Canada’s sevens rosters announced as teams prepare to kick off the 2024 HSBC SVNS Series in Dubai

Monday November 20, 2023 (Langford, BC) - Canada’s Women’s and Men’s Sevens Teams kick-off the 2024 HSBC SVNS Series this December in Dubai, UAE, and rosters have been named by Head Coaches Jack Hanratty and Sean White.

The Sevens Stadium Dubai is host to the first stop of the newly rebranding HSBC SVNS Series, the first of eight tournaments featuring 12 women’s and 12 men’s teams. Prior to arriving in Dubai, Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team will train in Abu Dhabi alongside New Zealand, France and Brazil, coinciding with the inaugural Abu Dhabi 7s Festival hosted at the Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub.

Nine players return from Canada’s silver medal women’s sevens Santiago 2023 Pan American Games squad, including Carissa Norsten, who made her international sevens debut in Chile earlier this month with a three-try performance. Florence Symonds, Krissy Scurfield, Olivia Apps and Fancy Bermudez—the Mastercard Player of the Match in Canada’s recent victory over France—cross back over to sevens following a second-place finish at the inaugural WXV tournament in New Zealand. All four players made their international 15s debut this year ahead of WXV, earning opportunities to start matches against top unions such as England, New Zealand, and France.

“It’s been a big number of weeks for Canadian women’s rugby. We had some great performances and big learnings to take away from the Pan Am Games, and the four players who rejoin from WXV earned valuable time in big pressure moments,” said Jack Hanratty, Head Coach of Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team. “We are excited about the 13 traveling, and know we also have a great group back home that is preparing for the season ahead. The focus this month has been reconnecting as a group and assessing our Pan Am performances. Individual attacking strengths, as well as clarity in defensive roles has and will continue to be a theme for the group. We are also excited for the unique opportunity we have this week to scrimmage with other top nations in Abu Dhabi, prior to our arrival in Dubai.”

Eight players from Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team that won bronze at the recent Pam American Games in Santiago, Chile will be on the field representing Canada in Dubai to begin the 2024 HSBC SVNS Series. Changes to the roster from Santiago to Dubai include the additions of former Pacific Pride players Max Stewart, who debuted with the team earlier this year, and Cody Nhanala, who debuted in 2021 with Canada’s Sevens Team. Cooper Coats, Matthew Oworu and Josiah Morra also join the squad after competing with Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team at the La Vila International Rugby Cup in Spain the past few weeks.

“Returning from Santiago our group is training with more purpose. We are aware that at times we got away with some mistakes that will hurt us more on the World Series. But that’s the game. It’s fast paced, relentless and unforgiving,” said Sean White, Head Coach of Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team. “To match that, we've emphasized the execution of our core skills, being intentional in our roles, and clinical accuracy in the contact area. Little things become big things and that has been our focus over the past two weeks.”

DUBAI POOL PLAY SCHEDULE
Saturday December 2

Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team vs France
9:00 p.m. PT (Friday December 1) / 12:00 a.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. local time

Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team vs New Zealand
10:50 p.m. PT (Friday December 1) / 1:50 a.m. ET / 10:50 a.m. local time

Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team vs the USA
11:37 p.m. PT (Friday December 1) / 2:37 a.m. ET / 11:37 a.m. local time

Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team vs South Africa
2:58 a.m. PT / 5:58 a.m. ET / 2:58 p.m. local time

Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team vs Spain
3:45 a.m. PT / 6:45 a.m. ET / 3:45 p.m. local time

Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team vs Samoa
7:38 a.m. PT / 10:38 a.m. ET / 7:38 p.m. local time

Following the Dubai tournament, both teams will travel to South Africa for Cape Town SVNS (December 9-10, 2023). The first tournament of the new year will take place in Perth over January 26-28, 2024. Catch both teams in action on home soil at HSBC Vancouver Sevens (February 23-25, 2024) at BC Place. Buy tickets now at vansevens.com.

MORE INFO
For the most up to date information on the HSBC SVNS Series and live coverage, including details on the event format, the schedule and the latest news, visit the official website: https://www.svns.com/en

CANADA’S WOMEN’S SEVENS ROSTER

1. Olivia De Couvreur (Ottawa, ON) - Ottawa Irish
6. Charity Williams (Toronto, ON) - Markham Irish
7. Florence Symonds (Hong Kong) - University of British Columbia
10. Fancy Bermudez (Edmonton, AB) - NorWester Athletic Association / Westshore RFC
11. Piper Logan (Calgary, AB) - Calgary Hornets / University of British Columbia
13. Krissy Scurfield (Canmore, AB) - University of Victoria
16. Alysha Corrigan (Charlottetown, PEI) - CRFC
19. Carissa Norsten (Waldheim, SK) - Kirin RFC / University of Victoria
21. Olivia Apps (Lindsay, ON) - Lindsay RFC
23. Shalaya Valenzuela (Abbotsford, BC) - Abbotsford RFC
24. Asia Hogan-Rochester (Toronto, ON) - Toronto Nomads RFC
35. Caroline Crossley (Victoria, BC) - Castaway Wanderers
77. Chloe Daniels (Sutton, ON) Aurora Barbarians / Queen’s University

CANADA’S MEN’S SEVENS ROSTER

2. Jake Thiel (Victoria, B.C.) - James Bay AA
4. Phil Berna (Vancouver, B.C.) - Vancouver Rowing Club
5. Alex Russell (Chichester, ENG) - McGill University
6. Josiah Morra (Toronto, ON) - Castaway Wanderers / Toronto Saracens
8. Cooper Coats (Halifax, NS) - Halifax Tars
12. David Richard (Milton, Ont.) - Mississauga Blues RFC
19. Matthew Oworu (Calgary, AB) - Pacific Pride
21. Max Stewart (Cape Town, RSA) – Pacific Pride
23. Thomas Isherwood (Okotoks, AB) - Foothills Lions RFC
33. Kal Sager (Peterborough, Ont.) - Peterborough Pagans / Trent University
44. Lockie Kratz (Victoria, B.C.) - Castaway Wanderers / NOLA Gold
59. Cody Nhanala (Ottawa, ON – Ottawa Ospreys / Pacific Pride
99. Jack Carson (Victoria, B.C.) - University of British Columbia