With files from Rugby Canada Communications

Langford, BC – Canada’s women’s sevens team head coach John Tait has named his roster for the Canada Sevens, the penultimate event in the 2016-17 HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series.

Coming off a silver medal last month at the Kitakyushu Sevens in Japan, Canada enters this weekend’s tournament third overall in the series standings with 64 points.

With two tournaments to play, Canada sit 12 points behind series leaders New Zealand but only two points behind second-place Australia. A good showing in Langford will all but secure a top-three finish to the season as they are 14 points up on fourth-place Fiji.

After an impressive showing in Japan, which saw Canada play some of their best rugby of the season, Tait is making just one change to the team that will lineup at Westhills stadium in Langford, BC on Saturday.

Sara Kaljuvee makes way for Caroline Crossley, who returns to the squad after missing out in Kitakyushu. Crossley’s size will be beneficial in Canada’s pool matches against France and Russia, two of the more hard-hitting teams on the circuit. In fact, the last time Crossley was named to the team was in Las Vegas, where Canada was grouped with France, Russia and Argentina. Canada finished a perfect 3-0 in that pool and will look to do the same this weekend in a very similar grouping.

Canada will be the top seed in Pool B alongside Brazil, France and Russia.

Canada kicks off pool play against Brazil, who they have never lost to in seven matches on the series. Canada will follow that up with a match against France, whose last win against the Canadians came in the Cup Quarterfinals of last year’s Canada Sevens, a shocking come-from-behind win that stunned the hosts. Canada will finish up Pool B action against the Russians, who they dominated 41-0 four weeks ago in Kitakyushu.

Canada will be looking to become the first host nation ever to win a series event on the women’s circuit, but history suggests it won’t come easy. While Canada has finished a perfect 3-0 on Day One of the Canada Sevens in back-to-back years, they have been eliminated in the Cup Quarterfinals two years in a row.

Maybe for Tait and his team, third time’s a charm.

Canada’s Canada Sevens Roster (Name, club, hometown):

Britt Benn – Guelph Redcoats (Napanee, ON)

Caroline Crossley – Castaway Wanderers (Victoria, BC)

Hannah Darling – Peterborough Pagans (Warsaw, ON)

Bianca Farella – Town of Mont Royal (Montreal, QC)

Julia Greenshields – Sarnia Saints (Sarnia, ON)

Jen Kish – Edmonton Rockers (Edmonton, AB) 

Ghislaine Landry (captain) – Toronto Scottish (Toronto, ON) 

Megan Lukan – Unattached (Barrie, ON)

Breanne Nicholas – London St. Georges (Blenheim, ON)

Ashley Steacy – Lethbridge Rugby Club (Lethbridge, AB)

Natasha Watcham-Roy – Hull Volant (Gatineau, QC)

Charity Williams – Markham Irish (Toronto, ON)

Reserves:

Sara Kaljuvee – Toronto Scottish (Ajax, ON)

Kaili Lukan – Unattached (Barrie, ON)

Unavailable:

Kayla Moleschi – Williams Lake Rustlers (Williams Lake, BC)

Coaching Staff:

Meaghan Howat – Manager

John Tait – Head Coach

Sandro Fiorino – Assistant Coach

Morgan Williams – Assistant Coach

Canada's Canada Sevens Day 1 Schedule (Saturday, May 27):

Canada vs Brazil at 3:20 pm ET / 12:20 pm PT

Canada vs France at 6:04 pm ET / 3:04 pm PT

Canada vs Russia at 8:48 pm ET / 5:48 pm PT

Canada's Canada Sevens Day 2 Schedule (Sunday, May 28):

TBD