Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Rugby Canada has confirmed their Men’s and Women’s traveling squads for the Tokyo Olympics. Both rosters include 13 players. Olympic rules require a final group of 12 to be submitted by June 30 with one from each list to be designated as an alternate.
The selections are largely as expected. Nathan Hirayama and Harry Jones will co-captain the Men’s side. Both were part of the team in 2016 that came up short in the final Repechage tournament in Monaco. Five others in the current squad were in that group – Phil Berna, Justin Douglas, Mike Fuailefau, Lucas Hammond, and Conor Trainor.
Canada’s Men succeeded in qualifying for the first time by winning the 2019 Rugby Americas North tournament. Players from that team who missed out on final selection for Tokyo include Cooper Coats, Josiah Morra, Isaac Kaay, and Adam Zaruba. The latter only recently returned to training from a long-term knee injury.
The Men’s team finished in 8th spot during the shortened 2019-2020 World Sevens Series, including a 3rd-place finish at the final tournament in Vancouver.
This will be the second time the Women’s team has qualified for the Olympics. They did so by finishing 3rd during the 2018-2019 World Sevens Series, repeating that ranking during the 2019-2020 season. Canada defeated Great Britain to win Bronze at Rio 2016.
Leading the Women’s team will be Ghislaine Landry. The all-time leader in points scored on the Sevens Series is joined by five other members of the 2016 tournament – Britt Benn, Bianca Farella, Kayla Moleschi, Karen Paquin, and Charity Williams.
The Men’s bracket in Tokyo will take place between July 26 and 28, followed by the Women’s bracket from July 29-31. A complete schedule has yet to be confirmed.
CANADA MEN’S SEVENS
Phil Berna, Connor Braid, Andrew Coe, Justin Douglas, Mike Fuailefau, Lucas Hammond, Nathan Hirayama (co-capt.), Harry Jones (co-capt.), Pat Kay, Matt Mullins, Theo Sauder, Jake Thiel, Conor Trainor
STAFF
Head Coach – Henry Paul
Analyst – Calum Ramsay
S&C Coach – Matt Barr
Therapist – Andrew McMillan
Manager – Paul-Henri van Thiel
CANADA WOMEN’S SEVENS
Elissa Alarie, Olivia Apps, Britt Benn, Pam Buisa, Bianca Farella, Julia Greenshields, Ghislaine Landry (capt.), Kaili Lukan, Kayla Moleschi, Breanne Nicholas, Karen Paquin, Keyara Wardley, Charity Williams
STAFF
Head Coach – Mick Byrne
Assistant Coach – Maria Gallo
Analyst – Sandro Fiorino
S&C Coach – Shawn Preston
Therapist – Lori Silver
Mental Performance – Sommer Christie
Manager – Darcy Patterson
