Former X-Women rugby star Sara Kaljuvee to compete for Canada in international sevens tournaments

Kaljuvee keen to return to Canada's roster
Courtesy Mark Sheldon, Rugby Canada Press Officer
 
Having not played with Canada's Women's Sevens Team since late November, Sara Kaljuvee is back with the team as they prepare for an important two-tournament stretch in Asia.
 
Kaljuvee, who has been out with injury since the first round of the Women's Sevens World Series in Dubai, is thankful for the support system she has around her.
 
"The team is super supportive," said Kaljuvee. "I'm really lucky to be surrounded by a bunch of girls. A bunch of people have been through this in their rugby careers so they can offer a lot of advice to."
 
Kaljuvee joins a team that has had much success in the two tournaments she has missed. Canada finished second in Atlanta and third in Sao Paulo and they are currently third place in the WSWS standings.
 
"Everyone is really focused," said Kaljuvee. "The team is really coming together this past week. We're starting to know what our game is and what all our roles are."
 
The team and staff travelled from Victoria to Vancouver before arriving in Hong Kong on Monday where they began preparations for Friday's Hong Kong Invitational Sevens.
 
Last year Canada won the Cup championship, outscoring their opponents 144-0 in the process.
 
The Hong Kong Sevens is one of the sport's most popular events and it is most likely the women will play in front of 40,000 spectators if they make the Cup Final.
 
"I cannot wait for that experience," said Kaljuvee, who will be in Hong Kong and China for the first time in her life. "The older girls speak very highly of the experience so a bunch of us are looking forward to it. We're really excited and we really want to make it to that final championship game."
 
After the tournament concludes, Kaljuvee and the team will travel by train to Guangzhou in advance of the China Sevens, the fourth round of the WSWS.
 
This is an important tournament for Canada as they sit eight points behind series leaders New Zealand and Australia. They will need a winning performance in Guangzhou if they have any realistic shot at winning this year's series.
 
Kaljuvee points to the recent success in North and South America as a reason the team may finally see their breakthrough.
 
"We're finding our place, we're coming together," said Kaljuvee. "We've proved that we're contenders for winning a tour. So that's what the mindset is going into China, is that we can do this."
 
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Hong Kong Sevens kick off times

Please note: Hong Kong Women's Sevens is an invitational tournament and will not be streamed live. It is not a part of the IRB Women's Sevens World Series circuit.

Friday, March 28
 
Canada vs. Hong Kong 8:30 a.m. local time (8:30pm ET/5:30pm PT on Thursday)
Canada vs. Kazakhstan 11:10 a.m. local time (11:10pm ET/8:10pm PT on Thursday)

Cup Final 7:52 p.m. local time (7:52am ET/4:52am PT)

All games from the Hong Kong Sevens will be streamed LIVE, with the link provided on game day.

Canada's Women's Roster for Hong Kong and China Sevens:
Nikki Case, (Yeoman Lions) Toronto, ON
Hannah Darling - (Peterborough Pagans RFC/Shawnigan Lake School) Warsaw, ON
Bianca Farella, (Town of Mount Royal RFC) Montreal, QC
Julia Greenshields, (Sarnia Saints) Sarnia, ON
Sara Kaljuvee (Toronto Scottish RFC) Ajax, ON
Jennifer Kish, (Edmonton Rockers RFC) Edmonton, AB (Captain)
Ghislaine Landry, (Toronto Scottish RFC) Toronto, ON
Mandy Marchak, (Capilano RFC) Winnipeg, MB
Kayla Moleschi, (Williams Lake Rustlers) Williams Lake, BC
Karen Paquin, (Club de Rugby Quebec) Quebec City, QC
Kelly Russell, (Toronto Nomads) Bolton, ON
Ashley Steacy, (Lethbridge Rugby Club) Lethbridge, AB

Canada's Women's Sevens Staff
Head Coach: John Tait
Assistant Coach: Sandro Fiorino
Performance Analyst: Ben Herring
Physiotherapist: Adrienne Stinson
Strength and Conditioning: Tyler Goodale
Manager: Meaghan Howat

Canada's Women's Sevens Team is proudly sponsored by Sport Canada, Sun Life Financial Hong Kong and Own the Podium.

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