Latest news with #CarissaNorsten
CBC
4 days ago
- Sport
- CBC
Canada wins again but face tougher task in downing Springboks in women's rugby test
After thumping South Africa 50-20 last week in Pretoria, a revamped Canadian lineup had a tougher time getting the job done before pulling away for a 33-5 win over the 12th-ranked Springboks in a women's rugby international Saturday in Gqeberha. South Africa trailed 14-5 before the second-ranked Canadians, frustrated by handling errors and penalties, padded the scoreline with tries by Carissa Norsten, stand-in captain Tyson Beukeboom, and Krissy Scurfield. The win improved Canada's record against South Africa to 6-0-0. The Canadians had scored 50 points or more in every meeting except the inaugural encounter in 2009, which they won 35-17. Canada captain Sophie de Goede, returning to action after a 13-month injury absence, came off the bench with 20 minutes remaining. The 26-year-old from Victoria last played in May 2024, in Canada's 22-19 win over World Cup champion New Zealand in the Pacific Four Series finale. De Goede tore her anterior cruciate ligament on June 21, 2024, in a non-contact scrimmage against the U.S. on the last day of a Canada sevens camp in Chula Vista, Calif. Norsten, the 2024 HSBC SVNS Rookie of the Year, was named player of the match in her 15s debut starting on the wing. Brittany Kassil and Gillian Boag also scored tries for Canada, which led 14-0 after a scrappy first half played in the early-afternoon sunshine at Nelson Mandela Stadium. Julia Schell and Maddy Grant each kicked two conversions. Ayanda Malinga scored the lone South African try. The Canada victory may have come at a cost. Prop Rori Wood was taken off the field on a cart in the 30th minute after suffering an apparent leg injury. That meant a first cap for Taylor McKnight off the bench. Lock Laetitia Royer, one of three Canadians named to World Rugby's Women's 15s Dream Team in 2024, had to come off in the 32nd minute, favouring her shoulder. With stand-in skipper Alex Tessier not part of the matchday squad, Beukeboom led Canada out for her record 76th cap. Canada improved to 14-5-1 since finishing fourth at the last World Cup. Four of the losses were to top-ranked England, with the other to No. 3 New Zealand. Canada and New Zealand played to a 27-27 tie in May in Pacific Four Series play. The Canadian women have just two games left before the World Cup kicks off Aug. 22 in England. Canada plays the ninth-ranked U.S., on Aug. 1 in Ottawa before facing No. 5 Ireland on Aug. 9 in Dublin. The Canadians open World Cup play against No. 15 Fiji on Aug. 23 in York, then face No. 10 Wales on Aug. 30 in Manchester and No. 7 Scotland on Sept. 6 in Exeter.
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Canada women win again but face tougher task in downing Springboks in rugby test
GQEBERHA, SOUTH AFRICA - After thumping South Africa 50-20 last week in Pretoria, a revamped Canadian lineup had a tougher time getting the job done before pulling away for a 33-5 win over the 12th-ranked Springboks in a women's rugby international Saturday. South Africa trailed 14-5 before the second-ranked Canadians, frustrated by handling errors and penalties, padded the scoreline with tries by Carissa Norsten (in the 55th minute), stand-in captain Tyson Beukeboom (74th, with South Africa down a player) and Krissy Scurfield (78th). The win improved Canada's record against South Africa to 6-0-0. The Canadians had scored 50 points or more in every meeting except the inaugural encounter in 2009, which they won 35-17. Canada captain Sophie de Goede, returning to action after a 13-month injury absence, came off the bench with 20 minutes remaining. The 26-year-old from Victoria last played in May 2024, in Canada's 22-19 win over World Cup champion New Zealand in the Pacific Four Series finale. De Goede tore her anterior cruciate ligament on June 21, 2024, in a non-contact scrimmage against the U.S. on the last day of a Canada sevens camp in Chula Vista, Calif. Norsten, the 2024 HSBC SVNS Rookie of