• Shop
  • Basket
  • Checkout
  • 0Shopping Cart
Yalla Rugby
  • Gulf Rugby
    • UAE Rugby
    • Rugby Clubs
    • Rugby Academies
    • Rugby Referees
    • Mens Rugby
    • Womens Rugby
    • Junior Rugby
    • FAQs
  • Dubai 7s
  • Competitions
    • West Asia Premiership
    • UAE Premiership
    • UAE Division 1
    • The Rugby Championship
  • Fixtures & Results
  • Latest News
  • Podcast/TV
  • Rugby Shop
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
News

Emirati student Sophie Shams ‘star struck’ after move to English Premiership side Saracens

Former Dubai Tigers player will dovetail her university studies with training with some of rugby’s top players

Sophie Shams Playing For Dubai Tigers Feb 2018

Sophie Shams Playing For Dubai Tigers Feb 2018

As a rugby-mad child, Sophie Shams once used to attend summer trainings camps at Saracens in the UK while on her holidays from school in Dubai.

The courses took place near where her grandma lived, and she used to go along happily, despite being the only girl in attendance.

It is funny how life works out. This week, a little under a decade on, it was confirmed the Emirati student has been signed by Saracens, who are the most successful side in the history of the Women’s Premiership in England.

She has one year left on her geophysics degree at Durham University in the UK’s north. When time permits from her studies, she will join up with a squad that boasts some of the stars of the English women’s game.

Featured Advert

Advertise With Us!

She will be partaking in drills and tackling practice alongside the likes of Vicky Fleetwood and Marlie Packer, each of whom has played more than 70 times for England, and Poppy Cleall, who was the Six Nations player of the tournament this year.

All of which might sound daunting. But, she says, it is far better to be with them than against them.

“It is quite scary when you walk out on to the pitch at Saracens training and everyone around you are such amazing players,” Shams said.

“Olympians like Holly Aitchinson. Sevens players like Chantelle Miell. Red Roses like Vicky Fleetwood, Marlie Packer and Poppy Cleall – to name a few – as well as and international players from other countries surround you.”

“They are all lovely and have made me feel very welcome. I look forward to playing and learning from them even though it is slightly intimidating being on the same team as them.”

“However, it is infinitely better than watching them all charge towards you when you are playing against them.”

“The level that they not only play at, but also train at gives me a standard to aspire to.”

“Sometimes I am literally star struck and am so impressed, but it shows how much I can improve my game and this really excites me.”

Sophie Shams attending a Saracens holiday camp in 2013

Sophie Shams after attending a Saracens holiday camp in 2013 (left), and after a Saracens practice match against Sale Sharks. Courtesy Sophie Shams

Shams already has experience of Premiership rugby herself, having dovetailed her studies in Durham with playing for Darlington Mowden Park Durham Sharks.

She says the decision to leave the Sharks was hard, given they “have taught me a lot in the past couple of years and have given me lots of experience playing at a premiership level”.

She has opted to switch to Saracens at the same time as two of her DMP Sharks colleagues have done the same.

Her focus for this season, though, will be on university rugby and her final year of studies, as well as “holidays and when needed I will be at Sarries”.

In announcing her signing, Saracens said she “has had a fascinating journey to North London after originally playing in the Middle East, and has picked up plenty of experience along the way”.

The transfer to the side who have won more Women’s Premiership titles than any other team is fine reward for Shams’ efforts to overcome injury.

Shams, who first learnt rugby in the Under 6s team at Dubai Exiles, Dubai Tigers and attended Jumeirah English Speaking School then Dubai College, has suffered serious injuries to both knees in her fledgling career to date.

Each injury, coincidentally, occurred in separate years on nearly the exact patch of turf on Pitch Two at The Sevens, during the annual Dubai Rugby Sevens.

“After two ACL reconstructions, which appears to be a very common injury in female rugby players, I am feeling very strong,” Shams said.

“One of the upsides of the Covid-19 lockdowns was that I had time to recover and focus on my rehab. I did my return-to-running block by myself as I knew how to load it from the first ACL.”

“You would have to be a very lucky person to play rugby and not sustain injuries. It is a fact of rugby that you have to accept and hope that any injuries are not permanent.”

“It is so great to be back on the pitch with XVs and of course sevens which uses a completely different skill set.”

“I was very lucky this season to play for Samurai 7s, and I got to blow the cobwebs away.”

Article originally posted on The National news.

02/09/21/by Paul Radley
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
https://www.yallarugby.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/sophie-shams-dubai-tigers-now-saracens-english-premiership.jpg 533 800 Paul Radley https://www.yallarugby.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/yalla-rugby-dubai-103x156.png Paul Radley2021-09-02 09:59:322021-09-06 10:38:04Emirati student Sophie Shams ‘star struck’ after move to English Premiership side Saracens
You might also like
dubai tigers rugby club photo Dubai Tigers Sign Off Monumental Season
Your official guide to Gulf Rugby 2019 What’s New With Gulf Rugby In 2019?
Dubai Tigers UAE Conference Champions 2018 Dubai Tigers Claim Maiden UAE Conference Title with Extra Time Golden Try
Wanderers vs Dragons UAE Conference league 2017 Conference League Preview
UAE Conference Rugby Statistics 2018/19 Conference Rugby By Numbers
Knights Eagles record first premiership win 2020 KnightsEagles Show Heart To Claim First Win

Other Rugby News

  • UAE Rugby Finals 2022/23Rugby Finals Round Up – 2022/2318/03/23 - 3:35 pm
  • Asia Rugby Unions meet to discuss Asia Rugby Grand LeagueAsia Rugby Grand League 2024 – What We Know and What We Hope For12/02/23 - 12:49 pm
  • David Learman - RAK Rugby ChairmanIncoming RAK Rugby Chairman to Drive Community Focussed Initiatives20/09/22 - 5:45 pm
  • Dubai Hurricanes withdraw from Premiership rugbyDubai Hurricanes Withdraw From 2022 Premiership Rugby16/09/22 - 2:01 pm
  • Expat Rugby Clubs In Dubai - Where To Find ThemA List of Rugby Clubs In Dubai – By Location15/09/22 - 4:19 pm

Get Into Rugby

  • Mini & Junior
  • Senior Mens
  • Senior Womens
  • Referees
  • Dubai Rugby Sevens
  • Find A Rugby Club
  • Kids Rugby Academies

Latest Podcasts

  • Mike Cunningham - Chairman of the Bahrain RFCPodcast – Ep.09 With Mike Cunningham22/03/23 - 1:47 pm
  • David Gairn - Dubai Exiles Rugby Player Podcast InterviewPodcast – Ep.08 With David Gairn16/03/23 - 11:50 am
  • Matt Rubin - Podcast Interview with Yalla RugbyPodcast – Ep.07 With Matt Rubin08/03/23 - 2:44 pm
  • Charlie Taylor - Dubai Sharks PodcastPodcast – Ep.06 With Charlie Taylor28/02/23 - 4:09 pm
  • Ross Samson - Jebel Ali Dragons CoachPodcast – Ep.05 With Ross Samson22/02/23 - 7:28 pm

HOME | GULF RUGBY | RUGBY 7’s | NEWS | FIXTURES & RESULTS | MEDIA | SHOP

Yalla Rugby – The Home of Gulf Rugby

Online and frequently at Rugby Park – Dubai Sports City – Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Terms & Conditions of use.

Scroll to top