Canada's women's rugby sevens team wrapped up their first outing of the new HSBC SVNS season with a sixth-place finish at the Dubai Rugby Sevens 2025 — a 19-14 defeat to the United States at The Sevens Stadium that ended a tight weekend on a sour note.
A Close Battle With a Tough Ending
Canada started the fifth-place final strongly, showing confidence and energy after a competitive weekend. Kennedi Stevenson opened the scoring in the second minute following an excellent run by Asia Hogan-Rochester. The U.S. responded quickly, with Kristi Kirshe breaking through to level the match at 7-7.
Despite taking a boot to the face and needing brief treatment, Hogan-Rochester stayed on the pitch and continued to influence the game. The Americans then pulled ahead early in the second half when Kaylen Thomas outran the Canadian defensive line.
Canada refused to back down. Charity Williams sprinted down the sideline for a brilliant try, followed by a successful conversion from Hogan-Rochester that pushed Canada ahead 14-12. But in the final minutes, Sariah Ibarra's powerful run broke several tackles before she found Sarah Levy for the decisive U.S. try. It ended Canada's hopes and snapped their four-match winning streak against the Americans.
Canada's Weekend Performance
Canada finished the Dubai Rugby Sevens 2025 with a 3-2 record. The team had been on track for a semifinal appearance but missed out after a costly 21-19 loss to Japan in their final Pool B game. Leading 19-7, the Canadians conceded two late tries in under two minutes, dropping to third in the group standings.
They bounced back on Sunday with an important 19-12 win over France in the fifth-place semifinal. Monique Coffey's converted try in the 12th minute sealed that victory, with Breanne Nicholas and Hogan-Rochester also adding tries.
Earlier in group play, Canada delivered a dominant 41-5 win over Britain — their most commanding performance of the weekend.
New Zealand Dominate in Dubai
New Zealand were the stars of the weekend, winning both the women's and men's cup finals. The Black Ferns Sevens defeated defending champions Australia 29-14, ending a remarkable 32-match winning streak for the Australians at The Sevens Stadium spanning 2,185 days. Japan also made history by securing their first-ever HSBC SVNS series medal with a 22-12 victory over Fiji in the bronze-medal match.
In the men's final, New Zealand edged Australia 26-22, while Fiji took third after beating France.
Looking Ahead to Cape Town
Canada now head to Cape Town for the second stop of the season. They will compete in Pool B alongside Australia, Japan, and France. The team will have to regroup quickly, especially with standout player Krissy Scurfield sidelined after failing a head injury assessment in Dubai.
Last season, Canada showed steady growth and ended on a high by winning bronze at the HSBC SVNS Championship in California. With confidence still strong and key players in form, the Canadians will aim for a stronger result in Cape Town.
