VICTORIA – U SPORTS Women's Rugby Player of the Year Carissa Norsten will make her debut as captain when Canada's 14-player squad kicks off the 2026 HSBC SVNS Series in Dubai, UAE, on Saturday, November 29 at 12:04 a.m. PT. 
The University of Victoria will be front and centre in Canada's lineup, with six Vikes past and present—Norsten, Larah Wright, Eden Kilgour, Ivy Poetker, and alumnae Krissy Scurfield and Pamphinette Buisa—named to the roster.

"It is very special to see Carissa named captain; she is an incredible role model with strong values and character and has worked so hard to get to where she is," says Brittany Waters, UVic women's rugby head coach.  

"I am also proud to see six Vikes (two alumni and four current) named to the squad. We are committed to developing the Vikes athletes for the world stage and very excited for this opportunity for them."

Norsten, originally from Waldheim, Sask., is coming off a standout 2024 sevens campaign that saw her named HSBC SVNS Rookie of the Year. In a release from Rugby Canada, head coach Jocelyn Barrieau said, "Carissa is everything a Canadian captain should be—strong, gritty, smart, and with an amazingly kind character. She is the perfect fit to be a captain and leads by example. I am so happy to be working with her and this group moving forward to see how far and how high we can reach."

Last season, the Canadian women closed out their year with three straight podium finishes on the HSBC SVNS Series, earning third-place results in Hong Kong and Singapore before capturing bronze at the HSBC SVNS World Championships in Los Angeles, defeating rivals USA in the third-place playoff.

Wright is one of seven returning athletes from that bronze-medal squad, bringing valuable experience back into the lineup. Poetker, selected for her first senior tour, is in contention to earn her debut in Dubai or Cape Town.

Kilgour, from Barrie, Ont., is coming off a strong rookie season with the Vikes and enters the tour as another rising talent looking to gain valuable international experience.

The Sevens Stadium in Dubai is host to the first stop of the 2026 HSBC SVNS Series, the first of nine tournaments in the newly formatted circuit, featuring the top eight women's and eight men's sevens teams in the world. Canada will face Great Britain in their opening match of the tournament. 

Where to watch?  
All of Canada's HSBC SVNS Series matches in Dubai and Cape Town will be available live on TSN+ 

More info 
Following the Dubai tournament, the team will travel to South Africa for Cape Town SVNS (December 6-7, 2025). The first tournament of the new year will take place in Singapore from January 31 to February 1, 2026.
Catch both Canada's Men's and Women's Teams in action on home soil at HSBC Vancouver Sevens (March 7-8, 2026) at BC Place. Buy tickets now at vansevens.com.  

CANADA'S WOMEN'S SEVENS TEAM DUBAI & CAPE TOWN SQUAD 
4. Breanne Nicholas (Blenheim, ON) - Kent Havoc RFC 
5. Savannah Bauder (North Vancouver, BC) – University of British Columbia / Capilano RFC 
6. Charity Williams (Toronto, ON) - Markham Irish / University of British Columbia 
8. Carmen Izyk (High River, AB) - Foothills Lions / Queen's University / RCTPM 
13. Krissy Scurfield (Canmore, AB) - University of Victoria 
14. Eden Kilgour (Barrie, ON) - Westshore RFC / University of Victoria 
19. Carissa Norsten (Waldheim, SK) - Kirin RWC / University of Victoria 
21. Adia Pye (Victoria, BC) - Castaway Wanderers / University of British Columbia 
24. Asia Hogan-Rochester (Toronto, ON) - Toronto Nomads / Westshore RFC 
38. Kennedi Stevenson (Georgetown, ON) - Brantford Harlequins
47. Larah Wright (Calgary, AB) – University of Victoria 
55. Monique Coffey (Dauphin, MB) - Scion Sirens   
68. Ivy Poetker (Calgary, AB) - Calgary Rams
99. Pamphinette Buisa (Gatineau, QC) – Ottawa Irish