Canada Women’s University Team Finishes 2nd in France at FISU Tournament
Canada looked tired coming out on Day 3 after a big Day 2, knocking off Australia and France. They narrowly got by Spain in the semi-final and lost to Japan in the final as errors crept into their game.
They started off the Spain match with a yellow card and a penalty try against them, set up by a poor decision and a blocked kick from their goal line. It was 7-0 Spain, Canada were down a player and only a minute had gone by. A solo try by #4 (Olivia Sarabura) 5 minutes in tied it up. Canada scored another solo try by #10, she was high tackled in the goal area and Spain received a yellow card. It was 14-7 Canada at the half. Canada picked up their 2nd yellow card with a tackle that knocked a Spanish pass down from the hand. Spain scored quickly from the ensuing lineout, it was tied at 14-14 with four and a half minutes left. At the 12 minute mark Canada sprung the outside runner #6 (Emma Lajeunesse) who powered her way down the sideline and ran it in under the posts, 21-14 and that would be the final score.
In the Japan match Canada opened the scoring with a line break by #3 (Savannah Bauder), 7-0. It was evident early on that Canada had the athletes with power and speed but Japan were quick and had slightly better technical skills in passing and maintaining tackle height. Canada picked up a yellow card at 4 minutes, another tackle with arms spread wide that knocked down an attempted pass. Japan tied it up at 6 minutes with the player advantage, they managed to put together multiple phases in attack and stretched the tired Canada defence. Canada misfired on the next kick off and were penalized for knocking the ball on to a teammate in front. They were penalized again for a high tackle but a forward pass by Japan ended the half, 7-7. Japan turned the ball over at the breakdown to start the second half, they were just faster to the breakdown, their energy level was a step above and they kept the ball moving quickly, it was now 14-7 at 8 minutes. Canada were falling off tackles now and Japan scored another, 21-7 with 3 minutes left. A good defensive effort by Canada prevented another sure try by Japan as they held the ball up in the goal area. On Japan’s scrum Canada won a penalty then a quick tap and kick down the field with #3 (Savannah Bauder) winning the chase, 21-12 with seconds left and that was the final score.
It was a good tournament for Canada, there are some outstanding athletes on the team. They had played a high level development tournament on June 1st and 2nd, 5 games against NZ, Australia, France, Germany and Alsace. Canada won their matches against Germany and Alsace.
Day 3 Video – Canada v Spain at 4:08 and Canada v Japan at 8:41
Canada Women’s University Team Into Semi-Finals in France at FISU Tournament
If I was the senior women’s 7s coach I’d be very happy right now. The next generation of players are dominating. When was the last time Canada were ahead of Australia 21-0 at the half? When was the last time Canada kicked France out of the Cup round on their home turf? It’s happening at the FISU games in France right now.
Canada defeated Australia and France on Day 2 of the tournament. They weren’t even close wins, Canada dominated.
The link to day 2 video is here: https://www.fisu.tv/videos/aix-marseille-provence-2024-fisu-championship-rugby-sevens-day-2 the Canada games are at 3:34 vs Australia and 9:30 vs France. Canada meet Spain in one semi-final and Japan face Australia in the other semi-final.
Canada Sends Women’s Team to World University Rugby Sevens in France for June Competition
The women’s 7s development program is sending a team over to France to participate in two tournaments in June, the first in the Alsace region of France on June 1st and 2nd, then the FISU tournament June 10-12.
The team features 5 athletes who played in the women’s BC Premier XVs championship match last weekend. UBC players, Savannah Bauder (#10), Adia Pye (#14) and Olivia Sarabura (#15) and Westshore players Vanessa Chiappetta (#12), Larah Wright (#13).
The tournament websites are listed below.
https://rugbysevens2024.fisu-events.com/
from Rugby Canada
Twelve U SPORTS women’s rugby players, supported by Rugby Canada’s Maple Leaf Academy, will represent Canada at the 2024 FISU World University Championship Rugby Sevens in Aix-en-Provence, France over June 10 to 12.
Canada will compete alongside Australia, France, South Africa, Ireland, Japan, Spain, Mexico, Poland and India at Maurice David Stadium. This will mark the first time the tournament has been held since 2018, and the first time Canada has competed in the tournament since 2016. Canada has five women’s rugby sevens FISU World University Championship medals, three gold (2004, 2006, 2014) and two silver (2008, 2016).
Prior to the FISU World University Championship, the team will compete in EAAST 7s, an elite international tournament in Haguenau, France from June 1 to 2 that will also feature development teams from nations such as Australia, New Zealand and France.
“This June we have an exciting opportunity for 12 U SPORTS players to compete on the international stage, a valuable experience as they continue to develop as high performance players and move along the pathway towards our senior national teams,” said Iain Monaghan, Head Coach of the Maple Leaf Academy. “The EAAST 7s tournament is a chance to test ourselves against top nations in preparation for the FISU World University Championships, and we’re looking forward to representing Canada in France and seeing these players continue to grow and challenge themselves.”
The Maple Leaf Academy kicked off the 2024 season in late March in Chula Vista, California, with matches against the United States ’ women’s sevens development squad. These matches, along with support from the provincial U SPORTS rugby leads, aided in the selection process for the FISU World University Championship. Additionally, Monaghan, along with Jack Hanratty, Head Coach of Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team, attended the 2024 Canadian University Women’s Rugby 7s National Championships in March in Montreal as part of the identification and selection process.
Named to the squad are two U SPORTS Women’s Rugby Player of the Year award recipients, Savannah Bauder (2023) and Lizzie Gibson (2022), while Larah Wright received the 2021 U SPORTS Rookie of the Year honours. Bauder and Gibson are also two of five players on the squad who competed with Canada’s U23 Women’s Rugby Team last summer, the others being Emily Clark, Carmen Izyk and Kennedy Feasby.
Mahalia Robinson brings senior international experience to the squad, having earned her first cap for Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team in 2023 against South Africa. Robinson is currently on tour with the national team for the 2024 Pacific Four Series and played in Canada’s opening 50-7 win over the United States.
Adia Pye competed in an international sevens competition last summer as well, having been part of Canada’s U18 silver medal 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games squad.
Joining Monaghan on the coaching staff at the FISU World University Championship as an Assistant Coach is Darcy Patterson, an Assistant Coach with the University of British Columbia who served as Head Coach of Canada’s 2023 Women’s Commonwealth Youth Games Team.
Rugby Canada and the Maple Leaf Academy would like to thank the players’ universities for their support as the team prepares for and attends the FISU World University Championship and the EAAST 7s.
More information about the 2024 FISU World University Championship Rugby Sevens, including results, can be found here. More information about the EAAST 7s can be found here.
CANADA’S WOMEN’S SEVENS ROSTER
2024 FISU World University Championship
Adia Pye (Victoria, BC) – University of British Columbia
Angie Olukunmi (Calgary, AB) – University of Calgary
Carmen Izyk (Blackie, AB) – Queen’s University
Lizzie Gibson (Caledon, ON) – Queen’s University
Emily Clark (Mississauga, ON) – University of Guelph
Emma Lajeunesse (Quebec City, QC) – Université Laval
Kennedy Feasby (Port Perry, ON) – University of Guelph
Larah Wright (Calgary, AB) – University of Victoria
Mahalia Robinson (Fulford, QC) – Concordia University
Olivia Sarabura (Guelph, ON) – University of British Columbia
Savannah Bauder (North Vancouver, BC) – University of British Columbia
Vanessa Chiappetta (Riguad, QC) – Carleton University