Canada Names Team for Toulouse – Last Stop in Women’s Series: Sophie de Goede Makes 7s Series Debut
The women’s program is in a good place right now, they’re in no danger of relegation as the women’s series, unlike the men’s series, has no relegation this year. Canada sit in 8th place currently and will finish the series in 8th, the team above them Great Britain are too far ahead to catch, the team behind them, Japan, are unlikely to make up the 8 points this tournament. It’s not the top 3 team Canada were used to under John Tait but it’s a good place to be while rebuilding. Also making life easy is the fact USA will finish top 4 and will automatically qualify for the Olympics, meaning they won’t be at the RAN qualification tournament in August, the women should qualify for the Olympics with ease.
In that relaxed atmosphere they can rest players with minor injuries, like Krissy Scurfield, and bring in a XVs icon like Sophie de Goede. That will be the main interest in this tournament for Canada, how will Sophie de Goede adapt to the 7s game? Canada are in a pool with NZ, USA and Poland, to make the quarter-finals Canada have to defeat Poland and keep the point differential close with the higher ranked teams. Canada kickoff against USA at 1:44am PT on Friday, face Poland at 7:14am PT and finish off against NZ on Saturday morning at 1:21am PT.
from Rugby Canada
Canadas Womens Sevens Team roster for the HSBC France Sevens, the final womens tournament in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2023, has been named by Head Coach Jack Hanratty.
Competing over May 12 to 14, the team will face the USA, Poland and New Zealand in Pool A at Stade Ernest-Wallon. This is the teams final competition ahead of the qualification event for Paris 2024 at Starlight Stadium in Langford, BC this August.
Making her World Rugby Sevens Series debut is Sophie de Goede, captain of Canadas womens 15s team and 2022 nominee for World Rugbys Womens 15s Player of the Year award. Representing Canada for the first time at the senior international level is Eden Kilgour, a Maple Leaf Academy player and RBC Training Ground athlete.
Fancy Bermudez returns to Canadas Womens Sevens Team following her international 15s debut in late March against South Africa. Sabrina Poulin also returns, having competed on the 2022 World Rugby Sevens Series ahead of playing at the 2021 Rugby World Cup (played in 2022).
With 11 players in the womens sevens program continuing the return to play process following injury, a prolonged camp was held in Capbreton, France ahead of selection for the HSBC France Sevens to continue advancing the depth of the program.
We have had a fantastic 10 day camp with the French development side, and it has allowed us to build the capacity of our program, said Hanratty. With announcing our competing squad, we have another two exciting debutantes in Eden and Sophie. Building depth is important, but we want to show that our depth can compete at the highest level. We look forward to ending the season on a high.
Canada opens pool play against the USA on Friday May 12 at 1:44 a.m. PT / 4:44 a.m. ET, followed by Poland on Friday May 12 at 7:14 a.m. PT / 10:14 a.m. ET and New Zealand on Saturday May 13 at 1:21 a.m. PT / 4:21 a.m. ET.
SCHEDULE / COVERAGE
For the most up to date information on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and live coverage, visit the official website world.rugby/sevens-series. There you will find details regarding the event format, schedule, and the latest news.
WHERE TO WATCH
Broadcast coverage of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series will be available in Canada via CBC. All events are available to live stream via cbcsports.ca, the CBC Sports app, and the free CBC Gem streaming service.
CANADAS WOMENS SEVENS ROSTER
1. Olivia De Couvreur (Ottawa, ON) Ottawa Irish
4. Breanne Nicholas (Blenheim, ON) Kent Havoc RFC
5. Julia Greenshields (Sarnia, ON) Sarnia Saints
10. Fancy Bermudez (Edmonton, AB) NorWester Athletic Association / Westshore RFC
11. Piper Logan (Calgary, AB) Calgary Hornets / University of British Columbia
14. Eden Kilgour (Barrie, ON) Westshore RFC
15. Sophie de Goede (Victoria, BC) Castaway Wanderers RFC
16. Alysha Corrigan (Charlottetown, PEI) CRFC / Saracens
21. Olivia Apps (Lindsay, ON) Lindsay RFC
22. Sabrina Poulin (St-Georges, QC) TMRRFC / Eibar Rugby Taldea
23. Shalaya Valenzuela (Abbotsford, BC) Abbotsford RFC
33. Maddy Grant (Cornwall, ON) University of Ottawa