Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team named for New Zealand Sevens

January 12, 2023 (Langford, BC) – Head Coach Jack Hanratty has named Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team for the next stop of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2023 in Hamilton, New Zealand.

The third tournament of the 2023 women’s series, the New Zealand Sevens will take place January 20-22 at FMG Stadium Waikato, with Canada competing in Pool B along with France, Australia and Japan. The team returns to action following back-to-back legs in Dubai and Cape Town in December.

Four players will make their first appearances of the Sevens Series 2023 following a number of injuries. Maddy Grant and Alysha Corrigan make the transition over from the 15s game, having last represented Canada at the 2021 Rugby World Cup (played in 2022) in New Zealand this past fall. Corrigan was named Player of the Match in the final pool game versus the USA en route to Canada’s exceptional fourth place finish.

Tokyo Olympian Pamphinette Buisa returns to the sevens roster, along with Chloe Daniels, a former Maple Leaf Academy player who made her World Rugby Sevens Series debut in Dubai in 2021 at the age of 18. Buisa and Daniels were also both called upon to support Canada at the 2021 Rugby World Cup.

“We were hit hard with injuries in Cape Town and we had players stepping up and getting an opportunity to gain some crucial Sevens Series experience,” said Jack Hanratty, Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team Head Coach. “Every stop on the series is an opportunity to test ourselves against the best, and we are looking forward to starting off the new year with the chance to test the strength and depth of our squad in New Zealand.”

Canada opens pool play against France on Friday January 20 at 2:00 p.m. PT / 5:00 p.m. ET, followed by matches against Australia at 5:50 p.m. PT / 8:50 p.m. ET and Japan at 8:34 p.m. PT / 11:34 p.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. Please note that due to matches being played on two fields simultaneously, select matches may not be broadcast.

CANADA’S WOMEN’S SEVENS ROSTER

1. Olivia De Couvreur (Ottawa, ON) – Ottawa Irish
2. Krissy Scurfield (Canmore, AB) – University of Victoria
3. Renee Gonzalez (Toronto, ON) – University of Victoria
6. Charity Williams (Toronto, ON) – Markham Irish
8. Bianca Farella (Montreal, QC) – Town of Mont Royal RFC
10. Fancy Bermudez (Edmonton, AB) – Nor’Westers Athletic Association / Westshore RFC
16. Alysha Corrigan (Charlottetown, PEI) – CRFC / Saracens
19. Nakisa Levale (Abbotsford, BC) – Abbotsford RFC
21. Olivia Apps (Lindsay, ON) – Lindsay RFC
23. Shalaya Valenzuela (Abbotsford, BC) – Abbotsford RFC
33. Maddy Grant (Cornwall, ON) – University of Ottawa
77. Chloe Daniels (Sutton, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Queen’s University
99. Pamphinette Buisa (Gatineau, QC) – Ottawa Irish / University of Victoria