It is a tip-off of what the Canadian women’s rugby sevens roster will be for the 2024 Olympics, and Sophie De Goede of Victoria is likely to be on it in Paris this summer. Also possibly Caroline Crossley of Victoria in a career comeback, Fancy Bermudez of Westshore RFC and University of Victoria players Carissa Norsten and Krissy Scurfield.
It doesn’t get any bigger for the Canadians on the World Series circuit than the sa国际传媒 Sevens from Feb. 23 to 25 at sa国际传媒 Place with the women’s roster announced Thursday. Because it is such a key event for the hosts, head coach Jack Hanratty has pulled out all the stops with his best roster for sa国际传媒 Place and one that will likely also be on the field in Paris.
“The Canadian World Series stop is one that we always look forward to, and our team is excited to step back onto the field at sa国际传媒 Place and put on a performance to be proud of in front of a great home crowd,” Hanratty said in a statement.
“Every single player in our program, regardless of if they are named to a roster or not, has been putting in the work to help the team perform and build towards the Olympics.”
Although better known as sa国际传媒 captain in XVs in the World Cup and the current Allianz Women’s Rugby Premiership points leader and 2022 World Rugby women’s player of the year finalist, De Goede helped the Canadian sevens team get to the Paris Olympics by winning the North American and Caribbean qualifying tournament last August at Starlight Stadium in Langford. The Oak Bay Secondary grad is a lock for the Olympic team.
Olivia Apps will captain sa国际传媒 at sa国际传媒 Place while Charity Williams returns as the last connection to the 2016 Rio Olympics bronze-medallist squad.
The Canadian men’s team for the sa国际传媒 Sevens was also announced and includes Victoria players Jack Carson and Matt Perciller. Noah Flesch out of the Pacific Pride program in Langford will make his World Series debut while it will be the 50th World Series tournament for captain and Tokyo Olympian Phil Berna.
“We’re honoured to be able to celebrate 50 [World Series] tournaments for Phil Berna and the first for Noah Flesch,” Canadian head coach and former sa国际传媒 player Sean White of Victoria said in a statement.
sa国际传媒 is preparing for the last-chance men’s world qualifier for the Paris Olympics from June 21-23 in Monaco after placing second to the U.S. in the North American and Caribbean qualifier last summer at Starlight Stadium.