the Year, was named player of the match in her 15s debut starting on the wing. Brittany Kassil and Gillian Boag also scored tries for Canada, which led 14-0 after a scrappy first half played in the early-afternoon sunshine at Nelson Mandela Stadium. Julia Schell and Maddy Grant each kicked two conversions. Ayanda Malinga scored the lone South African try. For the second week in a row, the women took the field ahead of the men's match between the top-ranked Springboks and No. 10 Italy. The South African men won 42-24 in Pretoria. The Canada victory may have come at a cost. Prop Rori Wood was taken off the field on a cart in the 30th minute after suffering an apparent leg injury. That meant a first cap for Taylor McKnight off the bench. Lock Laetitia Royer, one of three Canadians named to World Rugby's Women's 15s Dream Team in 2024, had to come off in the 32nd minute, favouring her shoulder. Canada moved the ball quickly at the breakdown from the get-go, often creating overlaps in the backline as a result. But a string of penalties slowed the game as the half progressed and Canada lost two players to the sin-bin before the break. Kassil opened the scoring for Canada in the fifth minute, crashing over from close-range for her first international try in her 46th appearance. A spate of Canadian penalties drew a warning just 16 minutes in from Zimbabwean referee Precious Pazani. And flanker Pam Buisa was sin-binned two minutes later for head contact in tackling Babalwa Latsha. Prop Olivia DeMarchant followed her in the 24th minute as Canada, backed up to its try-line after several infractions, was dinged for its seventh penalty of the half. With Canada still a player down, Boag dove over in the 32nd minute on a quick-tap penalty for a converted try and 14-0 lead. The two teams combined for 14 penalties, with eight against Canada, in the first 40 minutes. Helped by several penalties, South Africa scored in the 45th minute with Malinga touching down in the corner to cut the lead to 14-5. Springboks winger Jakkie Cilliers was sin-binned in the 74rd minute for a deliberate knockdown of a pass. Only Boag, Royer, Schell and No. 8 Gabrielle Senft retained their place in the Canadian starting 15, as coach Kevin Rouet looked to give everyone in the tour roster a run out. South Africa made two personnel and two positional changes to last week's team. With stand-in skipper Alex Tessier not part of the matchday squad, Beukeboom led Canada out for her record 76th cap. Canada improved to 14-5-1 since finishing fourth at the last World Cup. Four of the losses were to top-ranked England, with the other to No. 3 New Zealand. Canada and New Zealand played to a 27-27 tie in May in Pacific Four Series play. The Canadian women have just two games left before the World Cup kicks off Aug. 22 in England. Canada plays the ninth-ranked U.S., on Aug. 1 in Ottawa before facing No. 5 Ireland on Aug. 9 in Dublin. The Canadians open World Cup play against No. 15 Fiji on Aug. 23 in York, then face No. 10 Wales on Aug. 30 in Manchester and No. 7 Scotland on Sept. 6 in Exeter. South Africa, which will play out of Group D with No. 4 France, No. 8 Italy and No. 28 Brazil, hosts No. 3 New Zealand on July 26 July and Aug. 2 in its final tune-ups. Earlier Saturday, New Zealand defeated No. 6 Australia 37-12 in Wellington. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 12, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canada women win again but face tougher task in downing Springboks in rugby test
