Canada men and women to share rugby 7s stage in California with plenty at stake

Canada's men and women will share the stage May 3-4 at Dignity Health Sports Park, the rugby sevens venue for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

But the two teams are facing different challenges in Carson, Calif.

The Canadian women are looking to finish the season with a bang at the winner-take-all HSBC SVNS World Championship, which features the top eight men's and women's sides after six events on the elite rugby sevens circuit. Canada finished fourth in the standings following back-to-back third-place finishes in Hong Kong and Singapore

Canada's men, meanwhile, are looking to win their way back into the top tier after being relegated last June.

The Canadian women have been training with the 15s team in Chula Vista, Calif., ahead of the sevens finale.

"We solidified our foundations and are very proud of our performances in Hong Kong and Singapore," Canada women's coach Jocelyn Barrieau said in a statement. "We have identified areas we want to improve on and the gaps we want to close going into Los Angeles.

"We have a talented, passionate, resilient group of players, and we are all excited to get back on the pitch together in L.A."

The roster includes eight players from the Hong Kong and Singapore squad.

Charity Williams, Asia Hogan-Rochester and Alysha Corrigan return to the squad after last featuring in Vancouver in February. Like Williams, Savannah Bauder returns from injury. Larah Wright, who made her debut in Perth, gets another invite.

Following the California event, Corrigan, Hogan-Rochester, Florence Symonds, Mahalia Robinson and Olivia Apps will join the 15s side for the remaining matches of the Pacific Four Series in New Zealand and Australia.

The Canadian men finished third in the second-tier Challenger Series,