Canada names women’s team for Vancouver rugby 7s circuit
Canada has announced a strong lineup for the upcoming HSBC SVNS Vancouver stop, featuring nine members of the squad that secured silver at the Paris Olympics last summer. The 10th edition of HSBC SVNS Vancouver is set to take place from Feb. 21-23 at B.C. Place Stadium. Canada clinched bronze at last year’s event, defeating Australia 19-14 in the third-place match, while New Zealand emerged as the champions with a convincing 35-19 victory over France.
Among the returning players for Canada are Alysha Corrigan, Fancy Bermudez, Krissy Scurfield, and Charity Williams, who will be making their comeback to the squad since the Paris Olympics. Corrigan, Bermudez, and Scurfield have been competing in 15s club rugby in England this season, with Corrigan and Bermudez representing Saracens, and Scurfield leading the Loughborough Lightning in tries scored. Williams, a three-time Olympian who recently helped UBC secure its first-ever U-Sports women’s rugby championship, is also on the brink of scoring her 100th try on the HSBC SVNS circuit.
Additionally, the Vancouver roster includes other Paris Olympians such as Asia Hogan-Rochester, Carissa Norsten, Florence Symonds, Olivia Apps, and Piper Logan. Logan has been appointed as the team captain, with Apps serving as the vice-captain. Breanne Nicholas, who is set to participate in her 39th SVNS series event, will move into second place all-time among Canadian women, trailing only Bianca Farella’s record of 45 appearances.
Pamphinette Buisa makes her return to the roster after missing the last event in Perth, Australia, while rookies Mahalia Robinson and Olivia Sarabura, who made their international sevens debuts earlier this season, have also been included in the squad. In the absence of head coach Jocelyn Barrieau, who is on leave in Montreal until March, Iain Monaghan will serve as the interim coach for Canada in Vancouver.
Following their impressive fourth-place finish in Perth, Canada has climbed two spots to fifth in the season standings. The team will kick off their Vancouver campaign on Feb. 21 against Brazil and Spain before facing Australia, currently ranked second in the world, in their final Pool A match on the following day. Despite the Canadians’ recent loss to Australia in the Perth semifinals, the team remains determined to put on a strong performance in front of the home crowd at B.C. Place.
After the Vancouver stop, the HSBC SVNS circuit will head to Hong Kong and Singapore before culminating in Carson, California on May 3-4. The Singapore event will determine the season winners before the top eight men’s and women’s teams compete in the world championship at Dignity Health Sports Park. Last season, the Canadian women finished fifth in the standings and will be looking to improve on that performance this year.
On the men’s side, Canada will participate in an invitational tournament in Vancouver alongside the HSBC SVNS event as they aim to earn a chance back into the top tier via World Rugby’s Challenger Series. The Canadian men are eager to showcase their talent and compete against teams like Japan and Trinidad and Tobago.
The Canada roster for the upcoming HSBC SVNS Vancouver stop includes a talented group of players, each determined to make their mark on the international sevens circuit. With a mix of experienced veterans and promising newcomers, Canada is poised to deliver an exciting and competitive performance at B.C. Place Stadium.
