Strong Canadian line-up for HK 7s
Defending champions Canada have named their squad for the upcoming Hong Kong 7s. Head coach John Tait has named an experienced side who will go into the tournament as favourites after a superb 12 months since their last Hong Kong outing and having won five major tournaments consecutively in recent months.
Published by Scrum Queens, March 13th, 2012
2 minute read
Kelly Russell, who played every minute of every game for Canada at their previous IRB Challenge Cup win, in Dubai will be involved alongside the likes of powerful runners like Albertas Jen Kish and Manitobas Mandy Marchak(pictured)
Tait was in a great position to select his squad for the tournament with 20 Canadian players have spent a number of months in residence working on their speed, fitness and skill at Rugby Canadas Centre of Excellence in Langford, British Columbia.
Funding from the Canadian governments Own The Podium programme has meant that Canadas 7s stars are benefitting from professional fulltime training.
Tait said: We are looking forward to the challenge of repeating as Cup Champions at the Hong Kong Sevens. The opposition has been increasingly more prepared to play us and being favorites brings a pressure of its own. We have a lot of depth in this side with players who are able to play in multiple spots with real effectiveness, and we will likely try some different combinations and show some different looks in attack. Without wanting to look beyond our pool, we are excited to have another opportunity to test ourselves against the likes of England and Australia for the first time, since Dubai.
Canada squad:
Andrea Burk Capilano RFC (North Vancouver, BC)Magali Harvey Club de Rugby de Quebec/ St. F.X. (Quebec City, QC)Jen Kish Edmonton Rockers (Edmonton, AB)Ghislaine Landry Toronto Scottish RFC (Toronto, ON)Mandy Marchak Capilano RFC (North Vancouver, BC / Winnipeg, MN)Barbara Mervin Velox Valkyries (Victoria, BC)Kayla Moleschi University of Lethbridge (Williams Lake, BC)Cheryl Phillips Toronto Scottish RFC (Toronto, ON)Kelly Russell Toronto Nomads (Bolton, ON)AshleySteacy Lethbridge Rugby Club (Lethbridge, AB)Brittany Waters Meraloma Athletic Club (Vancouver, BC)Kelsey Willoughby University of Lethbridge (Lethbridge, AB)