Canada names women's team for Vancouver rugby 7s circuit

Canada has named an experienced lineup for the Vancouver stop of the HSBC SVNS circuit, with nine members of the squad that won silver at last summer's Paris Olympics.

The 10th edition of HSBC SVNS Vancouver runs Feb. 21-23 at B.C. Place Stadium. Canada won bronze at last year's event, defeating Australia 19-14 in the third-place game before New Zealand lifted the trophy with a dominant 35-19 decision over France.

Alysha Corrigan, Fancy Bermudez, Krissy Scurfield and Charity Williams return to the Canadian side for the first time since Paris.

Corrigan, Bermudez and Scurfield have spent the season playing 15s club rugby in England, with Corrigan and Bermudez at Saracens and Scurfield leading the Loughborough Lightning in tries scored.

Williams, a three-time Olympian who helped UBC to its first-ever U-Sports women's rugby championship in the fall, is one try away from 100 on the HSBC SVNS circuit.

Other Paris Olympians on the Vancouver roster are Asia Hogan-Rochester, Carissa Norsten, Florence Symonds, Olivia Apps and Piper Logan.

Logan captains Canada with Apps as vice-captain.

Breanne Nicholas will play in her 39th SVNS series event, moving her into second place all-time among Canadian women behind only Bianca Farella's 45.

Pamphinette Buisa returns to the roster after missing the last event in Perth, Australia. Rookies Mahalia Robinson and Olivia Sarabura, who made their international sevens debuts earlier this season, also make the squad.

Iain Monaghan will serve as interim Canada coach in Vancouver with head coach Jocelyn Barrieau on leave in Montreal until March as she prepares to start a family.

"It was a hard-fought selection process, with players making for a competitive selection camp over the last two weeks in