Rugby

Back in Victoria after touring England and France and criss-crossing Canada to watch his players in action with their club teams, Canada rugby coach Kevin Rouet is ready for the next step on an important year for the Canadian women.

Alex Russell will captain Canada in the final round of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series in Krakow, Poland, where the Canadian men will look to take a step closer to regaining their spot in the elite HSBC SVNS circuit.

Canada will play two test matches against the Springbok women in South Africa in July as part of its preparations for the Rugby World Cup.

HONG KONG — Sabrina Poulin scored the winning try as Canada downed France 21-17 Sunday to finish a season-best third at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens.

HONG KONG (AP) — Argentina's men won their first Hong Kong Sevens rugby title and New Zealand's women claimed their own history with a hat trick of championships on Sunday.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The Hurricanes have been late to the party in Super Rugby this season. While other teams shone in the first weeks of a tight competition, the Wellington-based Hurricanes lacked their usual luster.

HONG KONG — Carissa Norsten scored two tries to help Canada defeat Fiji 26-17 in Cup quarterfinal play Saturday at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens.

HONG KONG — Captain Olivia Apps reached the 300-point plateau in HSBC SVNS play while Taylor Perry scored her first try in World Rugby's elite sevens series as Canada advanced to the Cup quarterfinals at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens on Friday.

The Canadian men's rugby team will host Belgium and Spain in Edmonton in July. The test matches, the first since Canada's tour of Romania in November, will mark the Canadian coaching debut of Australian Steve Meehan.

A long list of “about 75” players has been drawn up by the British & Irish Lions for the upcoming tour of Australia, head coach Andy Farrell said Wednesday, after he presented his Ireland-heavy backroom staff for the trip Down Under.