Canadian Women’s Rugby Team Advances to Olympic Semifinals
Canada’s women’s rugby sevens team has secured a spot in the Olympic semifinals after a thrilling 19-14 victory over host France in the quarterfinals on Monday. The game was decided by a winning try from Chloe Daniels with just 53 seconds remaining in the second half.
Piper Logan was a standout for Canada, scoring two tries and contributing a conversion. Team captain Olivia Apps also added a conversion to the scoreboard. The Canadian team successfully defended against a late French attack to seal their advancement.
“This crowd is incredible to play in front of, whether they were with us or against us. It was really incredible to play tonight,” said Logan. “I feel very happy and privileged to be here. To win a medal would mean everything. We’ve been waiting for this one for quite a while.”
Daniels, despite missing one of her conversion attempts, expressed her elation at the result. “It is really hard to find the words at the moment,” said France’s Seraphine Okemba. “It is heartbreaking. We did not do our job, our mission, so I am really disappointed.”
Canada progressed to the quarterfinals after a 26-17 win over China earlier on Monday, securing second place in Pool A. The team now faces undefeated Australia in the semifinals on Tuesday at 10 a.m. ET. Australia advanced after a dominant 40-7 win over Ireland in their quarterfinal match.
“We won bronze in Rio and fell short in Tokyo. But you’ve seen the growth in the last few years and we are here to take a medal,” Logan said, emphasizing the team’s progress and determination.
Canada’s success in the tournament has not only brought them closer to a medal but has also fueled hopes of growing the sport of rugby sevens in Canada. Logan highlighted the importance of inspiring young girls to take up the sport, regardless of their size or strength.
In other matches, defending champions New Zealand will face the United States in the other semifinal after a record-breaking 55-5 victory over China and a comeback win over Britain, 17-7. New Zealand has shown formidable form throughout the tournament, easily advancing through their pool and quarterfinal matches.
The medal matches are set to take place later on Tuesday, and the Canadian team is focused on continuing their strong performance and bringing home a medal.
For more updates and to watch the matches, stay tuned to the official Olympic coverage.