The start of another long and challenging World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series is now only a few weeks away, and Canada are moving their preparations out of the training grounds and onto the pitch.
Earlier this week, the team arrived in Australia where they will compete in the Central Coast Sevens on Oct 24-25. An annual invitational tournament, the CC7s is comprised primarily of Australian domestic clubs, but also features developmental sides from powerhouse nations such as New Zealand and the USA.
Canadian Women Get Ready for Central Coast Sevens
At the CC7s, the women’s teams compete for the Kinesio Cup, and the winning side receives $15 000 in prize money. Canada are the defending champs, having taken top spot in 2014 while outscoring their opponents 221-21 and winning all six of their games.
With pride and profit once again on the line in 2015, Canada have selected a “Maple Leafs” roster which emphasizes the player development angle. Don’t be fooled, however, this is a Canadian side well stocked with of veteran talent.
Key among that experienced group is estimable captain Jen Kish. Her inclusion is a telling sign of how much stock the coaching staff places in team culture, and Kish’s importance within that culture. Her leadership will be augmented by the powerful Mandy Marchak, who has represented Canada at two Sevens World Cups and three XVs World Cups.
Magali Harvey, meanwhile, looks primed to become a fixture in the 2015-16 Canadian squad after initially struggling to transfer her considerable XVs ability to the sevens game last season. She returns to the CC7s to defend her Kinesio Cup MVP title from last year.
As for the newcomers, Megan Lukan and Breanne Nicholls will each be looking to make a good impression in Australia.
Lukan has been on the national selection radar ever since she quit rugby after high school to join the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay basketball program. Obviously a talented athlete, the CC7s wil be Lukan’s second appearance for the Maple Leafs after getting her feet wet in May at a developmental tournament in Amsterdam.
Nicholls, on the other hand, has progressed through the ranks of the national development program, and represented the Maple Leafs on their way to a Cup title at the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens Invitational in China in the spring. Currently playing for the Western University Mustangs, Nicholls was named Rugby Canada’s women’s Young Player of the Year in 2014, and brings plenty of versatility having played outside center, scrumhalf, and fullback throughout her young career.
No doubt the Central Coast Sevens will make for interesting viewing, as it’s traditionally the first step on the global sevens schedule—the sevens preseason, if you will. And of course, Canadian fans can particularly look forward to this season, since it leads into Rio 2016, where Canada is favoured to medal when sevens makes its Olympic debut.
All the CC7s action will be live-streamed on the tournament’s official website, www.centralcoastsevens.com.au
Canada squad for Central Coast Sevens (Name, club, hometown):
Emily Belchos – (Markham Irish) Barrie, ON
Britt Benn – (Guelph Redcoats) Napanee, ON
Caroline Crossley – (Castaway Wanderers) Victoria, BC
Hannah Darling – (Peterborough Pagans) Warsaw, ON
Arielle Dubissette-Borrice – (Toronto Scottish RFC) Toronto, ON
Julia Greenshields – (Sarnia Saints) Sarnia, ON
Magali Harvey – (Club de Rugby Quebec) Quebec City, QC
Sara Kaljuvee – (Toronto Scottish) Ajax, ON
Jen Kish – (Edmonton Rockers RFC) Edmonton, AB
Megan Lukan – (Unattached) Barrie, ON
Kayla Mack – (Wild Oats) Saskatoon, SK
Mandy Marchak – (Capilano) Winnipeg, MB
Kayla Moleschi – (Williams Lake Rustlers) Williams Lake, BC
Breanne Nicholas – (Kent Havoc) Blenheim, ON
Nadia Popov – (Aurora Barbarians) Newmarket, ON
Kelly Russell – (Toronto Nomads) Bolton, ON
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