Canada forced to make changes ahead of SVNS 2 decider

Canada Men’s Sevens have been forced to make changes to their squad ahead of the final HSBC SVNS 2 stop in São Paulo this weekend.

Jesse Kilgour has been ruled out of the strip in Brazil due to injury, while Kal Sager and Elias Hancock have returned to Canada due to university commitments.

Johnny Franklin and D’Shawn Bowen have been called up to the team in their place.

Each of Franklin and Bowen have turned out for Canada in SVNS 2 competition this season after they were part of the Nairobi squad.

Last weekend in Montevideo, Canada placed fifth overall and failed to register a win in Uruguay.

This weekend in São Paulo, Christiaan Esterhuizen’s side will play Uruguay, USA and Kenya on Day 1, before they conclude their SVNS 2 campaign with matches against Germany and Belgium.

As things stand the Canadians are six points away from a top four finish in SVNS 2 and a place at HSBC SVNS World Championship events in Hong Kong, Valladolid and Bordeaux.

After Montevideo, both the USA Men’s Eagles Sevens and Germany Men’s Sevens have already qualified for the World Championship.

Currently, Kenya and Uruguay are in pole position to claim the final two stops, although Canada and Belgium are in close pursuit.