The Wooden Spoon Vets were making their third appearance in Dubai and after being narrowly beaten in the final last year were determined to go one better this year. After reaching the semis with ease and after some stunning performances of ten’s rugby they met the charity team from Christina Nobel in the final. The Spoon team have all played together before and were an all round team and had nothing to lose against the star-studded Christina Nobel team featuring the well known names of Will Greenwood, Alan Bateman, Tim Stimpson, Freddie Tuilangi and Chris Shesby. In a scintillating final the Spoon Vets went down by three tries to two never giving up the fight or their desire to get their hands on the trophy. It was not to be this year but the experience has just made them hungry for more and next year will be another day and another challenge.

The Wooden Spoon Women’s team played in Dubai last year as a young development team and it was after this experience that Coach Emma Mitchell and Captain Susie Appleby saw there was a future for recruiting former international players to add a mix of experience with youth. During the last year the team has performed brilliantly in Kinsale, Amsterdam and Stockholm, being unbeaten to win all three tournaments. The Dubai International Ladies tournament raised the bar to a new level with teams completing from Russia, Scotland the Gulf and high calibre teams including England Sevens Champion’s Richmond, The Irish Babas, Pink Babas and a new team on the world stage, Las Bandidas, a combined USA and Kiwi team comprising six former World Cup winners from New Zealand. The Draw for the women was no easy ride and the scores do not do justice to the competitiveness of the games. Spoon reached the final after a comprehensive victory in a hard game against Richmond to meet the favourites Las Bandidas.

Beaten finalists, the Spoon Vets with the Christina Nobel team

The women’s team comprised present and former international players from England, Wales, Scotland and Australia with over 500 caps between them. Their professionalism and commitment to Spoon stretched well beyond the playing field as they constantly talked to fans and players about the Charity and liberally sold spoon wristbands to anyone who was willing to hand over the cash.

The final produced the best rugby of the tournament as the two technically superb teams vied for possession and points. Spoon went into an early lead only for the Bandidos to level with a superb try scored from the kick off. But the Women had stated they were there for one thing and that was to win and the job would not be finished until then, so they dug in their heals and drove for the line again. With three minutes to go the score was 19-14 to Spoon but the momentum was with the Bandidos as they went hunting for five more points. Spoon turned over the ball in their own twenty two and stayed there retaining possession until the clock ticked down and the ball was desperately kicked out.
The total joy of winning the title was evident in all the players. For many this was the pinnacle of their careers.
Spoon supports in the Dubai crowd

It was the best way possible to end the tournament and all the teams were winners in their own right. Spoon couldn’t have been better represented and ultimate it is the charity that has really come out on top.

A very big thank you to all our sponsors this year especially Will Smith and WBS who helped get us started at the beginning of the year and to our new principle sponsor NETGEAR. All the Spoon teams are proud to wear your brand on our shirts. Thanks also to the Dubai sponsors DHL, DLA Piper, Coutts, Arbuthnot and BGC, your support was invaluable. Congratulations and thanks to all the players and management who attended and achieved so much from the event to the benefit of Spoon.