Latest news with #HSBCSVNSWorldChampionship
Winnipeg Free Press
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canada women look forward to challenge of New Zealand in Pacific Four Series rugby
After a somewhat laboured 26-14 win over the ninth-ranked United States in its first outing of the year, No. 2 Canada faces a stiffer test Friday against No. 3 New Zealand in Pacific Four Series women's rugby play in Christchurch. Canada won last year's Pacific Four Series with its first-ever victory over New Zealand, defeating the defending World Cup champion Black Ferns 22-19 in Christchurch. Friday's rematch is at the same venue, Apollo Projects Stadium. Canada coach Kevin Rouet calls the matchup 'a great test,' albeit one early in his team's season. 'Because it comes at the right time,' the French-born coach said. 'Beating New Zealand last year was very new for us … If we are able to do the same (Saturday) and beat them, that means we're going in the right direction. And if we don't, that's also not the end of the year because the end of the year is the World Cup. 'We want to win for sure, but no matter what we know we're at the beginning of the season.' New Zealand defeated No. 6 Australia 38-12 in its tournament opener last Saturday in Newcastle, Australia. The Canadian women had lost all 17 previous meetings with the Black Ferns, with 10 of those defeats by 27 points or more. Canada captain Alex Tessier, who shifts to inside centre with Claire Gallagher coming in at fly half, called last year's win over New Zealand 'a massive step forward.' 'Now we're excited again to measure ourselves against them,' she added. 'To be challenge and to challenge them, because that's where we are now. I think we will challenge them a lot. 'It's huge to play a big team now in our (World Cup) preparation. We need those high-pressure games.' The Pacific Four Series marks the Canadian women's first time together this year ahead of the World Cup, which runs Aug. 22 to Sept. 27 in England. Canada has been drawn in Pool B with No. 7 Scotland, No. 10 Wales and No. 16 Fiji. Canada goes into Saturday's game with a lineup reinforced by players from the sevens side that finished third at the HSBC SVNS World Championship. 'It's a strong group for sure. It's a good team … I think we're going to be way better than (in the U.S. game),' said Rouet. 'Practice-wise, we can see it. But after that it's about delivering on the pitch.' Rouet has made seven changes, three in the forwards and four in the backs. Front-rowers Emily Tuttosi and DaLeaka Menin and lock Courtney O'Donnell slot into the forward pack while Gallagher, Alysha Corrigan, Florence Symonds and Asia Hogan-Rochester joins the backs. Hogan-Rochester, Symonds, Corrigan and Olivia Apps, who starts on the bench, rejoin the team after helping Canada finish third at the HSBC SVNS World Championships earlier this month in Carson, Calif. Canada will be without tighthead prop Alex Ellis, who suffered an injury in training. 'We'll see what that means for her in the long-term over the year but it's a big one,' Rouet said of the injury. New Zealand veteran Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, who has more than 250 career tries on the HSBC SVNS circuit, starts on the wing in her first international 15s game since the World Cup final. The 33-year-old speedster is two tries away from reaching 200 points, which would make her only the third Black Fern to reach the milestone. Woodman-Wickliffe, prop Amy Rule and No. 8 Liana Mikaele-Tu'u are the only changes from the team that beat Australia. 'Last Saturday was a great stepping-stone towards where we want to be, and we look forward to seeing how we build off that this week against a quality Canadian side,' said Allan Bunting, the Black Ferns director of performance. 'We are excited to play our first test at home.' New Zealand has gone 4-3-0 since the last Pacific Four Series with two losses to England and one to England. The May 2 victory over the U.S. was the first for the Canadians since the WXV 1 tournament in October that finished with a 21-12 loss to No. 1 England in Vancouver. 