Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team Battles to Fifth Place in Montevideo, Eyes São Paulo Qualification

Montevideo, Uruguay – Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team concluded their HSBC SVNS 2 Montevideo campaign with a hard-fought fifth-place finish, securing a victory over Belgium on March 22, 2026. The team now shifts its focus to the final qualifying stage of HSBC SVNS 2 in São Paulo, Brazil, scheduled for March 28-29, with a spot in the HSBC SVNS World Championship on the line.

Mixed Results in Montevideo

Canada faced a challenging opening day in Montevideo, suffering losses against Germany, Kenya, and the United States. However, they rebounded on day two, initially falling to Uruguay before securing a decisive win against Belgium. The fifth-place result leaves Canada currently tied with Belgium at 22 points in the HSBC SVNS 2 standings. Source

Victory Over Belgium Seals Fifth Place

Canada showcased a strong performance in their match against Belgium, ultimately winning 41-14. Belgium drew first blood, capitalizing on a temporary numerical advantage. However, Canada quickly responded with captain Lockie Kratz initiating a series of passes that culminated in a attempt by Morgan Di Nardo. Di Nardo continued to shine, adding two more tries to his tally, securing a hat trick. Further tries from Kyle Tremblay, Jack Shaw, and Elias Hancock, combined with conversions from Kratz, Turner, and Black, sealed the victory. Source

Disappointing Loss to Uruguay

Earlier in the tournament, Canada struggled against Uruguay, falling 33-0. Uruguay established a commanding lead early in the match, exposing vulnerabilities in Canada’s defense. Despite defensive efforts, including try-saving tackles from Jesse Kilgour and Kyle Tremblay, Canada was unable to convert opportunities and suffered a scoreless defeat. Source

São Paulo: A Crucial Qualifier

The HSBC SVNS Series Division 2 is structured as a five-game round-robin tournament. The top four teams across the three stages – Nairobi, Montevideo, and São Paulo – will earn qualification for the HSBC SVNS World Championship. Source Currently, the USA and Germany lead the standings with 38 points each, followed by Kenya (32 points) and Uruguay (28 points). Canada and Belgium are tied for fifth place with 22 points, facing an uphill battle for a top-four finish. Source

Canada’s Squad in Montevideo

The Canadian team in Montevideo included:

• Ethan Turner
• Adam Doane
• Brenden Black
• Jesse Kilgour
• Morgan Di Nardo
• Kyle Tremblay
• Thomas Isherwood
• Kal Sager
• Ian Jones
• Lockie Kratz
• Jack Shaw
• Elias Hancock
• Andrew Cooper (making his international sevens debut)

Source

Looking Ahead

Canada will be looking for an improved performance in São Paulo to secure a top-four finish and gain promotion into the HSBC SVNS World Championship. Fans can find the latest information and schedules on the official HSBC SVNS website.