NINE members of the Canada women’s team that won silver at last summer’s Paris Olympics has been named for the Vancouver stop of the HSBC SVNS circuit.
Canada won bronze at last year’s event, defeating Australia 19-14 in the third-place game before New Zealand lifted the trophy with a dominant 35-19 decision over France.
Alysha Corrigan, Fancy Bermudez, Krissy Scurfield and Charity Williams return to the Canadian side for the first time since Paris.
Corrigan, Bermudez and Scurfield have spent the season playing 15s club rugby in England, with Corrigan and Bermudez at Saracens and Scurfield leading the Loughborough Lightning in tries scored.
Williams, a three-time Olympian who helped UBC to its first-ever U-Sports women’s rugby championship in the fall, is one try away from 100 on the HSBC SVNS circuit.
Other Paris Olympians on the Vancouver roster are Asia Hogan-Rochester, Carissa Norsten, Florence Symonds, Olivia Apps and Piper Logan.
Logan captains Canada with Apps as vice-captain.
Breanne Nicholas will play in her 39th SVNS series event, moving her into second place all-time among Canadian women behind only Bianca Farella’s 45.
Pamphinette Buisa returns to the roster after missing the last event in Perth, Australia. Rookies Mahalia Robinson and Olivia Sarabura, who made their international sevens debuts earlier this season, also make the squad.
Iain Monaghan will serve as interim Canada coach in Vancouver with head coach Jocelyn Barrieau on leave in Montreal until March as she prepares to start a family.
“It was a hard-fought selection process, with players making for a competitive selection camp over the last two weeks in Langford (B.C.) and we are excited to see this experienced squad take to the pitch at B.C. Place,” Monaghan said in a statement.
“Vancouver is a special place to play, and our team is eager to get in front of the Canadian crowd and to continue to build upon the work we’ve been doing this season.”
The Canadian women are coming off a season-best fourth in Perth, the third stop on the elite rugby sevens circuit. That performance lifted Canada two places to fifth in the season standings.
Canada opens Feb. 21 against No. 9 Brazil and No. 12 Spain before wrapping up Pool A play the next day against No. 2 Australia.
