Canada's Alysha Corrigan, left, runs with the ball in a women's Pool D match at the 2025 HSBC SVNS World Championship in Carson, Calif., in a Saturday, May 3, 2025, handout photo. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-World Rugby, Alex Ho)
Canada’s women’s rugby sevens team wrapped up their season on a high note in California. A stunning performance by Asia Hogan-Rochester helped secure a 27-7 win over the United States, landing Canada third place at the HSBC SVNS World Championship finale.
Heroic Hat Trick by Hogan-Rochester
Canada bounced back from a tough semifinal loss to dominate the bronze medal match. Hogan-Rochester led the charge with three tries, pushing her career tally to 39. Her efforts turned the game after an early U.S. lead. Sariah Ibarra scored first for the Americans, putting them ahead 7-0. But a yellow card for Ibarra turned the tide. Canada capitalized quickly. Charity Williams and Carissa Norsten scored back-to-back tries while the U.S. played with six.
Hogan-Rochester struck just before halftime and then twice more in the second half. Canada didn’t look back, sealing their third podium finish of the season.
Sevens’s Steady Climb Throughout the Season
It’s been a season of growth for the Canadian women. They opened with an eighth-place finish in Dubai but kept improving. Fifth in Cape Town. Fourth in Perth. Third in both Hong Kong and Singapore.
Now, with a bronze in the season finale, they’ve proven themselves a team on the rise. Coach Jocelyn Barrieau’s squad is balancing fresh talent with experienced names as they prepare for the road to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
New Zealand Reigns Supreme
The final saw New Zealand dominate once again. They thrashed Australia 31-7 to take the women’s title, capping a near-perfect season. The Kiwi women went unbeaten against Canada this year.
On the men’s side, South Africa defeated Spain 19-5 to claim the championship. New Zealand’s men grabbed bronze by downing top-ranked Argentina 38-17.
Mixed Fortunes for the Canadian Men
While the women celebrated, the Canadian men faced heartbreak. Hoping to return to the top-tier HSBC SVNS, they fell short in the playoff final. A 24-5 loss to Kenya ended their promotion hopes.
James Thiel scored Canada’s only try — his first — in a disappointing match. Earlier, Canada had shown promise. They beat Ireland and Germany, finishing second in their group behind Uruguay. But the crucial game slipped away when it mattered most.
Revamped Format Adds Pressure
Originally, the playoffs offered a promotion path. But World Rugby changed the structure just before the tournament. The new system places Canada’s men in Division 3 next season.
They must now win the Rugby Americas North Sevens to enter a Challenger Series with just eight men’s and women’s teams. From there, they’ll fight to reach Division 2, which features only six teams per gender across three global events.
Looking Ahead
The season finale at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson was also a preview for the 2028 Olympics venue. For Canada’s women, it marked real progress and hope. For the men, a stark reminder of the work ahead. As the sevens landscape shifts, both teams face new challenges. But with rising stars like Hogan-Rochester and strong coaching leadership, Canada’s future in rugby sevens still looks promising.
