Canadian women's rugby sevens team named for Paris Olympics
Canada look to get back onto the Olympic podium after winning bronze at Rio 2016.
Twelve athletes were named to Canada’s women’s rugby sevens squad for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Wednesday, as the team looks to get back onto the podium after missing out at Tokyo 2020.
Canada won a bronze medal in the event’s Olympic debut at Rio 2016, but at Tokyo 2020 the team failed to get out of the group stage. The team finished the 2024 HSBC SVNS season ranked fourth in the world after reaching the third-place match at several throughout the season, headlined by a bronze medal on home turf in Vancouver.
Canada also won the silver medal at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games, where seven members of the group are now heading to Paris — Caroline Crossley, Alysha Corrigan, Asia Hogan-Rochester, Chloe Daniels, Charity Williams, Carissa Norsten and Piper Logan. All of them will be making their Olympic debut other than Williams, who is going to her third Olympics after being part of the bronze medal-winning group in Rio and competing in Tokyo.
Norsten made her senior international debut in Santiago, and will look to build on an strong season individually. The 20-year-old was the 2024 HSBC SVNS Women’s Rookie of the Year, and previously won the 2022 U SPORTS Rookie of the Year competing for the University of Victoria.
The other Canadian Olympic debutants in Paris will be Fancy Bermudez, Krissy Scurfield, and Florence Symonds. Keyara Wardley and team captain Olivia Apps will be making their second Olympic appearance after previously playing in Tokyo.
Scurfield and Williams tied for the team lead in tries throughout the HSBC SVNS Series campaign, scoring 20 each. Chloe Daniels will be Canada’s vice-captain, and lead Canada with 131 points throughout that competition.
Taylor Perry will be Canada’s alternate athlete and will travel with the team to Paris.
“It’s hard to believe that the Olympic Games are just a few weeks away,” said Daniels in a press release. “Our journey this year has been incredibly inspiring for the team, boosting our confidence in competing for an Olympic medal. The dedication and hard work from both the players and staff throughout the year have prepared us to perform at our best, and we’re ready to tackle any challenges that come our way.”
Canada’s women’s rugby sevens team qualified for Paris 2024 on home soil in Langford, B.C. last August, hosting the 2023 Rugby Americas North Sevens regional qualification event. Canada went undefeated in that competition, including beating Mexico 53-0 in the final to book their ticket to the Olympics.
In Paris, women’s rugby sevens will take place from July 28 to July 30 at the Stade de France. Canada will compete in Pool A, with New Zealand, Fiji and People’s Republic of China.
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