GQEBERHA, SOUTH AFRICA – After thumping South Africa 50-20 last week in Pretoria, a revamped Canadian lineup had a tougher time getting the job done before pulling away for a 33-5 win over the 12th-ranked Springboks in a women's rugby international Saturday. South Africa trailed 14-5 before the second-ranked Canadians, frustrated by handling errors and penalties, padded the scoreline with tries by Carissa Norsten (in the 55th minute), stand-in captain Tyson Beukeboom (74th, with South Africa down a player) and Krissy Scurfield (78th). The win improved Canada's record against South Africa to 6-0-0. The Canadians had scored 50 points or more in every meeting except the inaugural encounter in 2009, which they won 35-17. Canada captain Sophie de Goede, returning to action after a 13-month injury absence, came off the bench with 20 minutes remaining. The 26-year-old from Victoria last played in May 2024, in Canada's 22-19 win over World Cup champion New Zealand in the Pacific Four Series finale. De Goede tore her anterior cruciate ligament on June 21, 2024, in a non-contact scrimmage against the U.S. on the last day of a Canada sevens camp in Chula Vista, Calif. Norsten, the 2024 HSBC SVNS Rookie of the Year, was named player of the match in her 15s debut starting on the wing. Brittany Kassil and Gillian Boag also scored tries for Canada, which led 14-0 after a scrappy first half played in the early-afternoon sunshine at Nelson Mandela Stadium. Julia Schell and Maddy Grant each kicked two conversions. Ayanda Malinga scored the lone South African try. For the second week in a row, the women took the field ahead of the men's match between the top-ranked Springboks and No. 10 Italy. The South African men won 42-24 in Pretoria. The Canada victory may have come at a cost. Prop Rori Wood was taken off the field on a cart in the 30th minute after suffering an apparent leg injury. That meant a first cap for Taylor McKnight off the bench. Lock Laetitia Royer, one of three Canadians named to World Rugby's Women's 15s Dream Team in 2024, had to come off in the 32nd minute, favouring her shoulder. Canada moved the ball quickly at the breakdown from the get-go, often creating overlaps in the backline as a result. But a string of penalties slowed the game as the half progressed and Canada lost two players to the sin-bin before the break. Kassil opened the scoring for Canada in the fifth minute, crashing over from close-range for her first international try in her 46th appearance. A spate of Canadian penalties drew a warning just 16 minutes in from Zimbabwean referee Precious Pazani. And flanker Pam Buisa was sin-binned two minutes later for head contact in tackling Babalwa Latsha. Prop Olivia DeMarchant followed her in the 24th minute as Canada, backed up to its try-line after several infractions, was dinged for its seventh penalty of the half. With Canada still a player down, Boag dove over in the 32nd minute on a quick-tap penalty for a converted try and 14-0 lead. The two teams combined for 14 penalties, with eight against Canada, in the first 40 minutes. Helped by several penalties, South Africa scored in the 45th minute with Malinga touching down in the corner to cut the lead to 14-5. Springboks winger Jakkie Cilliers was sin-binned in the 74rd minute for a deliberate knockdown of a pass. Only Boag, Royer, Schell and No. 8 Gabrielle Senft retained their place in the Canadian starting 15, as coach Kevin Rouet looked to give everyone in the tour roster a run out. South Africa made two personnel and two positional changes to last week's team. With stand-in skipper Alex Tessier not part of the matchday squad, Beukeboom led Canada out for her record 76th cap. Canada improved to 14-5-1 since finishing fourth at the last World Cup. Four of the losses were to top-ranked England, with the other to No. 3 New Zealand. Canada and New Zealand played to a 27-27 tie in May in Pacific Four Series play. The Canadian women have just two games left before the World Cup kicks off Aug. 22 in England. Canada plays the ninth-ranked U.S., on Aug. 1 in Ottawa before facing No. 5 Ireland on Aug. 9 in Dublin. The Canadians open World Cup play against No. 15 Fiji on Aug. 23 in York, then face No. 10 Wales on Aug. 30 in Manchester and No. 7 Scotland on Sept. 6 in Exeter. South Africa, which will play out of Group D with No. 4 France, No. 8 Italy and No. 28 Brazil, hosts No. 3 New Zealand on July 26 July and Aug. 2 in its final tune-ups. Earlier Saturday, New Zealand defeated No. 6 Australia 37-12 in Wellington. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 12, 2025.
