Canada’s Women’s Sevens lock up 6th place at HSBC France Sevens, Men fall to Wales in 13th-place semi-final

Canada’s Senior Women’s Sevens team finished in 6th place at the HSBC France Sevens, while the Men’s team fell to Wales in their 13th-place semi-final on the third and final day of action in Toulouse.

Henry Paul’s Men’s side kicked off the day’s play as tries from Cole Swannack, Tyler Morgan (2) and Callum Williams ensured the Welsh went into half time with a commanding 22-0 lead.

Brock Webster scored just after the break to get Canada on the board but a 12th-minute Tom Williams try secured a 27-7 victory for Wales.

In their 5th-place semi-final, the Women’s team were forced to come from behind after the USA’s Kristi Kirshe opened the scoring in the second minute. Keyara Wardley levelled up the match as she went over before Olivia De Couvreur scored to ensure Jack Hanratty’s side went into half-time 14-7 up.

A second-half Bianca Farella try sealed a 19-7 victory and made sure Canada advanced to the 5th-place play-off for the second tournament in a row.

There, the Women’s team faced host nation France. In a tightly contested match, the deadlock was eventually broken via Jade Ulutule and Yolaine Yengo tries, which gave the hosts a 12-0 half-time lead.

After the break, Joanna Grisez was sent to the sin bin. Canada took full advantage as, deep in their own 22, they used quick hands out to Krissy Scurfield who raced the length of the pitch to touch down.

France immediately made amends thanks to a Grisez score before Ella O'Regan capped her first HSBC Sevens Series tournament with a try. It didn’t prove decisive, though, as France emerged 19-14 winners.

The France Sevens concludes the Women’s HSBC World Sevens Series season as Canada finished 7th in the standings, while the Men’s series continues as they head to the HSBC London Sevens next weekend (May 28-29) at Twickenham Stadium.