'It was not our best performance,' Rouet said of the U.S. win. New Zealand went 1-2-0 at the WXV, losing to No. 1 England (49-31) and No. 5 Ireland (29-27) and beating No. 4 France 39-14. American Kat Roche will referee Friday's test. Australia hosts the U.S. in Canberra on Saturday. Canada closes out the tournament against Australia at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on May 23. That same day, New Zealand plays the U.S. in Auckland. A win Saturday and New Zealand will replace Canada in second place in the rankings. New Zealand would remain third even if they lose. Canada has an 11-5-0 record since losing 36-0 to France in the third-place game at the World Cup in November 2022. Four of those losses were to England, with the other to New Zealand. Canada went 5-1-0 in 2024. Canada Roster Brittany Kassil, Guelph, Ont., Guelph Goats; Emily Tuttosi, Souris, Man., Exeter Chiefs (England); DaLeaka Menin, Vulcan, Alta., Exeter Chiefs (England); Courtney O'Donnell, Rimbey, Alta., Red Deer Titans Rugby; Laetitia Royer, Loretteville, Que., ASM Romagnat (France); Fabiola Forteza, Quebec City, Stade Bordelais (France); Karen Paquin, Quebec City, Club de rugby de Quebec; Gabrielle Senft, Regina, Saracens (England); Justine Pelletier, Rivière-du-Loup, Que., Stade Bordelais (France); Claire Gallagher, Caledon, Ont., Leicester Tigers (England); Alysha Corrigan, Charlottetown, Saracens (England); Alexandra Tessier, Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, Que., Exeter Chiefs (England); Florence Symonds, Vancouver, UBC; Asia Hogan-Rochester, Toronto, Westshore RFC; Julia Schell, Uxbridge, Ont., Ealing Trailfinders (England); Replacements Gillian Boag, Calgary, Gloucester-Hartpury (England); McKinley Hunt, King City, Ont., Saracens (England); Rori Wood, Sooke, B.C., Ealing Trailfinders (England); Tyson Beukeboom, Uxbridge, Ont., Ealing Trailfinders (England); Caroline Crossley, Victoria, Castaway Wanderers; Olivia Apps, Lindsay, Ont., Lindsay RFC; Shoshanah Seumanutafa, White Rock, B.C., Chiefs Manawa (New Zealand); Fancy Bermudez, Edmonton, Saracens (England). New Zealand Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Chryss Viliko, Georgia Ponsonby, Amy Rule, Alana Bremner, Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Layla Sae, Kennedy Tukuafu (co-capt.), Liana Mikaele-Tu'u, Maia Joseph, Ruahei Demant (co-capt.), Ayesha Leti-I'iga, Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai'i Sylvia Brunt, Amy du Plessis, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, Braxton Sorensen-McGee. Replacements Atlanta Lolohea, Kate Henwood, Tanya Kalounivale, Maama Mo'onia Vaipulu, Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Iritana Hohaia, Hannah King, Mererangi Paul. — This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 15, 2025
CBC
05-05-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Hogan-Rochester helps Canada rugby 7 women finish third in season finale
Asia Hogan-Rochester scored three tries as the Canadian women's rugby sevens team rallied from an early deficit Sunday to defeat the U.S. 27-7 and earn bronze at the HSBC SVNS World Championship. The Canadians, silver medallists at the Paris Olympics, had also finished third in Hong Kong and Singapore, the two events preceding the season finale. Canada finished fourth in last season's finale in Madrid in June, beaten 26-14 by No. 1 New Zealand in the bronze-medal game. The Springbok Sevens defeated Spain 19-5 in the men's final while New Zealand's Black Ferns — who had already claimed the sevens series title — added to their trophy haul with a 31-7 victory over Australia in the women's final. The final event of the season saw the top eight men's and women's sides from the elite HSBC SVNS compete in the winner-take-all world championship at Dignity Health Sports Park, which will host rugby sevens at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The Canada women, fourth after the first six events of the season, defeated No. 5 Japan 26-0 and No. 8 Britain 26-17 before falling 41-5 to New Zealand in group play. The women lost 33-7 to Australia earlier Sunday in semifinal play with Hogan-Rochester accounting for the Canadian points with a converted try and Faith Nathan scoring three tries for Australia. That set up the third-place game against the sixth-ranked U.S., who lost 34-9 to New Zealand in the other semifinal Sariah Ibarra sliced through the Canada defence for an early 7-0 U.S. lead. But poor discipline cost the Americans with Ibarra sent to the sin bin for an