Canadian women’s rugby squad reaches Sevens Series Cup quarter-finals

SAO PAULO – It was a successful start for Canada at the Sao Paulo Sevens women’s rugby event Saturday.

The Canadians won all three of their opening games to finish atop Pool C and secure a quarter-final round berth. Canada began the tournament downing Russia 20-7 and South Africa 26-5 before cementing first in its pool with a 24-17 victory over England.

Canada will face Russia in quarter-final action Sunday.

Toronto’s Ghislaine Landry led the Canadian attack with seven tries and finished with 39 total points.

She had two tries against Russia with Montreal’s Bianca Farella and Karen Paquin of Quebec City scoring the others. Landry then recorded three tries versus South Africa as Charity Williams, 18, also of Toronto, had the other.

Canada fell behind 7-0 in the opening minute against England before rallying for a 12-7 half-time lead. Landry and Paquin both had a pair of tries apiece for the winners.

It marked the ninth straight time Canada has advanced to the quarter-final round. The Canadians are coming off a third-place finish at the Dubai Sevens, the first leg in this year’s World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series.