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Rugby Canada have announced a return of their sevens sides to the pitch after a year’s hiatus. Both the women and men’s teams will travel to Dubai to participate in an Olympic preparation tournament hosted in Dubai. Their opposition has yet to be revealed.
As was the recent Madrid Sevens, there will be two separate events at the same location. The first weekend will be April 2-3, with the second April 8-9. Each team will travel with enlarged squads. The women will take 19 players and the men 17.
A notable inclusion for the women is 18-year-old Florence Symonds, who has previously played for the Hong Kong senior women’s sevens side. Having done so as a 17-year-old, she is not considered captured and is therefore eligible to represent Canada without observing a three year stand-down period.
Meanwhile the men’s side are absent three experienced forwards. None of Adam Zaruba, Isaac Kaay, or Mike Fuailefau are named in the squad. It’s not clear if they were available to travel.
There is no mention of the traveling coaching staff for either team. This will be the first tournament the women have played since the shock removal of John Tait as Head Coach. An independent investigation into what led to the change is due to be released next month.
CANADA WOMEN’s 7s
Delaney Aikens. Elissa Alarie, Olivia Apps, Britt Benn, Pam Buisa, Emma Chown, Caroline Crossley, Bianca Farella, Julia Greenshields, Asia Hogan-Rochester, Sara Kaljuvee, Ghislaine Landry, Kaili Lukan, Kayla Moleschi, Breanne Nicholas, Karen Paquin, Florence Symonds, Keyara Wardley, Charity Williams
CANADA MEN’s 7s
Phil Berna, Connor Braid, Cooper Coats, Andrew Coe, Justin Douglas, Lucas Hammond, Nathan Hirayama, Harry Jones, Pat Kay, Josiah Morra, Matt Mullins, Brennig Prevost, Alex Russell, Theo Sauder, Jake Thiel, Conor Trainer, Brock Webster
