Exciting games against the USA and New Zealand mark Day 1 for Canada in the 2024 HSBC SVNS Series

The first leg of the HSBC SVNS 2024 series got underway in Dubai on Saturday, with Canada’s women’s sevens team advancing to the quarter-finals and the men’s team advancing to the semi-finals in ninth place after the Hens.

After losing 29-0 to France in their opening match, the Canadian women’s sevens team faced the United States in a rematch of the 2023 Pan American Games final in Santiago. She scored the first goal, but Chrissie Scurfield broke through the defense in the fifth minute to tie the game at 5-all. The USA regained the lead in the 12th minute, but a decisive try from Charity Williams in overtime tied the Canadiens up again. Karissa Norsten burst from the wing to score the golden try and the first try of her SVNS Series career, sealing a 15-10 win for Canada.

The Canadians’ victory over Spain to conclude the group matches allowed the team to qualify for the quarter-finals. Alisha Corrigan played a role in Canada’s first two tries, making two passes after contact to set up Florence Simmonds and Caroline Crossley to score. Spain scored in the fifth minute to cut the deficit to 10-7, but attempts by Williams and Piper Logan, converted by Chloe Daniels, gave Canada a 24-7 lead at halftime. With her two tries on day one in Dubai, Charity Williams has officially surpassed 400 points at the World Championships and 450 points on the International Sevens scene. Spain managed to score another try, but Asia Hogan, Rochester and Norsten responded. Hogan Rochester made both conversions to allow the Canadiens to win 38-12.

The Canadian men’s sevens team began the tournament with a close match against defending champion New Zealand. The Canadians, trailing 5-0, saw David Richard make a pass after he collided with Josiah Moura, who evaded the New Zealand defense to go and settle. A Cooper Coates conversion put Canada ahead 7-5, and New Zealand regained a 12-7 lead in the fifth minute, but a first down run from Jake Thiel gave the Canadians the equalizer, and a Coates conversion allowed his team to regain the advantage. Matt Oworu reached 50 points on the international sevens scene with his effort between the posts. Coates scored his third conversion and Canada led 21-12 with just minutes left in the game. But New Zealand secured a 26-21 victory by scoring two tries in the final minutes, and Canada earned a bonus point.

In the first half of the next game against South Africa, the Canadiens trailed 21-0, but Cal Sager opened the second half with a wild run that ended with a try converted by Coates. Loki Kratz scored in stoppage time, but South Africa won 35-14, and the men’s team ended the group matches with a 24-0 defeat against Samoa.

Canada’s women’s sevens team will face Ireland in the quarterfinals at 9:52 PM PT (December 2) / 12:52 AM EST (December 3). Canada’s men’s sevens team will face Great Britain in the ninth-place semifinal at 2:26 a.m. PT/5:26 a.m. EST (December 3). Watch all the matches live for free on RugbyPass TV.

more information

For the latest information regarding the HSBC SVNS Series and live streaming, including details on the tournament format, schedule and latest news, visit the official website: www.svns.com.

After the Dubai tournament, both teams will travel to South Africa to participate in the Cape Town Sevens Rugby Championship (December 9 and 10, 2023). The first tournament of the new year will be held in Perth from January 26-28, 2024. You can watch both teams in action on home soil during the HSBC Vancouver Sevens Championship (February 23-25, 2024) at BC Place Stadium. Buy your ticket now on vansevens.com.