infraction soon after, reducing the U.S. to six players for the next two minutes. Canada took advantage, pulling ahead 10-7 on tries via Charity Williams and Carissa Norsten with Ibarra off the field. Hogan-Rochester added another try on the eve of halftime for a 15-7 Canada lead. Hogan-Rochester added two more tries in the second half, boosting her career total to 39. There was no joy for the Canadian men, relegated from the top tier last June. They had hoped to earn their way back into the HSBC SVNS field via a promotion/relegation tournament held in conjunction with the World Championship. Canadian have fight to re-enter top tier But World Rugby changed the playing field, announcing on the eve of the tournament a revamped format to the sevens circuit next season. Instead of promotion, the best the Canadian men could do was make the new Division 2 next season, with a chance to then earn promotion to the revamped eight-team top tier. And that slipped through their fingers Sunday in a 24-5 loss to Kenya in a playoff final. In the first year of an Olympic quadrennial, the Canadian women have improved as the season wore on, with coach Jocelyn Barrieau managing a stream of new talent while players cycle between the sevens and 15s sides. The Canadian women finished eighth to open the current season in Dubai, before placing fifth in Cape Town, fourth in Perth, seventh in Vancouver and third in both Hong Kong and Singapore. New Zealand won tournaments in Cape Town, Vancouver, Hong Kong and Singapore, while Australia triumphed in Dubai and Perth, Australia. New Zealand and Australia have gone a combined 11-0-0 against Canada in dominating the circuit this season. While the top eight teams vied for the world championship, teams nine through 12 in the HSBC SVNS faced the top four teams from the second-tier Challenger Series — including the Canadian men — in the playoff bracket. That was slated to be a promotion/relegation playoff until World Rugby changed the rules. Now the Canadian men find themselves starting over at the bottom again. They will have to win the Rugby Americas North Sevens to make Division 3, which consists of a standalone Challenger event with eight men's and eight women's teams. And then they will have to win their way back into Division 2, which will features six men's and six women's teams competing in three events. James Thiel scored a consolation try, his first for Canada, against Kenya with time winding down. The Canadians finished second in Group B behind Uruguay, beating Ireland 19-12 and Germany 22-17, losing 24-7 to the South Americans. Uruguay, the U.S., Kenya and Germany will compete in the new Division 2 next season.
The South African
05-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Blitzboks crowned kings of Los Angeles
The Springbok Sevens team saved their best for last to win the final tournament of the season, the HSBC SVNS World Championship in Los Angeles, with a 19-5 victory over Spain in the final wrapping up a flawless weekend in California early on Monday morning (SA time). The Blitzboks were determined on defence and clinical on attack against a plucky Spain to win their second title of the 2025 season, after raising the trophy in Cape Town in December 2024. They managed to keep Spain away from their tryline with solid defence and when in possession, struck when it mattered, and even managed to score when down to six men following a late yellow card to Zander Reynders. The performance in the final wrapped up a magnificent effort at the tournament, where the Blitzboks had no peers and hard as Spain tried, they had no answers to unlock the determination of their opponents to not let them get past them. After four minutes of defence, South Africa struck when Selvyn Davids, who was named Player of the Final, stepped past the Spanish defence for a brilliant solo try. A long spell of possession by Spain was left in ruins as – from a rare moment with ball in hand at that stage – Davids attacked from a scrum 80m out and ran almost the length of the field. Ronald Brown converted for a 7-0 lead, which was the half-time score as well. Relentless defence forced Spain into mistakes and they battled to get into the South African half bar their early attack in the opening spell. The second half had more of the same. Spain had most of the ball