Sports
Sixteen Players Named to Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team for HSBC SVNS Vancouver
Sixteen players have been named to Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team ahead of the Teck Tri-Nations Challenge taking place alongside the 11th edition of HSBC SVNS Vancouver.
Captained by Victoria’s Lockie Kratz, Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team will play Japan and Chile in a double round robin at BC Place over March 7 and 8 ahead of participating in the second stop of HSBC SVNS 2, the next step in their journey towards promotion to the first tier of the HSBC SVNS Series.
“Vancouver is an important moment for this group. It’s an opportunity to demonstrate our growth and to represent the wider Canadian rugby system with pride… we’re determined to put on a performance that excites and inspires.” Said Head Coach Christiaan Esterhuizen.
Passes to HSBC SVNS Vancouver will give fans access to the Teck Tri-Nations Challenge. Tickets are available at vansevens.com.
Among the 16 players named to the roster, Josiah Morra is set to officially return to sevens for the first time since his appearance at the 2024 RAN Sevens. Edmonton-born scrum-half Brock Gallagher, who has earned 12 caps with Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team, is poised to make his sevens debut. Vancouver native Andy Cooper is also in line for his first appearance in the sevens format.
“We’re not chasing a moment in Vancouver – we’re building consistency. This weekend is about raising our standards in the details… if we get that right, it sets the tone for how we perform over the next two stops in South America. We want to leave Vancouver sharper and more connected than when we arrived.”
Jesse Kilgour, who made his international sevens debut in Hong Kong in 2024 and earned his first cap with Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team later that year in Bucharest, returns to competition following rehabilitation from a shoulder injury. Jesse will join his sister Eden in Vancouver who has been named to Canada’s Women’s Sevens Team.
Six members of the squad — Tremblay, Morra, Di Nardo, Black, Shaw, and Gallagher — recently represented Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team during their 2027 Rugby World Cup qualification campaign and autumn test matches, bringing valuable international experience to the lineup and leaning on Rugby Canada’s One Squad philosophy which allows players to transition between the 15s and 7s game.
In Vancouver, Head Coach of Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team Stephen Meehan joins Head Coach Christiaan Esterhuizen as assistant coach for the weekend. Together, they will lead the squad while further strengthening the cohesion and connectivity across programs — a collaborative approach that continues to drive Canadian rugby forward.
“Stephen’s involvement is part of our One Squad philosophy. When our programs align, we accelerate growth. That connection strengthens both environments and raises expectations across the system. It’s great having someone with Stephen’s experience around – his perspective adds real value to the group.”
Due to injury, Thomas Isherwood and Demetri Patterson were not available for selection. Kal Sager was not available for selection due to university commitments.
THE ROAD TO TIER 1 OF THE HSBC SVNS SERIES
Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team claimed gold at the Rugby Americas North Sevens Tournament in November, earning qualification to the HSBC SVNS 3 Challenger.
In January, the team continued its strong performance by winning gold at the HSBC SVNS 3 Challenger in Dubai to secure a place in HSBC SVNS 2. SVNS 2 is a three-event series featuring Canada, Kenya, USA, Germany, Uruguay, and Belgium.
Canada opened the series with a sixth-place finish in Nairobi and will next compete in Montevideo (March 21–22) and São Paulo (March 28–29).
The top four teams at the conclusion of the HSBC SVNS 2 series will advance to join the eight core teams on the HSBC SVNS Series for the three-event SVNS World Championship. The Championship begins in Hong Kong (April 17–19), followed by Valladolid (May 29–31) and Bordeaux (June 5–7). The series will culminate with the crowning of the Men’s and Women’s World Champions, marking the finale of the newly formatted HSBC SVNS Series announced in 2025.
TICKETS
Tickets for HSBC SVNS Vancouver are available at vansevens.com. Questions regarding ticket purchases can be directed to tickets@vansevens.com. For more information on suites, please contact suites@vansevens.com. Please note that these inboxes will be monitored during regular office hours, Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm PT.
