Canada Win Qualifying Tournament in Bahamas: Men and Women Qualify for 7s World Cup
from Rugby Canada
Canadas Senior Womens and Mens Sevens teams were both crowned RAN Sevens Qualifiers Cup winners on Sunday, confirming their places at the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 in the process.
Both teams entered Day 2 of the event in commanding positions with the Womens team having already secured their spot in the finals and the Mens side through to the quarter-finals, thanks to an unbeaten Day 1.
First up, Henry Pauls side faced Barbados in the last four. In a physical match, Jake Thiel opened the scoring after finishing off a coast-to-coast move before Phil Berna doubled the advantage. Barbados responded with a well-worked try before Coats ran in another for Canada just before the half. Further tries from Thomas Isherwood, Nick Allen and Brock Webster before a late consolation for Barbados – sealed a 38-14 victory.
Next, the Womens team took on the Cayman Islands in their final Pool match. An emphatic 71-0 triumph for the Canadians was underlined by a hat-trick of tries from Krissy Scurfield as well as scores from Asia Hogan Rochester (2), Fancy Bermudez (2), Chloe Daniels, Olivia Apps, Keyara Wardley and Bianca Farella.
In the Mens semi-finals, Canada came up against Mexico. An intelligent Webster offload to Thiel setup Canadas first try before Coats did the same to assist Elias Ergas to add to their lead. Isherwood scored another before the half to give Canada a 19-0 advantage at the break. In the second half, Ergas scored his second try before Anton Ngongo and Jarvis Dashkewytch got in on the act to secure a 41-0 decision.
The Womens final saw Canada face Mexico. Wardley opened the scoring as her pacey run resulted in the first try before Farella also turned on the jets to consolidate the lead. Rochester added to the advantage before the half with another try and Canada went into the break up 19-0.
A strong Canadian defence held strong at the start of the second half to deny Mexico before putting themselves firmly into the drivers seat thanks to a breakaway Elissa Alarie try. A further try from Nakisa Levale completed the scoring, confirming a 33-0 victory and the cup for Canada.
In the Mens final, quick hands and a smart offload from Isherwood to Dashkewytch made the first try for Canada against Jamaica. A huge handoff from Lachlan Kratz made sure there was a path for him to go over to double the advantage as Henry Pauls side took control. Ergas (2) and Isherwood also scored tries while Jamaica grabbed two in consolation – as Canada claimed a convincing 29-12 win and the cup.
With their performances in Nassau both Canadas Womens and Mens Sevens teams ensured their qualification to the Rugby World Cup 2022 in Cape Town, South Africa later this year.
*Americas North World Cup 7s Qualifier This Weekend: Canada Men Isherwood, Dashkewytch, Scheck In, Canada Women Farella Returns*
RAN (Rugby Americas North), the region encompassing Canada, USA, Mexico and the Caribbean is holding its World Cup 7s qualifier this weekend. USA are not present, having already qualified, so Canada are expected to dominate both tournaments. The top two men’s teams will qualify for the World Cup and the top women’s team.
There are 15 men’s teams Canada, Jamaica, Mexico, Barbados are the top seeds in their respective pools. There are 6 women’s teams with Canada top seed. The tournament kicks off at 9am local time, 6am PT. Canada women kickoff at 7:06am PT against T&T. The men kickoff at 9:12am PT against the Virgin Islands.
Day 1 Schedule (click on image for larger view)
Day 2 Schedule (click on image for larger view)
On the men’s side it’s the same team that played in the Canada 7s minus Brennig Prevost, Alex Russell and David Richard. Coming in will be Thomas Isherwood, Jarvis Dashkewytch and Lucas Scheck from Cactus Lake, Saskatchewan. It’s a great chance for the bench players to get more playing time against teams who aren’t at the World Series level yet.
On the women’s side, the surprise is seeing the return of veteran Bianca Farella. Krista Scurfield is one to watch, a young player who impressed for UVic when they won the CanWest tournament earlier this year, from Canmore, Alberta.
The full rosters are below in the Rugby Canada media releases.
Also of note is international coach, Robin MacDowell, from Vancouver Island is the Technical Director of High Performance for Trinidad & Tobago.
from Rugby Canada
CANADA MEN
Canadas Senior Mens Sevens team heads to Nassau, Bahamas this weekend to compete in the Rugby Americas North (RAN) Sevens Qualifiers. Ahead of the event, Head Coach Henry Paul has confirmed his 13-man roster, presented by Velocity Trade.
?Returning to the squad and hoping to make an impact are Thomas Isherwood and Jarvis Dashkewytch after both missed out on the HSBC Canada Sevens at BC Place in Vancouver last weekend as Canada finished tenth. Lucas Scheck is in line to make his debut after joining the program in the fall of 2021.
Brennig Prevost, David Richard and Alex Russell miss out through minor injuries.
The event, being hosted at Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium by the Bahamas Rugby Football Union, serves as the qualifiers for the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 in Cape Town, South Africa.
