Canada’s rosters named for Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens

Head Coaches Jack Hanratty and Sean White have named the Canadian Women’s and Men’s Sevens Teams that will compete at the 2024 Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, the sixth stop of the HSBC SVNS series. 

Taking place over April 5 to 7, this year will mark the 30th anniversary of the tournament and the final time it will be held at Hong Kong Stadium, with the event moving to Kai Tak Sports Park in 2025. For this milestone edition of Hong Kong Sevens, Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team will compete in Pool C against Japan, Spain and the United States, with Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team competing in Pool A against Australia, Fiji and France. 

Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team, who are currently fifth in the HSBC SVNS standings, progressed to the semi-finals at the last two stops of the series, winning bronze in Vancouver with an electrifying 19-14 win over Australia and finishing fourth in Los Angeles. 

Olympians Julia Greenshields and Pamphinette Buisa will compete in their first tournament of the season in Hong Kong, with the team also seeing the return of Charity Williams, who did not compete in Los Angeles due to injury, and Shalaya Valenzuela.  

Two players could hit the 100 point milestone for the season while in Hong Kong. Chloe Daniels leads the team with 89 points, followed by Krissy Scurfield with 85 points from her team-leading 17 tries.  

“There’s a lot to build on from our performances in Vancouver and Los Angeles. We are proud of what we have accomplished this season, but we know that there is still huge room to grow as we look to guarantee our spot in the Grand Final in Madrid while also building to be at our best at the Paris Olympic Games,” said Jack Hanratty, Head Coach of Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team. “Every player in our program, regardless of who is named to the travelling roster, has continued to demonstrate commitment and focus, with preparation for each tournament being a true team effort. We look forward to returning to the international stage in Hong Kong and implementing what we’ve worked on this training block.” 

Three players on Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team are set to make their international sevens debut in Hong Kong, Jack McCarthy, Jesse Kilgour and Morgan Di Nardo. McCarthy, who represented Memorial University at the 2023 Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship (CUMRC), played with the Canada Selects this past February against the MLR’s Seattle Seawolves, as did Kilgour, who joins the sevens team from Rugby Canada’s Pacific Pride Development Academy. 

Last summer, Di Nardo captained Canada’s U18 Men’s Sevens Team at the Youth Commonwealth Games and represented Canada’s U18 Men’s Rugby Team in Amsterdam. He followed this up with a strong rookie season with the University of Victoria and was named a First Team Tournament All-Star at the 2023 CUMRC. 

"It’s always special when players earn the opportunity to gain their first cap in our program,” said Sean White, Head Coach of Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team. “Jack McCarthy’s speed and physicality stand out in training and his aerial skills offer us more opportunity to gain valuable possessions. Jesse Kilgour's attacking instincts and ability to make defenders miss has shown up on the training pitch, so we are excited to see that transfer to the games in Hong Kong. Morgan Di Nardo has been a standout player with UVic this season, and we are happy to have a relationship with UVic allowing him to join us during a pivotal time in their season and in his school year.” 

D’Shawn Bowen returns to international sevens competition for the first time since last January after spending 2023 with the Toronto Arrows. A recent signing with the new Vancouver Highlanders, Bowen was named to Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team’s travelling squad for last summer’s tour in Fiji and Tonga and played with the Canada Selects against the Seawolves in February. 

“D’Shawn’s compact power and the excitement he brings to our attack with ball in hand is unmistakable. Credit to him for staying hungry and motivated in his training with James Bay. Our group has loved having him back in the mix these past few weeks” said White. “We remain focused on the task at hand in Hong Kong. It proves to be another opportunity to test ourselves and our systems as part of our journey towards Madrid and Monaco, however our eyes are set on facing France, Fiji and Australia in a week’s time.” 

HONG KONG POOL PLAY SCHEDULE 

Friday April 5 

Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team vs Japan 
7:30 p.m. PT / 10:30 p.m. ET (Thursday April 4) / 10:30 a.m. local time 

Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team vs Spain 
10:34 p.m. PT (Thursday April 4) / 1:34 a.m. ET / 1:34 p.m. local time 

Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team vs France 
2:56 a.m. PT / 5:56 a.m. ET / 5:56 p.m. local time 

Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team vs Fiji 
5:33 a.m. PT / 8:33 a.m. ET / 8:33 p.m. local time 

Saturday April 6 

Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team vs USA 
6:53 p.m. PT / 9:53 p.m. ET (Friday April 5) / 9:53 a.m. local time 

Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team vs Australia 
10:20 p.m. PT (Friday April 5) / 1:20 a.m. ET / 1:20 p.m. local time 

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: www.svns.com.  

CANADA’S WOMEN’S SEVENS ROSTER 

5. Julia Greenshields (Sarnia, ON) - Sarnia Saints 
6. Charity Williams (Toronto, ON) - Markham Irish 
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 
15. Sophie de Goede (Victoria, BC) - Castaway Wanderers / Saracens 
16. Alysha Corrigan (Charlottetown, PEI) - CRFC 
19. Carissa Norsten (Waldheim, SK) - Kirin RFC / University of Victoria 
21. Olivia Apps (Lindsay, ON) - Lindsay RFC 
22. Sabrina Poulin (St-Georges, QC) - TMRRFC/Eibar Rugby Taldea  
23. Shalaya Valenzuela (Abbotsford, BC) - Abbotsford RFC  
77. Chloe Daniels (Sutton, ON) - Aurora Barbarians / Queen’s University 
99. Pamphinette Buisa (Gatineau, QC) - Ottawa Irish / University of Victoria 

CANADA’S MEN’S SEVENS ROSTER 

4. Phil Berna (Vancouver, BC) - Vancouver Rowing Club  
5. Alex Russell (Chichester, ENG) - McGill University  
6. Josiah Morra (Toronto, ON) - Castaway Wanderers / Toronto Saracens 
13. Jack McCarthy (St. John’s, NL) - Memorial University  
14. D’Shawn Bowen (Toronto, ON) - James Bay AA / Vancouver Highlanders 
15. Ethan Hager (Brantford, ON) - Brantford Harlequins 
17. Jesse Kilgour (Barrie, ON) - Barrie RFC / Pacific Pride  
18. Morgan Di Nardo (Toronto, ON) - Toronto City Rugby / University of Victoria  
24. Kobe Faust (Uxbridge, ON) - Guelph Gryphons  
33. Kal Sager (Peterborough, ON) - Peterborough Pagans / Trent University 
59. Cody Nhanala (Ottawa, ON) – Ottawa Ospreys / Pacific Pride  
64. Elias Hancock (Ottawa, ON) - Bytown Blues 
88. Matt Percillier (Victoria, BC) – University of British Columbia