TECK TRI-NATIONS SCHEDULE
Saturday March 7
Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team vs Japan
2:23pm PT / 5:23pm ET
Watch on TSN2 & TSN+
Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team vs Chile
6:12pm PT / 9:12pm ET
Watch on TSN2 & TSN+
Sunday March 8
Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team vs Chile
2:01pm PT / 5:01pm ET
Watch on TSN1, TSN5, & TSN+
Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team vs Japan
5:04pm PT / 8:04pm ET
Watch on TSN4 & TSN+
CANADA’S MEN’S SEVENS TEAM VANCOUVER ROSTER
3. Ethan Turner (Maple Ridge, BC) – Burnaby Lake Rugby Club
6. Josiah Morra (Toronto, ON) – Balmy Beach RFC
7. Johnny Franklin (Bowen Island, BC) – Capilano RFC
10. Adam Doane (Sutton, ON) – Aurora Barbarians
13. Brenden Black (Oakville, ON) – Oakville Crusaders
14. D’Shawn Bowen (Toronto, ON) – James Bay AA / Agronomia Rugby
17. Jesse Kilgour (Oro-Medonte, ON) – Pacific Pride / Barrie RFC
18. Morgan Di Nardo (Toronto, ON) – Toronto Scottish / University of Victoria
22. Kyle Tremblay (White Rock, BC) – Bayside RFC
28. Henry Kirwan (Brighton, ENG) – Brighton Blues / Cardiff Metropolitan University
37. Ian Jones (Bass River, NS) – Ajax Wanderers / Pictou County
44. Lockie Kratz (Victoria, BC ) – Castaway Wanderers / UBCOB Ravens
55. Jack Shaw (Oakville, ON) – Castaway Wanderers / Oakville Crusaders
64. Elias Hancock (Ottawa, ON) – University of Ottawa / Bytown Blues
66. Andy Cooper (Vancouver, BC) – Meralomas RFC
98. Brock Gallagher (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC
Non-Traveling Reserves
Thomas Cuzagne (Toulon, France) – Pacific Pride
Reece Thompson (Minesing, ON) – University of Victoria / Barrie Rugby Club
Glenn Roy (Ottawa, ON) – Ottawa Irish
Unavailable / Injured
Demetri Patterson (West Vancouver, BC) – University of British Columbia
Ethan Fryer (Seattle, USA)
Kal Sager (Peterborough, ON) – Peterborough Pagans
Takoda McMullin (White Rock, BC) – University of British Columbia
Thomas Isherwood (Okotoks, AB) – Foothills Lions RFC / Westshore RFC
Sports
PWHL Opening Weekend Scheduled For December 5-6
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) today announced that the 2026-27 regular season will open the weekend of Dec. 5-6 with six games and all 12 teams in action, featuring historic debuts of the league’s four expansion teams. As part of season-opening puck drop, PWHL fans will be introduced to national broadcast platforms, including CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada and the ION Game of the Week, delivering comprehensive live TV coverage to fans across Canada and the United States.
Season 4 of the PWHL officially begins on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 3 p.m. ET when the Vancouver Goldeneyes and Seattle Torrent renew their pacific northwest rivalry at the Pacific Coliseum, marking the second straight year the league’s first West Coast teams go head-to-head to open the season.
Then, at 7 p.m. ET, the first women’s hockey game to be featured on CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada will be between the reigning Walter Cup champion Montréal Victoire and PWHL Hamilton at Place Bell. The return of the 90th consecutive season of the iconic Saturday night broadcast, the longest-running sports program in the world, was announced today by Canada’s national public broadcaster and is part of CBC/Radio-Canada’s expanded commitment to Canadian sports coverage. Additionally, Radio-Canada’s new radio broadcast rights will provide exclusive live audio coverage for all Montréal Victoire games in French to fans in Canada.
Also at 7 p.m. ET, PWHL San Jose will be the first new expansion team to play on home ice as they welcome the Minnesota Frost to SAP Center, airing in the U.S. on ION, Scripps’ national sports and entertainment network. The Saturday Game of the Week is the first in a landmark partnership between the PWHL and Scripps Sports, announced on Sept. 9, representing the league’s first season-long national television package in the U.S.
Opening weekend action continues on Sunday, Dec. 6, at 2 p.m. ET with a provincial clash between Ontario rivals the Ottawa Charge and Toronto Sceptres at Canadian Tire Centre, followed by another Inaugural Six showdown with the New York Sirens hosting the Boston Fleet at Prudential Center at 3 p.m. ET. At 8 p.m. ET, the season’s first all-expansion matchup takes place at T-Mobile Arena where PWHL Las Vegas hosts PWHL Detroit. Additional PWHL National broadcast details will be announced as part of the full 2026-27 schedule release this Friday, Oct. 2.
Tickets are on sale beginning at 11 a.m. ET for all 12 PWHL home openers listed below. Fans interested in multiple games can purchase Season Ticket Memberships and Half Packs where available, offering the best value and benefits. Flex packs will also be made available in all PWHL markets with the full schedule release. For more information, visit thepwhl.com/tickets. Fans can also stay up to date on detailed ticketing information for their preferred team by signing up for team-specific email lists by visiting team pages on thepwhl.com.