and attacked from all corners, but stout defence forced them backwards and into mistakes. They were finally rewarded when Quewin Nortje was beaten by a delayed pass and Pol Pla scored from 50m out. Davids cut the Spanish speedster off, forced him to score out wide, and the conversion missed, keeping South Africa in the lead. The turning point came soon after when Mfundo Ndhlovu, who last played in Cape Town in December, outfoxed a rushing defence and then raced away from inside the SA 22 to score. Brown converted and at 14-5 and two minutes to play, the advantage was with the Blitzboks. Reynders caused some heartache was he was yellow carded from the restart, leaving the team one man short for the remainder of the match, but that didn't matter. Siviwe Soyizwapi showed his experience with a crucial turnover, with his team under pressure and a man down, which handed possession back to SA. Ricardo Duarttee sealed the deal after close combat with the Spanish and a probing Tristan Leyds run found some gaps and momentum from where Duarttee pounced. Blitzbok coach Philip Snyman praised the players afterwards, saying that their willingness to keep working made the win possible. Earlier, the Blitzboks kept their hot streak going following pool wins against France, Great Britain and Argentina, outscoring New Zealand by four tries to one and never giving the Kiwi side a look-in at all with a 26-5 win in their semi-final. Shilton van Wyk opened the scoring in the first minute, pouncing on a loose pass from New Zealand after a lineout, kicking ahead and winning the race to the line. Ronald Brown converted for a 7-0 lead. The second try by South Africa was more structured but still a thing of beauty. Selvyn Davids delayed his pass from a tap penalty and Nortje could race in to score under the sticks. Brown converted and the lead was 14-0 after four minutes of play. The rampant Blitzboks scored a third try before the half-time buzzer when some crisp passing and hard running gave Van Wyk a second try in the opening seven minutes. Brown, whose pass freed up Van Wyk, converted from the sideline for a 21-0 lead. The second half start was equally impressive. Brown's spot-on cross-kick found Nortje in the corner for his second try, despite having his shirt ripped in two, to push the lead to 26-0. New Zealand finally managed a play of note three minutes into the second half with a good move from within their half to score, but it was too little too late. South Africa 26 (21) New Zealand 5 (0) SA – Tries: Shilton van Wyk (2), Quewin Nortje (2). Conversions: Ronald Brown (3) New Zealand – Try: Frank Vaenuku South Africa 19 (7) Spain 5 (0) SA – Tries: Selvyn Davids, Mfundo Ndhlovu, Ricardo Duarttee. Conversions: Ronald Brown, Tristan Leyds Spain – Try: Pol Pla Post your congratulations for the Blitzboks below, by … Leaving a comment below, or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Winnipeg Free Press
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Hogan-Rochester helps Canada rugby sevens women finish third in season finale
CARSON – Asia Hogan-Rochester scored three tries as the Canadian women's rugby sevens team rallied from an early deficit Sunday to defeat the U.S. 27-7 and earn bronze at the HSBC SVNS World Championship. The Canadians, silver medallists at the Paris Olympics, had also finished third in Hong Kong and Singapore, the two events preceding the season finale. Canada finished fourth in last season's finale in Madrid in June, beaten 26-14 by No. 1 New Zealand in the bronze-medal game. The women's final later Sunday pitted No. 1 New Zealand against No. 2 Australia, while No. 3 Spain and No. 4 South Africa met in the men's championship game. The final event of the season saw the top eight men's and women's sides from the elite HSBC SVNS compete in the winner-take-all world championship at Dignity Health Sports Park, which will host rugby sevens at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The Canada women, fourth after the first six events of the season, defeated No. 5 Japan 26-0 and No. 8 Britain 26-17 before falling 41-5 to New Zealand in group play. The women lost 33-7 to Australia earlier Sunday in semifinal play with Hogan-Rochester accounting for the Canadian points with a converted try and Faith Nathan scoring three tries for Australia. That