With Paris nearing, every roster selection is being parsed.
University of Victoria Vikes rugby sevens players Krissy Scurfield, Carissa Norsten and Shalaya Valenzuela were named to the Canada roster Friday for the HSBC World Series Singapore Sevens next week, which could bode well for the trio when coach Jack Hanratty makes his final selections for the 2024 Paris Olympics this summer.
Keyara Wardley, a 2020 Tokyo Olympian, draws back in after long-term injury. Also drawing in, for just her second World Series appearance, is 2023 Pan Am Games silver-medallist Eden Kilgour.
Veterans named to the Langford-based world No. 5 national side for the Singapore tournament include Breanne Nicholas, Julia Greenshields and Charity Williams, the latter the last connection to the 2016 Rio Olympics bronze-medallist team.
Canada earned its 2024 Olympic Games berth by winning the North American and Caribbean qualifying tournament last August at Starlight Stadium.
Only two events — Singapore and the World Series Grand Final in Madrid — remain before the Paris Olympics.
“Our team is heading into Singapore excited and eager. Singapore is a great opportunity for us to try some new combinations as we progress towards Madrid, and eventually, Paris,” Canada bench-boss Hanratty said in a statement.
Two strong candidates for the Paris Olympics in sevens, meanwhile, were named to the Canadian XVs roster announced Friday for the Pacific Four Series game against the U.S. on Sunday at Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles. UVic Vikes graduate Pamphinette Buisa was a 2020 Tokyo Olympian and Sophie De Goede of Victoria is captain of the Canadian XVs team and considered a lock to make the sevens team for the Paris Olympics.
“This month we had the opportunity to have both our women’s XVs and sevens teams in the same location [Langford],” said Hanratty.
“It was a great chance for both squads and staffs to collaborate and challenge each other.”
Meanwhile, the world No. 12 Canadian men’s sevens team, also based at Starlight Stadium, will get some relief in Singapore next week with Liam Bowman, Matthew Oworu, Brock Webster and David Richard returning from injury. Henry Kirwan, who came to Langford this month after ending his season at Cardiff Metropolitan University in Wales, will make his sevens debut for Canada in Singapore.
“It’s been great to have some of our players come back from injury, and we’ve put together some strong weeks of training leading into Singapore,” Canada head coach Sean White of Victoria said in a statement.
“It’s been a tough season thus far, however throughout the season we were able to gain valuable experience while taking our lumps. Now is the opportunity to show what we have learned from our mistakes. There’s been a renewed focus and energy.”
Canada is preparing for the last-chance Olympic qualifier for Paris that takes place June 21-23 in Monaco.
