Scally shows her sporting skills extend to rugby

ATHLONE's Fiona Scally is widely known and well regarded for her undoubted skill on the basketball court. But the Summerhill native is currently shining in a different code in a very different land. Recently, the 24-year-old moved to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, to take up employment as an English teacher with the International School of Choueifat. It's there that Fiona has successfully turned her hand to playing rugby, and along with former basketball coach, Liz Kelleher, has made a huge impact with the oval ball. Fiona, who won the National League basketball title with University of Limerick (UL) last season, and Kelleher, a successful underage coach with Glanmire in Cork, recently lined out for Abu Dhabi Harlequinns at the Dubai Rugby Sevens. The duo were selected on the club's 12-strong panel, which is affiliated to the England-based Harlequinns club. There were more than 40 teams competing, and Fiona and Liz took to the field with Harlequinns in the Gulf League, which featured teams from Dubai, Sharjah, Qatar, Bahrain and Doha. In total, there were five Irish players on the squad, with players also from England and America. Harlequinns competed well, winning their pool and advancing to the semi-finals, which they won in the closing minutes, mainly thanks to an awesome display by Scally. In the final, they faced the Dubai Dragons, and although it was a closely contested match, Harlequinns narrowly lost on a scoreline of 21-27. Tramore-born Kelleher is presently teaching at the Sheikh-run Emirates National School in Abu Dhabi. Athlone-born Fiona Scally moved to Abu Dhabi in August, and currently works as an English teacher with the International School of Choueifat. She recently started playing rugby, and her solid performances also saw her selected for the Sevens squad. Fiona is a daughter of former local Gaelic football star, Matt Scally Snr., and Anne Scally, and her brother, Matt, also stars for Clann na nGael and Monksland Utd.