February 12, 2016 - 2:54 PM
TORONTO - Canada looks to bounce back from a disappointing sixth in Dubai as the Women's Rugby Sevens series resumes next week in Sao Paulo.
Hannah Darling, Bianca Farella, Sara Kaljuvee and Ghislaine Landry return to the Canadian lineup while coach John Tait gives a series debut to Breanne Nicholas.
"We're excited to get back into competition mode," Tait said in a statement. "It’s been a good couple of weeks of preparation since we returned from San Diego. We moved our setup down there for two weeks for the better weather, as the conditions are similar to what we see in the series.
"We've also had a chance to train with the U.S.A. at their home base and scrimmage with them allowing us to try out some different tactics against someone other than ourselves."
Nicholas was named Rugby Canada's Young Female Player of the Year in 2015. She has toured with Canada's developmental Maple Leafs to Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Central Coast and Las Vegas.
Veterans Ashley Steacy, Elissa Alarie, Natasha Watcham-Roy and Magali Harvey are unavailable due to injury.
Canada has been drawn into Pool A with Australia, Fiji and Ireland in the Sao Paulo event, which runs Feb. 20-21. Canada was beaten 24-10 by Fiji in Dubai but downed Ireland 17-7.
Canada has never lost to Ireland and is 3-1 against Fiji. Canada is 4-7 all-time against Australia.
The Brazilian tournament is the second of five stops ion the women's tour.
The Canadian women finished second behind Zealand on the world circuit last season, qualifying for the Rio Olympics.
Canada Roster
Britt Benn, Guelph Redcoats, Napanee, Ont.; Hannah Darling, Peterborough Pagans, Warsaw, Ont.; Bianca Farella, Town of Mont Royal RFC, Montreal; Sara Kaljuvee, Toronto Scottish, Ajax, Ont.; Jen Kish (capt.), Edmonton Rockers, Edmonton; Ghislaine Landry, Toronto Scottish, Toronto; Megan Lukan, unattached, Barrie, Ont.; Mandy Marchak, Capilano RFC, Winnipeg; Kayla Moleschi, (Williams Lake Rustlers) Williams Lake, B.C.; Breanne Nicholas, London St. Georges, Blenheim, Ont.; Karen Paquin, Club de Rugby Quebec, Quebec City; Kelly Russell, Toronto Nomads, Bolton, Ont.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2016