From an Olympic medal at Rio 2016, to the current rebuild and looming steep climb just to qualify for Paris 2024, Bianca Farella has been through it all with the Langford-based Canadian women’s rugby sevens team.
Farella, steady and reliable, headlines the host team announced Tuesday for the sa国际传媒 Sevens from March 3-5 at sa国际传媒 Place. Farella, 30, is the Canadian leader and world fourth all-time in career HSBC World Series game appearances with 235.
“I have had a lot of success and I feel being a part of this rebuild has also been good for me,” Farella told the sa国际传媒.
“We are not in the position sa国际传媒 is usually used to [in women’s sevens], and we wish we were in a better position. But this group has a lot of tenacity and speed and is fired up and hungry and not happy about the results in the last four World Series tournaments.”
sa国际传媒, a formerly reliable top-four placer, is in 10th place in the HSBC World Series standings. The top-four teams at the end of this season will qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, with it looking increasingly likely sa国际传媒 will have to go through the regional North America and Caribbean Olympic qualifier for the first time in team history. If a late run up the World Series table is to happen, it must start at sa国际传媒 Place.
“We’ve had a really good training block here in Langford and are excited and hungry to execute under pressure,” said Farella.
“Being at home is pressure but it’s good pressure.”
Two emerging young stars of the rebuild are returning from injury and named to the team for the sa国际传媒 Sevens — Krissy Scurfield from the University of Victoria Vikes and Piper Logan from Calgary and the UBC Thunderbirds, who both showed well in the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. Taejah Thompson, out of the University of Calgary, will make her national-team debut.
Four Olympians were named with the veteran portion of the squad led by Farella, Olivia Apps, Breanne Nicholas and Keyara Wardley. Also named were Fancy Bermudez from Westshore RFC, Olivia De Couvreur, Florence Symonds, Alysha Corrigan and Chloe Daniels.
“We have had an excellent few weeks of hard work [in Langford]. The players and staff knew that things had to elevate if we want to get into the knockout stages of World Rugby Sevens Series tournaments,” said sa国际传媒 head coach Jack Hanratty, in a statement.
“The injuries that we have had over the last four tournaments have created opportunities for others to gain valuable experience, but now we want to add consistency in our performances and our results. Playing at home is incredibly special and we want to grab the opportunity to showcase the work we’ve done over this training block.”
sa国际传媒 will open group play March 3 against Ireland and the U.S. and will meet Brazil on March 4.
The sa国际传媒 Sevens roster for the national men’s team, also based in Langford, has yet to be announced.
