Sao Paulo Sevens will host the next leg of the ever growing Women’s Sevens Series. The tournament will be from the 20-21 of February. It will serve as the perfect prelude to the Rio Olympics as the teams will gauge what the Brazilian weather is like leading to Rio. The Australian Pearls will try to maintain their lead, the Kiwis will try to defend their title while the Canadians, the unpredictable French, Russians, Americans and the ever improving Fijiana girls will try to go one better from their last outing.
Sao Paulo Sevens: Pool A (Australia, Canada, Fiji and Ireland )
Canada
After finishing sixth in Dubai, the Canadians will be looking for a better finish in Sao Paulo. Head Coach John Tait has given age grade player Breanne Nicholas her debut this weekend after featuring well for the Maple Leafs Development side in Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Central Coast and Las Vegas in the last 12 months.
The team will be without some of it’s experienced players like Magali Harvey, Natasha Watcham-Roy, Ashley Steacy and Elissa Alarie but they welcome back one of the best women’s sevens player in Ghislaine Landry.
Jen Kish will again lead her side with Megan Lukan, Karen Paquin, Kelly Rusell and Landry to all play a vital role for them this weekend.
Canada Squad:
Britt Benn, Hannah Darling, Bianca Farella, Sarah Kaljuvee, Jen Kish (c), Ghislaine Landry, Megan Lukan, Mandy Marchak, Kayla Moleschi, Breanne Nicholas, Karen Paquin, Kelly Rusell.
Australia
The Series leaders have handed two debutants a chance to stake their claim for a spot in Rio this week in Sao Paulo. Taleena Simon and Mahalia Murphy will make their debut as they have featured strongly for the Pearls in invitational tournaments like the recent Coral Coast Sevens in Fiji.
Shannon Parry will lead the side after injury has forced captain Sharnia Williams out but they still have the power and pace to win back to back titles with the likes of Emilee Cherry, Elia Green, Alicia Quirk, Charlottee Caslick and Amy Turner still in the mix.
Australian Squad:
Shannon Parry (c). Taleena Simon, Nicole Beck, Gemma Etheridge, Emma Tonegato, Evania Pelite, Charlotte Caslick, Mahalia Murphy, Amy Turner, Alicia Quirk, Emilee Cherry, Elia Green.
Fiji
The Fijiana side were the darling of Day One in Dubai and will try to go all the way this time in Sao Paulo. They will again be led by captain courageous Ana Maria Rogica and will be assisted by ‘Women Mountain’ Litia Naiqato, Tima Tamoi, Lavenia Tinai, Rusila Nagasau and ‘Wonder Kid’ Jiowana Sauto.
There are two new debutants in Miriama Marawa and Miriama Naiobasali while missing from the squad are Asinate Savu and the two overseas based reps in Rebecca Tavo and Brittany Coates.
Fijiana Squad;
Ana Maria Roqica (c), Rusila Nagasau, Miriama Marawa, Miriama Naiobasali, Litia Naiqato, Timaima Ravisa, Viniana Riwai, Jiowana Sauto, Lavenia Tinai, Luisa Tisolo, Talica Vodo, Timaima Tamoi.
Ireland
The Irish will try to improve from their last standing finish in Dubai. Their recent series with Australia at the Sydney Sevens has really helped this Irish ladies and they will try to win a game or two this weekend.
Ireland Squad:
Ashleigh Baxter, Eimear Considine, Kate Fitzhenry, Stacey Flood, Louise Galvin, Shannon Houston, Claire Keohane, Alison Miller, Lucy Mulhall (c), Amee Leigh Murphy-Crowe, Audrey O’Flynn, Megan Williams.
Pool B (New Zealand, Russia, USA and Spain)
New Zealand
After winning the plate in Dubai and the shock loss to Russia on Day Two, Head Coach Sean Horan heads to this weekends Sao Paulo Sevens with high hopes as he welcomes back some of the stars of Women’s Rugby not only in New Zealand but the World as they try to defend their Brazilian title.
The team welcome back the side stepper Kayla McAlister and hardworking playmaker in Huriana Manuel.
New Zealand Squad;
Michaela Blyde, Kelly Brazier, Gayle Broughton, Sarah Goss (c), Kayla McAlister, Huriana Manuel, Tyla Nathan-Wong, Hazel Tubic, Ruby Tui, Kat Whata-Simpskins, Niall Williams, Portia Woodman.
Travelling Reserves; Honey Hireme and Stacey Waaka.
Russia
The Russians dethroned New Zealand in Dubai and have stamped their mark as one of the best in Women’s Sevens. Losing the final to Australia was heartbreaking and they will try to improve and go one further. Expect new names and faces this weekend as the Russians continue to build towards Rio.
USA
After a dismal performace in Dubai the Americans will try to get their campaign back on track in Sao Paulo and they have boosted their squad with Bui Baravilala and Joanne Fa’avesi.
USA Squad
Bui Baravilala, Megan Bonny, Ryan Caryle, Joanne Fa’avesi, Rachael Griendling, Kelly Griffin, Jessica Javelet, Alev Kelter, Ashley Perry, Jillion Potter, Naya Tappeer, Kristen Thomas.
Spain
The Leonas of Spain have a tough battle in this pool but last season they created the biggest upset when they ended New Zealand’s 37-game winning streak which playmaker and stalwart Patricia Garcia remembers vividly.
“It was a great moment for us. Beating New Zealand was amazing – it made the news in Spain and a lot of people were talking about it” Patricia Garcia speaking to worldrugby.com
Spain Squad:
Elisabet Martinez, Iera Extebarria, Irene Schiavon, Amain Arbin, Angela Del Pan, Berta Garcia, Lourdes Almeda, Maria Casado, Patricia Garcia, Paula Medin, Tesesa Bueso, Vanesa Rail.
Pool C (England, France, Japan and Brazil)
The English have four debutants and are a strong contender this weekend. Emily Scarratt will again lead the side with Jo Watmore and Amy Wilson-Hardy.
England Squad:
Claire Allan, Natasha Brennan, Heather Fisher, Vicky Fleetwood, Natasha Hunt, Sarah McKenna, Katy McLean, Marlie Packer, Alice Richardson, Emily Scarratt (c), Jo Watmore, Amy Wilson-Hardy.
France
The French like their male counterparts can beat any team on their day, their unpredictability is their main weapon and look forward to more of the same from the ladies in blue over the two days. They had a great start in Dubai losing the third place playoff against England in extra-time but have displayed enough understanding of the game to test the big guns on any given day.
Brazil
The Tupis Head coach has named his 12 players to represent the host Brazil at the Sao Paulo Sevens this weekend. Included are players from five Brazilian States with South America’s largest city Sao Paulo as the largest provider with six. The Brazilians will try to improve from their 10th position in Dubai.
Brazil Squad:
Paula Ishibashi, Edna Santini, Julia Sarda, Juliana Esteves, Mariana Ramalho, Luiza Campos, Beatriz Futuro, Maira Behrendt, Raquel Kochhan, Haline Scatrut, Amanda Araujo, Bianca Santos.
The stage is set for two days of sevens rugby fiesta at the Arena Barniberi, the 31,000 seat Stadium will again host the Brazilian leg for the third consecutive year. With the Women’s game evolving we expect more high quality and faced paced rugby in the next two days.
Follow all the action from Sao Paulo here on Last Word on Sports.
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