Canada’s rugby sevens teams named for Trinbago 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games

Canada’s U18 women’s and men’s sevens rosters have been named for the Trinbago 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games, an international multi-sport event organized by the Commonwealth Games Federation that returns for its seventh edition over August 4-11 in Trinidad and Tobago.

The rugby sevens competition will feature six women’s and six men’s teams competing at Shaw Park Cultural Complex on Tobago from August 6 to 8. The finals will take place on August 8 following round robin play.

Canada is one of three countries sending both women’s and men’s teams, the others being Trinidad and Tobago and Fiji. The women’s competition will also include Wales, Kenya and Australia, while the men’s competition will also feature Jamaica, Scotland and South Africa.

“This is a group of eager, rugby-enthused players who are more than excited to be putting on the jersey and representing Canada in Trinidad and Tobago,” said Darcy Patterson, Head Coach of Canada’s Women’s Commonwealth Youth Games Team. “It will be the first time these players put on a Canada jersey and we hope to make it an incredible experience. There is a legacy of this program doing well at these Games and we are excited to put the work in to keeping that legacy alive.”

Selection for the women’s team was based on nominations from provincial unions, with trials that took place across Canada for the nominated players in advance of final selection. Canada’s men’s team was selected using the Coast to Coast identification process utilized by Rugby Canada’s U18 men’s 15s program this past year, as well as footage from invitational sevens tournaments.

“We’re excited and fortunate to have assembled this team to represent Canada at the 2023 Youth Commonwealth Games,” said Nigel D’Acre, Head Coach of Canada’s Men’s Commonwealth Youth Games Team. “This tournament has been a stepping stone for many current and former national sevens players, and will be a great experience and development opportunity for the entire squad.”

More information about the Trinbago 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games can be found here. Information on how to follow will be available at a later date.

CANADA’S WOMEN’S COMMONWEALTH YOUTH GAMES ROSTER

Adia Pye (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers
Anya Prokopich (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC
Ava Ference (Shawnigan Lake, BC) – Cowichan RFC
Brooke Roddham (Langley, BC) – Langley RFC
Charlotte Hilton (Halifax, NS) – Halifax Tars
Elle Douglas (Saskatoon, SK) – MacDowell Rugby / Cowichan RFC
Kennedi Stevenson (Toronto, ON) – North Halton RFC
Kiki Idowu (Toronto, ON) – TIRF
Lana Dueck (Abbotsford, BC) – Abbotsford, RFC
Olivia Newsome (Calgary, AB) – University of Victoria
Sarah Schonfeld (Ottawa, ON) – Bytown Blues
Skye Farish (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers
Zina Umeh (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Mavericks

Canada vs Wales
August 6, 2023
6:22 a.m. PT / 9:22 a.m. ET

Canada vs Australia
August 6, 2023
11:06 a.m. PT / 2:06 p.m. ET

Canada vs Fiji
August 7, 2023
7:06 a.m. PT / 10:06 a.m. ET

Canada vs Trinidad and Tobago
August 7, 2023
11:50 a.m. PT / 2:50 p.m. ET

Canada vs Kenya
August 8, 2023
7:06 a.m. PT / 10:06 a.m. ET

CANADA’S MEN’S COMMONWEALTH YOUTH GAMES ROSTER

Adam Doane (Sutton, ON) – Aurora Barbarians
Aiden Jones (Mill Bay, BC) – Salish Sea Warriors
Briar Barron (Holland Landing, ON) – Aurora Barbarians
Charles Squires (Stratford, UK) – Stratford Upon Avon RC
Jonty Nicholas (Shawnigan Lake, BC) – Salish Sea Warriors
Max Ross (Langley, BC) – Earl Marriott
Morgan Di Nardo (Toronto, ON) – Toronto City Rugby
Reece Thompson (Barrie, ON) – Barrie RFC
Sebastian Lambert (Denman Island, BC) – Comox Valley Kickers RFC
Spencer Cotie (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers
Stephen Webb (Toronto, ON) – Toronto City Rugby Club / Balmy Beach RFC / Crescent School
Ty Driscoll (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers
Tyge Harvey (Binbrook, ON) – Burlington Centaurs

Canada vs Scotland
August 6, 2023
6:00 a.m. PT / 9:00 a.m. ET

Canada vs Fiji
August 6, 2023
10:44 a.m. PT / 1:44 p.m. ET

Canada vs South Africa
August 7, 2023
6:44 a.m. PT / 9:44 a.m. ET

Canada vs Trinidad and Tobago
August 7, 2023
11:28 a.m. PT / 2:28 p.m. ET

Canada vs Jamaica
August 8, 2023
6:44 a.m. PT / 9:44 a.m. ET