(Langford, British Columbia) – Twelve U SPORTS women's rugby players, supported by Rugby Canada's Maple Leaf Academy, will represent Canada at the 2024 FISU World University Rugby Sevens Championship in Aix-en-Provence, BC. France, from June 10 to 12.
Canada will compete alongside Australia, France, South Africa, Ireland, Japan, Spain, Mexico, Poland and India at Maurice David Stadium. This will be the first time the tournament has been held since 2018, and the first time Canada has participated since 2016. Canada has five medals at the FISU Women's World University Rugby Sevens Championship, three gold medals (2004 , 2006, 2014) and two silvers (2008, 2016).
Prior to the FISU World University Championship, the team will compete in the EAAST 7, an elite international tournament in Haguenau, France, June 1-2, which will also feature development teams from countries like Australia, New Zealand and France.
“This June we have an exciting opportunity for 12 U SPORTS players to compete on the international stage, valuable experience as they continue to develop as high-performance players and progress to our senior national teams” , said Iain Monaghan, head coach. from Maple Leaf Academy. “The EAAST 7s tournament is a chance to compete against the best nations in preparation for the FISU World University Championships, and we look forward to representing Canada in France and watching these players continue to grow and challenge themselves .
The Maple Leaf Academy kicked off the 2024 season in late March in Chula Vista, Calif., with matches against the United StatesThe women's development sevens team. These matches, along with the support of U SPORTS provincial rugby officials, contributed to the selection process for the FISU World University Championship. Additionally, Monaghan and Jack Hanratty, head coach of the Canadian women's rugby sevens team, attended the 2024 Canadian Women's National University Rugby Sevens Championships in March in Montreal as part of the identification and selection process .
Team members include two U SPORTS Women's Rugby Player of the Year recipients, Savannah Bauder (2023) and Lizzie Gibson (2022), while Larah Wright received U SPORTS Rookie honors from the Bauder and Gibson are also two of five players on the team who competed with the Canadian U23 women's rugby team last summer, the others being Emily Clark, Carmen Izyk and Kennedy Feasby.
Mahalia Robinson brings senior international experience to the team, having earned her first cap for Canada's women's rugby team in 2023 against South Africa. Robinson is currently touring with the national team for the 2024 Pacific Four series and was part of Canada's opening 50-7 victory over the United States.
Adia Pye also competed internationally in rugby sevens last summer, having been part of the silver medal-winning Canadian U18 team at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games.
Darcy Patterson, assistant coach at the University of British Columbia and head coach of the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games women's team, joins Monaghan on the World University Championship coaching staff of FISU as an assistant coach.
Rugby Canada and the Maple Leaf Academy would like to thank the players' universities for their support as the team prepares for and competes at the FISU World University Championship and EAAST 7s.
Further information on the FISU World University Rugby Sevens Championship 2024, including results, is available. here. More information on EAAST 7 can be found here.
CANADA’S R7 WOMEN’S ROSTER
FISU World University Championship 2024
Adia Pye (Victoria, British Columbia) – University of British Columbia
Angie Olukunmi (Calgary, Alberta) – University of Calgary
Carmen Izyk (Blackie, Alberta) – Queen's University
Lizzie Gibson (Caledon, Ontario) – Queen's University
Emily Clark (Mississauga, Ontario) – University of Guelph
Emma Lajeunesse (Quebec, QC) – Laval University
Kennedy Feasby (Port Perry, Ontario) – University of Guelph
Larah Wright (Calgary, Alberta) – University of Victoria
Mahalia Robinson (Fulford, QC) – Concordia University
Olivia Sarabura (Guelph, ON) – University of British Columbia
Savannah Bauder (North Vancouver, British Columbia) – University of British Columbia
Vanessa Chiappetta (Riguad, QC) – Carleton University
