Posted: May 09, 2012
The IRB Women's Sevens Challenge Cup in London will feature 12 teams with the Canadians in a pool with Russia, the Netherlands and Portugal. Team Canada is coming off their first loss in over a year as they fell 22-12 to eventual tournament champion England in the semifinals of the IRB Women's Sevens Challenge Cup in Hong Kong this past March.
Harvey was with the Canadian national squad for that Hong Kong tournament, as was veteran national sevens team member and X-Women alumnus Ghislaine Landry. Both will be suiting up for the red and white in the upcoming sevens tournaments in London and Amsterdam.
Harvey, a native of Quebec City, recently completed her second season with the X-Women. She is a two-time CIS all-Canadian and AUS all-star, and was the 2010 AUS rookie of the year. Named a 2010 CIS tournament all-star, she played a key role on the X-Women squad that captured the 2010 CIS national championship title.
Landry (Toronto) played four seasons with the X-Women from 2006-10, shattering AUS scoring records and earning numerous accolades while playing for the blue and white. The two-time CIS player of the year and four-time CIS all-Canadian helped guide the X-Women to their first national title during her rookie season in 2006. She also won two CIS silver medals, was a three-time CIS tournament all-star and was the 2009 nominee for the CIS athlete of the year award. Landry remains the AUS all-time career leader in both points (352) and tries scored (70).
The news release from Canada Rugby for the upcoming London and Amsterdam tournaments follows.
NSW7S ROSTER RELEASED FOR LONDON AND AMSTERDAM
Submitted by RC Communications
National Women’s Sevens Coach, John Tait, has selected a squad of 14 players to travel and compete at the International Rugby Board Marriott London Sevens on May 12-13 and shortly after in the Amsterdam Sevens from May 19-20.
“The selection process has actually become more difficult,” said Tait. “There are girls that haven’t been regulars in other competitions, that have been pushing really hard from the Maple Leafs squad. With having these extra matches, this will be a good opportunity to give some of the younger girls more opportunity to play in this tournament.”
The National Women’s Sevens players are coming off of a hard loss against England during the Hong Kong Sevens, halting their winning streak and resulting in their first loss in their past five tournament stops. The team is looking to rebound from their loss with a strong performance in London, the home turf of the team that ended their winning streak.
The Amsterdam Sevens event is being toted as the Premier Women’s Sevens event this year, as the women’s event is the showcase of the tournament. The Canadian women are hoping to repeat their wining performance from last year.
Coach John Tait is pleased with the addition of the London Sevens tournament this year, as the women will be the playing at least six matches in London.
“We are looking forward to having the opportunity to play additional games. Having 12 teams in this tournament is going to give us the opportunity for at least 5 to 6 games. At this stage for us, the most important thing is getting more and more game experience under our belt,” explains Tait.
The squad is filled with many familiar faces as eight of the women have played on every stop so far on the circuit. These “veterans” include the likes of Magali Harvey, Jen Kish, and Ghislain Landry. All the women who competed at Hong Kong will be returning minus Andrea Burk, who is out with an injury.
The squad will depart on May 8th from Langford, where they have been training together since January.
Fellow staff members Sandro Fiorino, Kristy Martin Hale, Kim Oslund, and Tyler Goodale will join Coach John Tait in London.
The National Women's 7's team is proudly sponsored by Macquarie Financial, with additional support from Own the Podium.
2012 London/Amsterdam Sevens Squad
Jessica Dovanne - Velox Valkyries (Victoria, BC)
Megan Gibbs - Markham Irish Canadians (Barrie, ON)
Magali Harvey - Club de Rugby de Quebec / St. Francis-Xavier University (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 / University of Lethbridge (Williams Lake, BC)
Cheryl Phillips - Toronto Scottish RFC (Toronto, ON)
Kelly Russell - Toronto Nomads (Bolton, ON)
Ashley Steacy - Lethbridge Rugby Club (Lethbridge, AB)
Brittany Waters - Meraloma Athletic Club (Vancouver, BC)
Kelsey Willoughby - Lethbridge Rugby Club / University of Lethbridge (Lethbridge, AB)
Julianne Zussman- Town of Mount Royal RFC, (Montreal, QB)
STAFF
John Tait- Head Coach
Sandro Fiorino- Assistant Coach
Kristy Martin Hale- Manager
Kim Oslund – Therapist
Tyler Goodale- Strength & Conditioning Coach