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.
Poulin took an off-load from Carissa Norsten and outpaced a French defender down the left flank before cutting in to score under the posts at Kai Tak Sports Park. The 33-year-old from St-Georges, Que., who played 15s in England for the Exeter Chiefs this season, was making her first appearance on the elite sevens circuit since last year's event in Hong Kong.
New Zealand defeated Australia 26-19 in the final for its third win of the season, to go along with two runner-up finishes.
On the men's side, Argentina downed France 12-5 for its third straight tournament win of the season and first ever in Hong Kong.
The Canadian women moved up two place to No. 4 in the HSBC SVNS season standing after five events. France stands third behind Australia and No. 1 New Zealand.
Canada finished eighth in Dubai, fifth in Cape Town, fourth in Perth and seventh last time out in Vancouver.
Shalaya Valenzuela and captain Olivia Apps also scored for Canada against France with Apps adding two conversions and Taylor Perry kicking one.
Canada moved into the Hong Kong knockout rounds after finishing second in Pool C. Canada opened with a 24-17 victory over No. 5 Japan, dropped a 26-15 decision to No. 2 Australia and downed No. 12 Spain 29-10.
The Canadians then dispatched Fiji 26-17 in the quarterfinal before falling 41-0 to New Zealand in the semifinal. New Zealand ran in seven tries and led 26-0 at the half.
The circuit now shifts to Singapore for the penultimate event of the season next weekend. Canada has been drawn in Pool C with the fifth-ranked U.S. and No. 8 Britain.
The top eight men's and women's teams will then compete in the May 3-4 season-ending world championship at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif.
The men’s teams moving on are Argentina, Fiji, Spain, South Africa, France, New Zealand, Australia and Britain. The six confirmed women’s teams so far are Canada, New Zealand, Australia, France, the U.S. and Japan.
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.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 20, 2025
The Canadian Press