PWHL HOME OPENERS BY DATE
VANCOUVER GOLDENEYES – Saturday, Dec. 5 at 3 p.m. ET vs. Seattle Torrent at Pacific Coliseum
MONTRÉAL VICTOIRE – Saturday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. ET vs. PWHL Hamilton at Place Bell
PWHL SAN JOSE – Saturday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. ET vs. Minnesota Frost at SAP Center
OTTAWA CHARGE – Sunday, Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. ET vs. Toronto Sceptres at Canadian Tire Centre
NEW YORK SIRENS – Sunday, Dec. 6 at 3 p.m. ET vs. Boston Fleet at Prudential Center
PWHL LAS VEGAS – Sunday, Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. ET vs. PWHL Detroit at T-Mobile Arena
TORONTO SCEPTRES – Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. ET vs. PWHL Hamilton at Coca-Cola Coliseum
BOSTON FLEET – Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. ET vs. Ottawa Charge at Agganis Arena
PWHL DETROIT – Saturday, Dec. 12 at 12 p.m. ET vs. New York Sirens at Little Caesars Arena
PWHL HAMILTON – Sunday, Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. ET vs. Ottawa Charge at TD Coliseum
MINNESOTA FROST – Sunday, Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. ET vs. Seattle Torrent at Grand Casino Arena
SEATTLE TORRENT – Sunday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. ET vs. PWHL Las Vegas at Climate Pledge Arena
Sports
Vancouver Rise FC part ways with head coach Anja Heiner-Møller
Vancouver Rise FC announced on Monday that the club has parted ways with head coach Anja Heiner-Møller. Rise FC will be led on the field for the remainder of the 2026 season by the continuing coaching staff of Iain Darbyshire, Katie Collar, and Erin McNulty. Darbyshire will take on the role of interim head coach.
Heiner-Møller, the first head coach in Rise FC history, departs the club with an 18W-18L-8D record in the Northern Super League (NSL) regular season, as well as a memorable playoff run in the inaugural season that ended with a first ever NSL championship.
“We are grateful to Anja for her many contributions to the club, making history as an important part of Rise FC winning the inaugural Diana B. Matheson Cup,” said Robyn Gayle, Rise FC chief soccer officer. “This was a difficult decision and we wish Anja the very best. We have built high expectations, and it’s on all of us, staff and players, to continue raising the standards to meet them. We are focused on moving forward and making a strong push to finish the season successfully.”
Darbyshire joined Rise FC as an assistant coach prior to the start of the 2026 season after serving as Cardiff City FC head of women’s & girls football since July 2020. Under his leadership, Cardiff City FC Women enjoyed a period of unprecedented success, winning eight trophies in six years.
Collar has been with Rise FC since the team started in 2025, after previously leading the Rise FC Academy (formerly Whitecaps FC Girls Elite). Under Collar, the academy won the League1 BC (now BCPL) title in three straight seasons, as well as two straight League1 Canada Inter-Provincial Championships, and the 2023 FIFA/Blue Stars Youth Cup.
McNulty, a UEFA A licensed goalkeeper coach, serves as assistant coach and goalkeeper coach. Following a playing career in Canada, the United States, and Europe, McNulty moved into coaching, including prolonged success with the Rise FC Academy alongside Collar.
Both Collar and McNulty have also spent time coaching with Canada’s national team programs.
Rise FC return to play this coming Sunday, September 13 in a crucial home match against Ottawa Rapid FC at Swangard Stadium. Kickoff will be at 1 p.m. PT.
Message from Anja Heiner-Møller:
“To the fans of Vancouver Rise FC,
My time as head coach has come to an end.
I am proud of what we have built and accomplished, and most importantly from my end, I have done it being true to my values as a coach and human being. I feel that we have shared those values and the passion for this city, Rise FC and sports in general.
I want nothing else than success for Vancouver Rise FC, and I am grateful for the time I had leading this team from the very start of the inaugural season of 2025, the journey to winning the Championship of 2025 and to the tight battle of making the playoffs in the season of 2026.
I am very aware that fans of Vancouver Rise FC are special and you are a big part of this club. We appreciate you and all the things you do for the team. You are supportive, kind, enthusiastic and dedicated, and we have felt your support from the beginning.
Thank you for your support and all the best in the future!
Anja”