Rugby seems to be taking the world by storm, especially in the lower mainland and the resurgence of Rugby 7’s each spring played at BC Place.
We are fortunate, probably due to the weather that the sport can be played year-round on at various locations in the lower mainland and given the success there seems to be no shortage of players.
We are hearing that BC Rugby are sending a Girls’ Sevens team and the BC Elite 7s squads to compete in Auckland, New Zealand for the World School Sevens.
The event will be played on Friday and Saturday December 13-14 and will feature 32 U-18 boys and girls teams from ten (10) different countries.
The BC Elite 7s players are the best in young Rugby Sevens talent in the province and come from talent pools in the BC Elite Sevens Series and Rugby Canada Development Academy.
The team includes players who have represented BC on a regular basis over the last two years and include Summer Blackmore (Cranbrook, BC), Kira Peary (Abbotsford, BC), Halle Smith (Kamloops, BC) and Delaney Woods (Victoria, BC).
Head Coach Darcy Patterson mentions “This is a really exciting group of players and many of these players are targeting future spots on the Canada Women’s Sevens team, so it is vital that we give them exposure to quality opposition outside of Canada.”
He continues “The World School Sevens is an ideal tournament for this and we’re honoured to be one of the few northern hemisphere sides to be attending.”
Established in 2016 the World School Sevens is a tournament known for featuring some of the best young talented players
In three years, it should be noted that twenty of the players who have participated in the tournament have gone on to represent their countries at the highest level of Rugby.
According to the tournament website “The aim of the tournament is to give players a life-changing experience in New Zealand, showcase their talent and act as a development tool for the next generation of athletes in rugby sevens. The event also involves a week of activities including an official team welcome and powhiri (traditional Maori welcome), a cultural evening and a warm-up game.”
Canada has had boys’ teams participate in the tournament in the past, but the BC Elite 7s will be the first Canadian side to play in the girls’ division.
Patterson mentions “It’s definitely a real honour for the girls to be taking part in this tournament and it will be a big learning opportunity for sure, but with the talent in this team, they are definitely going in there to make an impact.”
The BC Elite 7s squad will heads for Auckland on December 7th, with the World School Sevens being played in Pakuranga.
Stay tuned for updates on how you can follow the action.
BC Elite 7s Roster for World School Sevens
Fancy Bermuda Chavez – Rugby Canada Development Academy (Edmonton, AB)
Summer Blackmore – Mt. Baker Secondary School (Cranbrook, BC)
Olivia DeCouvreur – Rugby Canada Development Academy (Ottawa, ON)
Emily Findlay – Rugby Canada Development Academy (Regina, Sask)
Sierra Gillis – Rugby Canada Development Academy (Langford, BC)
Amelia Gordon – Castaway Wanderers RFC(Victoria, BC)
Madison Makara – Abbotsford RFC (Abbostford, BC)
Kira Peary – Abbotsford RFC, Rugby Canada Development Academy (Abbostford, BC)
Lucie Romeo – Abbotsford RFC (Abbostford, BC)
Halle Smith – Kamloops Raiders (Kamloops, BC)
Chloe Storey-South – Shawnigan Lake School (Duncan, BC)
Delaney Woods – James Bay AA (Victoria, BC)
Head Coach – Darcy Patterson
Medical – Randi Hunter
For more info please contact Euan McGhee emcghee@bcrugby.com
