Thursday February 15, 2024 (Langford, BC) – The Canadian squads that will compete on home soil at HSBC SVNS Vancouver over February 23 to 25 have been announced by Head Coaches Jack Hanratty and Sean White, with Sophie de Goede making her return to sevens and Vancouver’s Phil Berna set to play in his 50th world series tournament.
The captain of Canada’s Women’s Rugby (15s) Team, current Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby points leader, and 2022 World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year nominee, Sophie de Goede made her international sevens series debut last May at HSBC France Sevens and helped Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics in August in Langford.
Piper Logan returns to the Canadian lineup after recovering from an injury, having last played in Cape Town in December. The 2024 HSBC SVNS Vancouver event will mark the second year of concurrently held women’s and men’s tournaments at BC Place, with it being the first time competing at an international sevens event in Vancouver for de Goede, Charity Williams, Caroline Crossley, and Carissa Norsten. Olivia Apps will captain the team.
“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 BC Place and put on a performance to be proud of in front of a great home crowd,” said Jack Hanratty, Head Coach of Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team. “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. We have had a great, competitive training block since returning from Perth and will have some opportunities to continue our preparation alongside France, New Zealand and Japan in the final week leading up to Vancouver.”
HSBC SVNS Vancouver will mark the 50th world series tournament for captain Phil Berna, who will reach this milestone in his hometown. Debuting for Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team in 2016, Berna has played for St. George’s School, the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Rowing Club.
Noah Flesch, a former Pacific Pride player who joined Canada’s men’s sevens program in January, is set to make his international sevens debut. Returning to the roster are Elias Hancock, who contributed to Canada’s bronze medal Pan American Games performance in the fall, and Alex Russell, who returns after sustaining an injury in Dubai. This will be the first time competing at an international sevens event in Vancouver for Flesch, Ethan Hager, Max Stewart, and Cody Nhanala.
“As a group we are excited for our next opportunity to be on home soil in front of family and friends. Vancouver Sevens is always a highlight of the year for our players and this year is no exception,” said Sean White, Head Coach of Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team. “We’re honoured to be able to celebrate 50 SVNS tournaments for Phil Berna and the first for Noah Flesch. I was lucky enough to play alongside Phil at his first so to be able to share his 50th with him from the other side of the touchline will make for a special occasion.
“Coming out of Perth, we’ve really looked to tap into our core values as a team. Whenever you lose key leaders to injury and incorporate new members into the squad, you must adapt and overcome. Our new additions to the team in January and February have done just that. They’ve challenged our process and tested our systems and through this our team has grown. Now comes the fun part, to put our processes and systems under the ultimate test: Vancouver Sevens. Home crowd. Endless energy. Loudest fans on the circuit. Nothing better.”
CANADA’S WOMEN’S SEVENS ROSTER
4. Breanne Nicholas (Blenheim, ON) – Kent Havoc RFC
6. Charity Williams (Toronto, ON) – Markham Irish
7. Florence Symonds (Hong Kong) – University of British Columbia
10. Fancy Bermudez (Edmonton, AB) – NorWester Athletic Association / Westshore RFC
11. Piper Logan (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Hornets / University of British Columbia
13. Krissy Scurfield (Canmore, AB) – University of Victoria
15. Sophie de Goede (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers RFC / Saracens
16. Alysha Corrigan (Charlottetown, PEI) – CRFC
19. Carissa Norsten (Waldheim, SK) – Kirin RFC / University of Victoria
21. Olivia Apps (Lindsay, ON) – Lindsay RFC
24. Asia Hogan-Rochester (Toronto, ON) – Toronto Nomads RFC
35. Caroline Crossley (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers
77. Chloe Daniels (Sutton, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / Queen’s University
CANADA’S MEN’S SEVENS ROSTER
4. Phil Berna (Vancouver, BC) – Vancouver Rowing Club
5. Alex Russell (Chichester, ENG) – McGill University
6. Josiah Morra (Toronto, ON) – Castaway Wanderers / Toronto Saracens
12. David Richard (Milton, ON) – Mississauga Blues RFC
15. Ethan Hager (Brantford, ON) – Brantford Harlequins
21. Max Stewart (Cape Town, RSA) – Pacific Pride
23. Thomas Isherwood (Okotoks, AB) – Foothills Lions RFC
33. Kal Sager (Peterborough, ON) – Peterborough Pagans / Trent University
59. Cody Nhanala (Ottawa, ON) – Ottawa Ospreys / Pacific Pride
64. Elias Hancock (Ottawa, ON) – Bytown Blues
77. Noah Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons / Pacific Pride
88. Matt Percillier (Victoria, BC) – University of British Columbia
99. Jack Carson (Victoria, BC) – University of British Columbia
BUY TICKETS NOW
Tournament passes and single day tickets are available for purchase at vansevens.com, with limited numbers of Reserved Seating passes and Saturday single day tickets remaining. To purchase tickets, and for further details on all ticket types and event information, please visit vansevens.com.
Questions regarding ticket purchases can be directed to tickets@vansevens.com or 604-355-5330. For more information on suites, please contact suites@vansevens.com. Please note that these inboxes will be monitored during regular office hours, Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm PT.
VANCOUVER POOL PLAY SCHEDULE
Friday February 23
- Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team vs France
12:58pm PT / 3:58pm ET - Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team vs Argentina
3:42pm PT / 6:42pm ET - Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team vs Great Britain
6:14pm PT / 9:14pm ET - Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team vs Fiji
8:24pm PT / 11:24pm ET
Saturday February 24
- Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team vs Spain
11:43am PT / 2:43pm ET - Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team vs Spain
2:11pm PT / 5:11pm ET
MORE INFO
For the most up to date information on the HSBC SVNS Series and live coverage, including details on the event format, the schedule and the latest news, visit the official website: www.svns.com.
About Rugby Canada
Rugby Canada is the national governing body of the sport of Rugby Union in Canada. They administer and operate Men’s and Women’s Senior and Junior National programs in both rugby 15s and 7s, as well as govern the Club and community game for more than 30,000 registered participants from coast to coast in conjunction with ten Provincial Union members.
Rugby Canada is headquartered at the Al Charron National Training Centre in Langford, BC, with staff also working from Vancouver, Toronto and Ottawa. Rugby Canada business operations, programs and events are delivered nationwide, including the internationally recognized HSBC Canada Sevens annual tournaments.
Media Contacts
Liz Montroy
Manager, Communications
lmontroy@rugby.ca