Rugby Star Scores 100th Try

Image credits: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

Charity Williams, a Canadian rugby star, has achieved a significant milestone in her career, scoring her 100th try as Canada defeated Brazil 26-19 in the opening game of the HSBC SVNS stop in Vancouver. This accomplishment is a testament to her dedication and skill in the sport. Williams, a three-time Olympian, has had a remarkable year, capturing a silver medal at the Paris Olympics in July and a U Sports national championship with the University of British Columbia in November.

The 28-year-old back from Toronto played her first game with Canada's sevens squad since the Olympics and wasted no time in marking the feat. She collected the ball from captain Piper Logan and darted in to touch in the first minute, celebrating by forming her hands into a heart and holding them up to the hometown crowd. Williams also touched in the fourth minute against Brazil, diving over the line with a forward roll. The Canadian women's team came into the tournament sitting fifth in the series standings, and their victory over Brazil has set them up for success in the rest of the tournament.

Later on Friday, Canada trounced No. 12 Spain 41-5, thanks to three tries and a conversion from Asia Hogan-Rochester. The 25-year-old from Toronto said the performance is simply an example of the player she's becoming. Breanne Nicholas, Carissa Norsten, Fancy Bermudez, and Alysha Corrigan also touched for Canada, and Olivia Apps added two conversions. The women's team will wrap up pool play against No. 2 Australia on Saturday, and the host nation sat atop pool A at the end of Friday's action after Brazil upset the Aussies in the final game of the day.

The tournament's quarterfinals will take place on Saturday afternoon, and the finals are set for Sunday. Canada's men's squad will also play at B.C. Place this weekend, though in an invitational tournament instead of part of the main series. The team was relegated last year and will look to climb back into the top tier this season when they play in World Rugby's Challenger Series. The rugby sevens circuit is highly competitive, and Canada's teams will need to perform well to achieve their goals.

The Canadian women's team has high expectations as they return to Vancouver, with nine players from the Olympic team set to play this weekend, including Williams. The performance in Paris has been a huge confidence boost for the Canadian crew, and they feel pretty confident about their chances in the tournament. The team is coming off a fourth-place finish in Perth, the third stop of seven stops on the series, and adding veteran players such as Alysha Corrigan and Williams into the fold will help Canada in Vancouver and beyond. Here are the match scores for Canada's games on Friday:

• Canada vs. Brazil: 26-19
• Canada vs. Spain: 41-5

The team's schedule for the rest of the tournament will be as follows:

1. Saturday: Canada vs. Australia
2. Sunday: Quarterfinals and finals

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