Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team finishes fourth at 2024 HSBC SVNS Grand Final

Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team finished fourth overall at the 2024 HSBC SVNS Grand Final, meeting New Zealand for a second time in as many days in the third place play-off at the Civitas Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid. Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team lost to Spain in the Challenger Play-offs and has not qualified for the 2025 HSBC SVNS Series. 

Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team faced France in the semi-finals, with Seraphine Okemba putting the French up early. Florence Symonds responded for Canada, her try not converted, to put the score at 7-5. A second Okemba try followed, with Yolaine Yengo scoring in the final minute of the first half to give France a 19-5 lead. Canada rallied back in the second half, with tries from Keyara Wardley (her fifth of the tournament) and Asia Hogan-Rochester, converted by Olivia Apps. Canada fought through to the final whistle, but was unable to add to their score, with France taking the win 19-17, setting up a rematch between Canada and New Zealand. 

The third place play-off started with Charity Williams scoring her 99th world series try, dodging New Zealand’s defence with a great run down the field, her try converted by Chloe Daniels. New Zealand responded in kind, tying the match 7-7, with a second New Zealand try in the final minute of the first half giving them a 12-7 lead. The Black Ferns Sevens scored early in the second half to go up 19-7, which was followed by a try from Olivia Apps off a pass from Alysha Corrigan, with Daniels converting once again. New Zealand secured a 26-14 victory with a final try in the thirteenth minute, with Canada finishing fourth overall. 

“All in all, this is a really positive weekend. This was the year of firsts and with beating New Zealand we’ve now managed and registered wins against every team on the world series this year. In Grand Finals you only play the best, and with us not starting the competition well against our North American rivals the USA, we made it difficult for ourselves, but had incredible composure, resilience and determination to get two wins against two top sides in Great Britain and of course the historical one against New Zealand [in pool play],” said Jack Hanratty, Head Coach of Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team.  

“The France game will be the one that got away. We really felt we had enough to beat France but they’re a ferocious side and we just didn’t captivate on our opportunities and gave them a little bit too much. To be able to compete with New Zealand again was really important. We get to go home now really confident as we build for Paris. The hardest part now is to make our squad, which has been so robust this year, a little built smaller going into the crucial selection time over the next few weeks.” 

Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team will now continue preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympics, with the women’s rugby sevens competition set to kick off at Stade de France on July 28. Further information on how to follow Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team at the Olympics will be released by World Rugby and Rugby Canada in the coming weeks. 

Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team faced the host nation, Spain, in the Challenger Play-off, a winner-takes-all match to determine one of the four teams to qualify for the 2025 HSBC SVNS Series.  

Spain held a 10-0 lead after five minutes, with the majority of the play in Canada’s end. Josiah Morra got Canada on the board in the seventh minute, cutting through the Spanish defence and touching the ball down between the uprights. A conversion from Cooper Coats closed the gap to 10-7 for Spain. Juan Ramos scored his second of the game in the final minute of the first half however, giving Spain a 17-7 lead at half-time. A yellow card to Spain in the ninth minute gave Canada a scrum at Spain’s five-metre line, with Coats scoring immediately, converting his own try to bring the score to 17-14. With the pressure on for both sides as the clock ticked down, Spain scored once more, securing a 22-14 victory.  

“Obviously we’re gutted that we didn’t get the job done. Personally, I’m gutted for the players that sacrificed so much of their time and effort and deserve so much more than what they got today. I’m gutted that their family and friends don’t get to watch them play on the world series next year. I’m gutted for the next wave of young Canadian rugby players who don’t get to see their team play on the world series,” said Sean White, Head Coach of Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team.  

“In the upcoming days, we’ll flip our mindsets to Monaco. We’ll do all we can to prepare for that tournament, put the best product on the field that we can, and try to make amends to what we did here in Madrid. It hurts a lot. We’ve got to move on, we still have another job to do.” 

The focus for Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team now shifts to the World Rugby Sevens Repechage to look to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Taking place over June 21 to 23 in Monaco, the tournament will see 12 men’s teams competing for the final remaining Olympic berth. Canada will compete in Pool B with Great Britain, Uganda and China, with the full schedule to be released by World Rugby shortly. 

For more information on the HSBC SVNS Series, including scores, event format details and the latest news, visit the official website: svns.com