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John Tait has named a 24-strong centralized squad to prepare for the 2018-19 HSBC Women’s Sevens Series. The new circuit is comprised of six stops, beginning with a new stop at Glendale’s Infinity Park to start the season on October 20.
There are five returnees from the 2016 Olympic Bronze Medal-winning roster. Ghislaine Landry continues as captain with Britt Benn, Bianca Farella, Kayla Moleschi, and Charity Williams all included. Jen Kish has retired while Hannah Darling, Megan Lukan, and Natasha Watcham-Roy are notable absentees.
Five players are new to the training group. Fancy Chavez, Kendra Cousineau, Bethany Cudmore, Temi Ogunjimi, and Sabrina Poulin were not part of last year’s group. Ogunjimi is a two-sport star who was named USports Wrestler of the Year in 2017-18 and a finalist for overall Athlete of the Year.
Canada finished the 2017-18 circuit in 4th place, the first time they have not placed in the top 3. They fell to 7th place at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco earlier this year. This season doubles as a 2020 Olympic qualifier with the top four teams earning their place at Tokyo.
2018-19 CANADA WOMEN’S SEVENS TRAINING GROUP
Olivia Apps (Lindsay), Britt Benn (Guelph Redcoats), Pam Buisa (Ottawa Irish), Fancy Chavez (Nor’Westers), Emma Chown (Aurora Barbarians), Kendra Cousineau (Niagara Wasps), Caroline Crossley (Castaway Wanderers), Bethany Cudmore (Barrie), Olivia De Couvreur (Ottawa Irish), Bianca Farella (TMR), Maddy Grant (Cornwall Claymores), Julia Greenshields (Sarnia Saints), Carmen Izyk (Foothills Lions), Sara Kaljuvee (Toronto Scottish), Ghislaine Landry (capt., Toronto Scottish), Nakisa Levale (Abbotsford Griffins), Tausani Levale, (Abbotsford Griffins), Kaili Lukan (Barrie), Kayla Moleschi (Williams Lake Rustlers), Breanne Nicholas (London St. George’s), Temi Ogunjimi (Calgary Hornets), Sabrina Poulin (TMR), Keyara Wardley (Foothills Lions), Charity Williams (Markham Irish)
HSBC WOMEN’S SEVENS SERIES SCHEDULE
Oct 20-21, 2018 – Glendale, USA
Nov 29-30, 2018 – Dubai, UAE
Feb 1-3, 2019 – Sydney, AUS
Apr 20-21, 2019 – Kitakyushu, JPN
May 11-12, 2019 – Langford, CAN
May 31-Jun 2, 2019 – Paris, FRA
