Rugby

Ireland is going for an unprecedented three-peat. France superstar Antoine Dupont is back after his sevens sabbatical. The Welsh? Well, they've never been this bad .

Canada's women's sevens rugby team, fresh off a season-best fourth-place in Perth, Australia, will open against Brazil at next month's HSBC SVNS Vancouver. After facing Brazil and Spain on Feb.

PERTH — The Canadian women climbed two places to fifth in the HSBC SVNS overall standings after placing a season-best fourth Sunday at the Perth stop on the elite rugby sevens circuit.

PERTH, Australia (AP) — Australia edged New Zealand 28-26 in another sensational women's rugby sevens final and won its first title at home in seven years on Sunday.

PERTH — Canada ran in five tries Saturday to defeat Brazil 27-5 in women's play and move into the semifinals of the HSBC SVNS Perth rugby sevens tournament. Seventh-seeded Canada will face No. 2 Australia on Sunday in a battle of unbeaten teams.

PERTH — Former captain Olivia Apps scored two tries against Britain and kicked the winning decisive to dispatch Fiji as Canada won its first two games at the HSBC SVNS Perth tournament.

PERTH — Canada's Savannah Bauder will miss this week's HSBC SVNS Perth tournament after sustaining an injury in training. Rugby Canada declined to elaborate on the injury when asked for more details.

PARIS (AP) — Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou were both included in France's matchday squad on Wednesday to face Wales in the first game of the Six Nations tournament next week.

DTH van der Merwe, Canada's all-time leading try-scorer, can add Rugby Canada Hall of Famer to his resume. The stylish wing scored 38 tries in 61 appearances for Canada, played in four World Cups and captained his country five times.

PARIS (AP) — Flanker Anthony Jelonch has pulled out of the France squad that is preparing for the Six Nations. The French federation did not give a reason for his withdrawal on Monday.