Halifax’s Coats returns to men’s sevens team in Spain
A healthy Cooper Coats returns to Canada’s men’s rugby sevens national team for next week’s HSBC SVNS Series in Spain.
Head coach Sean White on Friday revealed his roster for the final tournament before the Canadian men’s team plays in an Olympic qualification event next month in Monaco. The SVNS Series tournament kicks off May 31 at Civitas Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid.
The 27-year-old Coats, who hails from Halifax, had been sidelined for much of the year with an injury. Coats is the lone Nova Scotian on Canada’s national senior men’s rugby squad.
Jack Carson, Matthew Percillier and Cody Nhanala also return to the roster after nursing injuries.
The Canadian men are one of the bottom four teams from the 2024 HSBC SVNS Series that will meet the top four teams from the HSBC Sevens Challenger Series in a promotion and relegation playoff to compete for one of four spots in next year’s SVNS Series.
Canada will face the United States, Uruguay and Germany in pool play, which will be followed by winner-takes-all playoff matches.
“There’s no hiding from the challenges this group has faced over the season, and no excuses will be made for where we currently stand,” White said in a news release. “Our goal remains simple, go into Madrid in the top 12 and leave in the top 12. We’re confident that the sacrifices and commitment the players have put in over these past few months and the lessons we’ve learned throughout the season will be part of our success in Madrid. We’re marching towards the pressure shields up and spears out.”
The Canadian women’s sevens squad, coached by Halifax’s Jack Hanratty, will also travel to Madrid but as one of the Grand Final’s top teams, having already clinched an Olympic berth in the Summer Games in Paris.
Canada will play New Zealand, Great Britain and the U.S. in the final tournament for the women’s team before the Olympic Games in July.
“Our squad has had the Grand Final circled on our calendars all season,” Hanratty said. “It’s going to be a weekend of tough, quality competition with the best in the world, which is exactly what we want.”