Rugby Canada has announced both Senior Men’s and Senior Women’s Sevens teams for the first stop of the 2022 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Dubai.

On the men’s roster, Olympian and Abbotsford native Jake Thiel (Abbotsford RFC) will captain his first tournament with the absence of Phil Berna, who is unavailable due to injury. Canada’s Senior Men’s Sevens side is expected to see three debutants in Dubai, including Tsawwassen’s Jarvis Dashkewytch (UVIC Vikes) and Victoria’s Lachlan Kratz (NOLA Gold). Vancouver’s Theo Sauder (Vancouver Rowing Club) and Elias Ergas (UBC Thunderbirds) are also included in the 13-man roster, alongside North Vancouver’s Nick Allen (Capilano RFC).

On the women’s roster, Abbotsford’s Nakisa Levale (Abbotsford RFC) is joined by four BC-based players in Renee Gonzalez, Pamphinette Buisa, Krissy Scurfield (all UVIC Vikes) and Elissa Alarie (Westshore RFC).

The men’s competition will follow the Olympic format with three pools of four teams, while the 10 team women’s event sees the teams divided into two pools of five. Canada’s Men’s team are placed in Pool A alongside Fiji, Australia and France, while Canada’s Women’s team will face Fiji, Great Britain, Russia and Ireland in Pool B.