Sophie De Goede of Victoria has proven herself in XVs, captaining Canada to the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup last fall in New Zealand, and being named a nominee for World Rugby women’s XVs player of the year.
Now the former Oak Bay Secondary rugby and basketball star stakes her claim to becoming an Olympian by being named to the Canadian sevens team.
De Goede will play in the HSBC World Series season concluding France Sevens next week in Toulouse. It is the last World Series event before Canada hosts the men’s and women’s North American and Caribbean qualifying tournaments, on Aug. 19-20 at Starlight Stadium in Langford, for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Also added to the Canadian women’s roster for the France Sevens is Eden Kilgour from Westshore RFC, discovered by the RBC Training Ground program.
“We have another two exciting debutantes in Eden [Kilgour] and Sophie [De Goede],” Canadian women’s head coach Jack Hanratty said in a statement.
Joining De Goede as a cross-over XVs and sevens player is Fancy Bermudez out of Westshore RFC, who made her XVs debut in March in a Test match against South Africa.
“Building depth is important, but we want to show that our depth can compete at the highest level,” said Hanratty.
The Langford-based Canadian team has been in Capbreton, France, for a training camp.
“We have had a fantastic 10-day camp with the French development side, and it has allowed us to build the capacity of our program,” said Hanratty. “We look forward to ending the season on a high.” Named to the Canadian team for the France Sevens are De Goede, Kilgour, Bermudez, Shalaya Valenzuela, Maddy Grant, Alysha Corrigan, Sabrina Poulin, Piper Logan, Olivia De Couvreur and Tokyo Olympians Breanne Nicholas, Julia Greenshields and Olivia Apps.
Canada will open group play in the France Sevens next Friday at Stade Ernest-Wallon against the U.S., Poland and defending Olympic champion New Zealand
