Canada has announced a seasoned lineup for the upcoming HSBC SVNS Vancouver event, featuring nine members from the team that secured silver at the Paris Olympics last year. The 10th edition of HSBC SVNS Vancouver will take place from Feb. 21-23 at B.C. Place Stadium. Canada clinched bronze at the previous year’s tournament by defeating Australia 19-14 in the third-place match, while New Zealand emerged victorious with a commanding 35-19 win over France.
Among the returning players for Canada are Alysha Corrigan, Fancy Bermudez, Krissy Scurfield, and Charity Williams, who will be rejoining the squad after their performances in Paris. Corrigan and Bermudez have been competing in 15s club rugby in England, with Corrigan and Scurfield contributing to Saracens and Loughborough Lightning, respectively.
Noteworthy among the Canadian players is Williams, a three-time Olympian who recently assisted UBC in capturing their first U-Sports women’s rugby championship. She is just one try away from reaching a milestone of 100 tries on the HSBC SVNS circuit. The Vancouver roster also includes other Paris Olympians such as Asia Hogan-Rochester, Carissa Norsten, Florence Symonds, Olivia Apps, and Piper Logan, with Logan appointed as the team captain and Apps as the vice-captain.
Breanne Nicholas is set to participate in her 39th SVNS series event, positioning her as the second-highest appearance maker among Canadian women, following Bianca Farella with 45 appearances. Additionally, Pamphinette Buisa makes a return to the roster after missing the previous event in Perth, Australia. Rookies Mahalia Robinson and Olivia Sarabura, who debuted in international sevens earlier this season, have also been included in the squad.
In the absence of head coach Jocelyn Barrieau, who is on leave in Montreal, Iain Monaghan will serve as the interim coach for the Vancouver event. Monaghan expressed enthusiasm about the experienced team and emphasized their readiness to compete at B.C. Place. Following a successful fourth-place finish in Perth, Canada has climbed two spots to fifth in the season standings.
Canada’s upcoming matches in Vancouver include encounters against Brazil and Spain on Feb. 21, followed by a game against Australia on the following day. Australia, who defeated Canada in the Perth semifinals, has maintained dominance over the Canadians across this season’s events. The Australian women are currently in close pursuit of Series leader New Zealand, with France holding the third position in the standings.
After Vancouver, the HSBC SVNS circuit will progress to Hong Kong and Singapore before concluding in Carson, Calif. The season winners will be determined at the Singapore event before the top eight men’s and women’s teams compete in the world championship at California’s Dignity Health Sports Park. Last season, Canada’s women finished fifth in the standings, while the men’s team aims to regain a spot in the top tier through World Rugby’s Challenger Series. In Vancouver, the Canadian men will participate in an invitational tournament alongside Japan and Trinidad and Tobago.
The Canada roster for the upcoming event includes a mix of experienced players and promising newcomers who are eager to showcase their skills on the international stage.
