Canada NextGen Team Finishes 5th in 8 Team Tournament
Rugby Canada released their NextGen programming plan for 2026 in May and one of those tournaments was the EAAST tournament in Haguenau, France on May 29-30 for women’s 7s. Rugby Canada has been quiet on the results of that tournament on social media, and one reason may be is that the team placed 5th out of 8 teams that included Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, R10 (Barbarian team). All those teams finished ahead of Canada. Canada finished ahead Belgium, Georgia and Denmark. Both Czechia and Poland are on the SVNS 3 circuit, Germany aren’t even on the SVNS 3 circuit.
The Rugby Canada NextGen plan stated selections were: Athletes were identified by our NextGen Coaches, Senior Women’s Staff and Regional Scouting Network, through USPORT, Professional rugby overseas and the World Series. Indeed the team included six players with SVNS experience and one capped XVs player. Should this set off alarm bells when the NextGen finishes 5th in a tournament of this calibre against middle of the pack SVNS 3 teams and lower? Czech Republic won the tournament, defeating Poland in the final. The Canada v Czechia game in the pool round wasn’t that close, 28-7, for Czechia. Canada then tied Germany, a team not in the SVNS 1,2 or 3 competitions last season, 19-19. Canada defeated Belgium twice and Georgia once to claim the Plate (5th place).
Canada Results
Czech Republic 28 – Canada 7
Canada 19 – Belgium 7
Canada 19 – Germany 19
Canada 62 – Georgia 0
Canada 35 – Belgium 0
Pools (final pool rankings)
Pool A
Poland
R10
Denmark
Georgia
Pool B
Czech Republic
Germany
Canada
Belgium
from Rugby Canada
Led by Head Coach Brittany Waters of the University of Victoria women’s rugby program, a 12-player squad has been selected for Canada’s ‘Next Gen’ Women’s Sevens Team competing at the EAAST 7s tournament in Haguenau, France, on May 29–30. More information about the tournament can be found here.
“It’s always an honour to coach NextGen 7s athletes and represent Canada,” said Waters. “This is an exciting squad that brings a wealth of experience from both senior and age-grade national programs. I’m looking forward to watching them perform, grow, and challenge themselves throughout this tour against elite-level competition.”
The Canadian roster includes players with HSBC SVNS Series experience, such as Larah Wright, Maya Addai, Maddison Donnelly, Monique Coffey, Camille Arvin-Bérod and Vanessa Chiapetta. Aurora Bowie is the lone player selected with a 15s cap, having recently made her debut for Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team during last month’s Pacific Four Series. Bowie started all three matches for Canada and scored her first international try against the United States in Chicago, in Canada’s 50–12 victory.
Adelaide Holmes, Olivia Newsome, Tia Jordo and Camille Arvin-Bérod recently represented Canada’s U21 squad during a three-match tour that included games against Ireland, England, and the British Army.
The tournament schedule for EAAST 7s can be found here.
CANADA NEXT GEN WOMEN’S SEVENS TEAM – EAAST 7s ROSTER
Adelaide Holmes (Waterloo, ON) – University of Guelph / Guelph RFC
Aurora Bowie (Stouffville, ON) – University of Ottawa / Markham Irish / FC Grenoble Amazones
Ava Van Santen (Aldergrove, BC) – Burnaby Lake Rugby Club / Trinity Western University
Camille Arvin-Bérod (Saint-Denis-Sur-Richelieu, QC) – Université Laval / Montreal Irish
Emily Clark (Mississauga, ON) – Guelph Goats
Larah Wright (Calgary, AB) – University of Victoria
Maddy Donnelly (Little Britain, ON) – Brock RFC / Aurora Barbarians
Maya Addai (Ottawa, ON) – Westshore RFC / University of Victoria
Monique Coffey (Dauphin, MB) – Scion Sirens
Olivia Newsome (Calgary, AB) – University of Victoria
Tia Jordo (Kelowna, BC) – University of British Columbia
Vanessa Chiappetta (Rigaud, QC) – Westshore RFC
NON-TRAVELLING RESERVES
Corine Bellavance (Quebec)
Corinne Frechette (Quebec)
Megan Allard (Quebec)
Rachel Cullum (Ontario)
MANAGEMENT STAFF
Head Coach – Brittany Waters
Assistant Coach – Darrell Devine
Team Manager / S&C Coach – Clarence Gay
Athletic Therapist – Erin Schatkowsky