CBC
06-04-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Canadian rugby women down France at Singapore 7s, finish 3rd in consecutive weeks
Tries by Carissa Norsten, Shalaya Valenzuela and Fancy Bermudez lifted Canada to a 21-5 win over France at the HSBC SVNS Singapore on Sunday as the Canadian women finished third for the second week in a row on the top-tier rugby sevens circuit. Breanne Nicholas converted all three tries for Canada, which conceded a late score by Lea Trollier. Canada, which beat France 21-17 in the third-place game in Hong Kong last week, stands fourth in the women's season standings after six events. The French are third behind Australia and Series leader New Zealand. The Canadian women finished eighth in Dubai, fifth in Cape Town, fourth in Perth and seventh in Vancouver before the two third-place finishes. France finished third in Dubai, Cape Town and Perth. After topping its pool with wins over No. 6 Britain (14-5) and the eight-ranked U.S. (31-12), the Canadians were beaten 45-7 by Australia in the Cup semifinal earlier Sunday. Eden Kilgour scored the lone try for Canada, which trailed 24-0 at the half. New Zealand then defeated Australia 31-7 to win the Singapore event, adding to tournament victories in Cape Town, Vancouver and Hong Kong and runner-up finishes to Australia in Dubai and Perth. Australia's Maddison Levi became the fastest woman to surpass 200 tries, ending the weekend with 203 scores to her name including one in the final, which took her past Charlotte Caslick as Australia's top try-scorer in finals with 15. Double Olympic champions Fiji won the men's event in Singapore, downing Kenya 21-12. After three successive tournament victories, Argentina's men had to settle for bronze via a 33-14 comeback win over Spain after trailing 14-0. Singapore, the penultimate event of the season, decided the 2025 regular season winners with the New Zealand women and Argentina men confirmed as 2025 League victors on Day 1 at Singapore National Stadium. The top eight men's and women's teams now head to Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif., to compete in the winner-take-all May 3-4 season-ending world championship. The men's teams moving on are Argentina, Fiji, Spain, South Africa, France, New Zealand, Australia and Britain. The confirmed women's teams are Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Britain, France, Fiji, the U.S. and Japan. Canada will play in Pool A with New Zealand, Japan and Britain. The California finale will also feature a promotion/relegation playoff involving the top four men's and women's teams from the second-tier HSBC Sevens Challenger and the bottom four teams on the HSBC SVNS circuit. The Canadian men, relegated last June, are set to take part in the final Challenger Series event April 11-12 in Krakow, Poland. They currently top the Challenger Series.
CBC
05-04-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Canadian women's rugby 7s team advance to Cup semifinals in Singapore
Fancy Bermudez scored two tries Saturday to help Canada defeat the U.S. 31-21 and move into the Cup semifinals at the HSBC SVNS Singapore. The Canadian women, who came into the tournament in fourth place in the HSBC SVNS season standings, opened play with a 14-5 win over Britain. Breanne Nicholas, Sabrina Poulin and Carissa Norsten also scored tries against the fifth-ranked Americans while Nicholas booted three conversions. Carissa Norsten and Olivia Apps scored first-half tries and Nicholas added both conversions in Canada's win over No. 8 Britain. Canada will face No. 2 Australia in one semifinal Sunday while No. 1 New Zealand faces No. 3 France in the other. Singapore, the sixth and penultimate event of the season on the top-tier rugby sevens tour, decides the 2025 HSBC SVNS League winners (think regular season), with the top eight men's and women's teams moving on to the winner-take-all HSBC SVNS World Championship in Cason, Calif., on May 3-4. The New Zealand women and Argentina men were confirmed as 2025 League winners on Day 1 at Singapore National Stadium. The Black Ferns secured the top-four finish they required, thanks to dominant victories over China (38-0) and Brazil (48-0) to top Pool A. Argentina, meanwhile, bounced back from a 26-24 loss to South Africa by beating Britain 19-12 to move into the semifinals and clinch the SVNS men's league title. Britain and Fiji secured their places in the World Championship in California at the expense of Brazil. The men's teams moving on are Argentina, Fiji, Spain, South Africa, France, New Zealand, Australia and Britain. The confirmed women's teams are Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Britain, France, Fiji, the U.S. and Japan. The Canadians are coming off a season-best third-place finish in Hong Kong. Canada finished eighth in Dubai, fifth in Cape Town, fourth in Perth and seventh in Vancouver. The California finale will also feature a promotion/relegation playoff involving the top four men's and women's teams from the second-tier HSBC Sevens Challenger and the bottom four teams on the HSBC SVNS circuit. The Canadian men, relegated last June, are set to take part in the final Challenger Series event April 11-12 in Krakow, Poland. They currently top the Challenger Series.
