Hiya. My name is Jen Sinkler, and I’m getting ready to leave for Miami and the Bahamas with the U.S. Women’s Rugby 7s team on Saturday.

Whoooosh. I think that’s the first time I’ve allowed myself to say those words aloud. Well, “say” them. To myself. In type. Let’s not get hung up on a technicality. Moving along …

I played a bunch of 7s earlier this decade, touring with the U.S. 7s team from 2002 to 2005. After a three-year hiatus from international 7s, I decided to give it another try this year. I realized that I’d arrived at a crossroads where I had to choose to either fade away gracefully or truly devote myself to the sport again. I chose the latter, and have since been immersed in the single-minded goal of making the U.S. 7s squad again.

Only this time around I’ve paid closer attention to my body, staying vigilant for warning signs of the chronic injuries I blatantly ignored last time around. Until I couldn’t anymore, that is. (I chronicled my journey back to fitness a bit more in depth at my blog — my other blog — Survival of the Fittest.)

I am really, really excited to be back. To rejoin teammates I practically grew up with, rugbywise, and to learn the style of players I met for the first time a few months ago. I’m all “pinch me” about it — hence my reluctance to say it out loud. In type. (Here we go again.)

But it’s happening, and now we’re on to far larger, more important goals than our own personal aspirations. We’re hoping to do you all, our rugby community, proud in the Bahamas next weekend, and to officially claim a spot at the 7s World Cup in Dubai in March 2009.

All of the players on the World Cup practice squad of 20 will be contributing to this blog, telling you a little more about ourselves and regaling you with tales from on the pitch and off. (I haven’t told them that yet — surprise, guys!) So stay tuned for updates while we’re on the road this coming week.

If you have a message for one or all of us, leave it in the comments — we’d love to hear from you.

In rugby,
Jen Sinkler, Keystone RFC