This tournament represents the final leg of an intense period, following the Singapore and Canada Sevens events, commented Paul. We know the task at hand is to qualify for the Sevens World Cup later this year. Well approach Nassau with respect to the opposition whilst trying to replicate several pulsating performances the team produced in front of our passionate home crowd in BC Place last weekend.
MENS SCHEDULE / COVERAGE
For full coverage of the RAN Sevens Qualifiers, head to the RAN website. The schedule for the event was confirmed on March 25.
?WHERE TO WATCH
Every minute of action of every game will be streamed free and live on RANs website throughout the tournament with a mixture of English and Spanish commentary. Simply go to www.rugbyamericasnorth.com to watch all the action.
CANADAS MENS SEVENS RAN QUALIFIERS ROSTER
1. Lucas Scheck (Cactus Lake, SK) Sask Rugby
2. Jake Thiel (Abbotsford, BC) Abbotsford RFC
3. Nick Allen (North Vancouver, BC) – University of British Columbia
?4. Phil Berna (Vancouver, BC) Vancouver Rowing Club
5. Matthew Oworu (Calgary, AB) – Pacific Pride
6. Thomas Isherwood (Okotoks, AB) – Foothills Lions RFC
7. Brock Webster (Uxbridge, ON) Oshawa Vikings RFC
8. Cooper Coats (Halifax, NS) Halifax Tars
9. DShawn Bowen (Toronto, ON) Pacific Pride
10. Lachlan Kratz (Victoria, BC) NOLA Gold
11. Elias Ergas (Vancouver, BC) University of British Columbia
12. Anton Ngongo (Victoria, BC) Castaway Wanderers
13. Jarvis Dashkewytch (Tsawwassen, BC) University of Victoria
UNAVAILABLE FOR SELECTION DUE TO INJURY AND/OR ILLNESS
Brennig Prevost
David Richard
Alex Russell
Noah Bain
Theo Sauder
Josiah Morra
PARTICIPATING IN OTHER RUGBY COMPETITIONS
Giovani Douyon James Bay Athletic Association
CANADA WOMEN
Head Coach Jack Hanratty has confirmed Canadas Senior Womens Sevens roster, presented by Velocity Trade, for the upcoming crucial RAN Sevens Qualifiers in Nassau, Bahamas on April 23-24.
Hanrattys young, up-and-coming squad is aiming to prove itself on the North American rugby scene with the opportunity to cement its qualification for the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 in Cape Town, South Africa.
In a group featuring eight players aged 23 and under including two players aged just 18 and two aged just 19 – Olympians Bianca Farella and Keyara Wardley make their return to the squad for the RAN Qualifiers, which are swiftly followed by the HSBC Canada Womens Sevens at Starlight Stadium in Langford, BC on April 30 and May 1. Tickets can be purchased here.
Were really looking forward to the opportunity to compete at the RAN Sevens Qualifiers this weekend, commented Hanratty. Our roster is full of exciting young talent which will benefit from the experience of playing at this event, which is so important in our quest to qualify for the Rugby World Cup Sevens in South Africa. Its also really nice to welcome back Bianca [Farella] and Keyara [Wardley] to the group after their recent absences.
This is our longest training block of the season and this group has worked incredibly hard not just those selected, but the entire squad to ensure we are ready for what is a busy schedule and an important couple of weeks which will help define our year.
WOMENS SCHEDULE / COVERAGE
For full coverage of the RAN Sevens Qualifiers, head to the RAN website. The schedule for the event was confirmed on March 25.
WHERE TO WATCH
Every minute of action of every game will be streamed free and live on RANs website throughout the tournament with a mixture of English and Spanish commentary. Simply go to www.rugbyamericasnorth.com to watch all the action.
CANADAS WOMENS SEVENS RAN QUALIFIERS ROSTER
1. Olivia De Couvreur (Ottawa, ON) – Ottawa Irish
2. Olivia Apps (Lindsay, ON) – Lindsay RFC
3. Pamphinette Buisa (Gatineau, QC) – Ottawa Irish/University of Victoria
4. Breanne Nicholas (Blenheim, ON) – London St. Georges
5. Nakisa Levale (Abbotsford, BC) – Abbotsford RFC
6. Chloe Daniels (Sutton, ON) – RC Maple Leafs Academy/Queens University
7. Florence Symonds (Hong Kong) University of British Columbia
8. Bianca Farella (Montreal, QC) Town of Mount Royal RFC
9. Asia Hogan Rochester (Toronto, ON) Toronto Nomads
10. Fancy Bermudez (Edmonton, AB) – Nor’wester Athletic Association/Westshore RFC
11. Elissa Alarie (Trois Rivieres, QC) Westshore RFC
12. Keyara Wardley (Vulcan, AB) Okotoks Lions
13. Krissy Scurfield (Canmore, AB) University of Victoria
UNAVAILABLE FOR SELECTION DUE TO INJURY AND/OR ILLNESS
Charity Williams
Julia Greenshields