set up the third-place game against the sixth-ranked U.S., who lost 34-9 to New Zealand in the other semifinal Sariah Ibarra sliced through the Canada defence for an early 7-0 U.S. lead. But poor discipline cost the Americans with Ibarra sent to the sin bin for an infraction soon after, reducing the U.S. to six players for the next two minutes. Canada took advantage, pulling ahead 10-7 on tries via Charity Williams and Carissa Norsten with Ibarra off the field. Hogan-Rochester added another try on the eve of halftime for a 15-7 Canada lead. Hogan-Rochester added two more tries in the second half, boosting her career total to 39. There was no joy for the Canadian men, relegated from the top tier last June. They had hoped to earn their way back into the HSBC SVNS field via a promotion/relegation tournament held in conjunction with the World Championship. But World Rugby changed the playing field, announcing on the eve of the tournament a revamped format to the sevens circuit next season. Instead of promotion, the best the Canadian men could do was make the new Division 2 next season, with a chance to then earn promotion to the revamped eight-team top tier. And that slipped through their fingers Sunday in a 24-5 loss to Kenya in a playoff final. In the first year of an Olympic quadrennial, the Canadian women have improved as the season wore on, with coach Jocelyn Barrieau managing a stream of new talent while players cycle between the sevens and 15s sides. The Canadian women finished eighth to open the current season in Dubai, before placing fifth in Cape Town, fourth in Perth, seventh in Vancouver and third in both Hong Kong and Singapore. New Zealand won tournaments in Cape Town, Vancouver, Hong Kong and Singapore, while Australia triumphed in Dubai and Perth, Australia. New Zealand and Australia have gone a combined 11-0-0 against Canada in dominating the circuit this season. While the top eight teams vied for the world championship, teams nine through 12 in the HSBC SVNS faced the top four teams from the second-tier Challenger Series — including the Canadian men — in the playoff bracket. That was slated to be a promotion/relegation playoff until World Rugby changed the rules. Now the Canadian men find themselves starting over at the bottom again. They will have to win the Rugby Americas North Sevens to make Division 3, which consists of a standalone Challenger event with eight men's and eight women's teams. And then they will have to win their way back into Division 2, which will features six men's and six women's teams competing in three events. James Thiel scored a consolation try, his first for Canada, against Kenya with time winding down. The Canadians finished second in Group B behind Uruguay, beating Ireland 19-12 and Germany 22-17, losing 24-7 to the South Americans. Uruguay, the U.S., Kenya and Germany will compete in the new Division 2 next season. Uruguay and the U.S. qualified by virtue of winning their pools. The second- and third-place teams in the two groups crossed over for playoff games to decide who joined them with Kenya and Germany, which blanked Samoa 31-0, getting the job done. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 4, 2025.
Eyewitness News
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Eyewitness News
Unbeaten Blitzboks book semi-final spot in LA
JOHANNESBURG – The Blitzboks qualified for the playoffs of the HSBC SVNS World Championship in Los Angeles with victories over France, Great Britain and Argentina in pool A. In the semi-finals, they face New Zealand, who tied with Australia on seven points in Pool B but advanced due to superior points difference. READ: Blitzboks hope to finish season on a high note as they head to SVNS World Championship The Blitzboks' semi-final against New Zealand is at 22h46 (SA time) on Sunday evening, shortly after Spain and Argentina face off at 22h24 for a place in the final. Philip Snyman's charges kicked off the tournament at Dignity Health Sports Park with a 19-10 win against France, followed by wins against Great Britain (12-7) and SVNS league winners Argentina (29-21) on day 1 of the tournament. Scorers: South Africa 19 (7) France 10 (10)SA - Tries: Selwyn Davids, Shilton van Wyk, Zain Davids. Conversions: Ronald Brown, Ricardo Duarttee. France - Tries: Varian Pasquet, Simon Désert.
