby in the local area.

Meanwhile, in another record for the club, seven of the women’s first team squad – six of whom played against Suffolk in freezing conditions last week - have taken to the pitch in Norfolk colours again.

On Wednesday, Rosie Lingham, Eleanor Navrady, Sarah Hodgson, Eleanor Middleton-Jones, Jade Nicholson, Jenna Moxey and Ruth Denham were part of the Norfolk squad to face Cambridge in the final of the Tri-County campaign.

Head coach Jane Middleton-Jones said: “Once again, I’m incredibly pleased for the players that have made the team sheet for the county in this final Tri-Counties match.

"Last week’s game was hard – both in terms of the opposition and the conditions - and they left everything on the pitch, which is how they always play, so I know they will do both our team and our club proud.”

Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be for the county team, who led until the final five minutes. Cambridgeshire RFU sealed a dramatic win with a late try to make the score 26-20 in the game played at Thetford Rugby Club.

West Norfolk Women will take to their home pitch once again in December, facing Stamford at home on Sunday, December 17, with kick-off time to be confirmed.

Supporters are welcome to visit the clubhouse to see them in action.