'There's nothing like playing at home': Canadians relish Vancouver rugby 7s stop

The roar of the costume-clad crowd at B.C. Place Stadium is still special for Charity Williams.

It's a sound and atmosphere the Canadian rugby star is eagerly anticipating as she prepares to play in the 10th edition of HSBC SVNS Vancouver, taking place Friday through Sunday.

"We travel the world and we see the most amazing places, but there's nothing like playing at home," said the three-time Olympian.

The Canadian women have high expectations as they return to Vancouver.

Last year, they won bronze at the event. Canada then went on to capture a silver medal at the Paris Games in July.

Nine players from that Olympic team are set to play this weekend, including Williams, who returns for her first game with the national sevens squad since winning silver.

The performance in Paris has been a huge confidence boost for the Canadian crew, she said.

"We were always looked at as underdogs, but we're underdogs with two Olympic medals," said Williams, who also won bronze at the Rio Olympics in 2016. "So I think it's pretty amazing. Anything could happen in a game of rugby, and we feel pretty confident."

Alysha Corrigan is also back with the national team after playing 15s club rugby for Saracens in England.

Joining midway through the sevens series has meant playing catch-up in training camp.

"It's a different mindset," Corrigan said. "It's been a fun season away and just getting to play different rugby has been fun.

"It was an easy switch, but there's still loads of things that I got to work on, and it will be fun this weekend to see what happens."

Canada comes into Vancouver sitting fifth in the standings on the rugby sevens circuit. They'll face No. 9 Brazil and No. 12 Spain on Friday before wrapping up pool play Saturday against