Canada won a medal in the first Women’s World Rugby Sevens Series event of the 2018-19 season on Sunday from Glendale, Colorado. In the bronze medal game, Canada defeated France 28-0. New Zealand meanwhile defeated the United States 33-7 in the gold medal match.
Canada won their first four matches of the tournament. They went through Pool C action undefeated as they beat Fiji 26-7 in the opening game of the tournament, Ireland 24-12 and France 24-10. In the quarterfinals, Canada beat Russia 21-17 before losing 28-19 to New Zealand in the semifinals.
In Canada’s pool win over Fiji, Canada had tries from Caroline Crossley of Victoria, British Columbia, Ghislaine Landry of Toronto, Ontario, Julia Greenshields of Sarnia, Ontario and Charity Williams of Toronto, Ontario. In Canada’s win over Ireland, the Canadian rugby players with tries were Greenshields, Bianca Farella of Montreal, Quebec, Kaili Lukan of Barrie, Ontario and Breanne Nicholas of Bienheim, Ontario. In Canada’s pool win over France, Canada had tries from Crossley, Farella, Landry and Brittany Benn of Napanee, Ontario. In Canada’s quarterfinal win over Russia, Williams had two tries and Landry had one try. In Canada’s bronze medal win over France, Farella had two tries, while Lukan and Williams each had one try.
The Women’s World Rugby Sevens Series event in Colorado will be memorable because Landry made women’s rugby history. Landry became the first rugby player ever to score 1000 career points in the Women’s World Rugby Sevens Series events when she kicked a convert from a try by Benn in Canada’s pool win over France.
The next Women’s World Rugby Sevens Series event is in Dubai from November 29-30. Langford, British Columbia will be the host site for a Women’s Rugby Sevens Series event from May 11-12, 2019. The bronze medal in Colorado for Canada will give them confidence as they prepare for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
