Canada Rugby Sevens: Team Ready for HSBC SVNS Division 2 in Nairobi | 2026 Schedule & Players
- LANGFORD, BRITISH COLUMBIA – February 9, 2026 – Canada’s men’s sevens team is gearing up for the HSBC SVNS Division 2 tournament in Nairobi, Kenya, beginning February 14.
- The Canadians will open the tournament against Kenya on February 13 at 11:50 p.m.
- This journey to the HSBC SVNS Series has been one of steady progress.
LANGFORD, BRITISH COLUMBIA – – Canada’s men’s sevens team is gearing up for the HSBC SVNS Division 2 tournament in Nairobi, Kenya, beginning . Head coach Christiaan Esterhuizen has named a 12-man squad aiming to continue their momentum after a successful qualification run for the series.
The Canadians will open the tournament against Kenya on at 11:50 p.m. PT (2:50 a.m. ET) at Nyayo National Stadium. The Nairobi leg is a crucial stepping stone towards the HSBC SVNS event in Vancouver, where Canada will participate in the Teck Tri-Nations Challenge against Japan and Chile.
This journey to the HSBC SVNS Series has been one of steady progress. Canada initially secured qualification for Division 3 of the HSBC SVNS Series with a gold medal performance at the Rugby Americas North sevens tournament last November. Building on that success, the team then claimed gold at the HSBC SVNS 3 Challenger in January, earning their promotion to Division 2.
The HSBC SVNS Division 2 is structured as a three-stage series, with Nairobi being the first stop. Following Nairobi, the team will travel to Montevideo, Uruguay () and São Paulo, Brazil (). The top four teams from Division 2 will advance to join the top eight HSBC SVNS Series teams in the SVNS World Championships, a new tiered global sevens model.
The SVNS World Championships will unfold across three locations: Hong Kong (), Valladolid, Spain (), and Bordeaux, France (), culminating in the crowning of the men’s and women’s world champions.
Rugby Canada has confirmed that Christiaan Esterhuizen will remain at the helm as head coach for the remainder of the 2025-2026 season, providing continuity as the team navigates this crucial period.
“I am very satisfied with the consistency we showed throughout the tournament [Division 3 des HSBC SVNS à Dubaï] and in particular the character the group showed in key moments,” said Esterhuizen. “The defense against Hong Kong China in the semi-final was exceptional and perfectly reflects the confidence and work ethic within the team. At the same time, we know that there are still technical aspects to work on: it will be important to add some extra dimensions to our attack and improve our precision in defense as we progress.”
The squad features a blend of experienced players and emerging talent. Reece Thompson and Demetri Patterson are set to make their international sevens debuts in Nairobi. Thompson previously represented Canada’s men’s under-20 team, while Patterson recently earned a bronze medal with the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds at the 2025 Canadian University Rugby Championships.
Harry Corkum returns to the squad after making his debut at the Rugby Americas North Sevens tournament in November. Corkum, a McGill University athlete, was recognized as a First Team All-Canadian and Trademark Player of the Year last season. D’Shawn Bowen also rejoins the team, having previously played in the Rugby Americas North sevens tournament before a stint with Portuguese club Agronomia Rugby.
However, the team will be without Thomas Isherwood, the most valuable player from the Dubai tournament, due to injury. Esterhuizen acknowledged this as a significant loss, but expressed confidence in the depth of the squad.
“The last camp went well. The team seems more established and the players have a clearer vision of roles and expectations, which always helps to improve the level,” Esterhuizen added. “The Nairobi tournament will be very competitive: Kenya are probably the best team at the moment, and teams like Uruguay, USA and Germany all look strong, so we know we will have to be at our best.”
Looking ahead to the Vancouver event, Esterhuizen emphasized the excitement surrounding the opportunity to play in front of a home crowd. “This is a world-class event, and there’s no doubt that excitement is already building within the group.”
Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team Roster for Nairobi:
- Ethan Turner (Maple Ridge, British Columbia) – Burnaby Lake Rugby Club
- Johnny Franklin (Bowen Island, British Columbia) – Capilano RFC
- Harry Corkum (Halifax, Nova Scotia) – Halifax Tars
- Adam Doane (Sutton, Ontario) – Barbarians d’Aurora
- Demetri Patterson (West Vancouver, British Columbia) – University of British Columbia
- D’Shawn Bowen (Toronto, Ontario) – Bay Bay AA / Agronomia Rugby
- Morgan Di Nardo (Toronto, Ontario) – Scottish of Toronto / University of Victoria
- Kal Sager (Peterborough, Ontario) – Pagans de Peterborough
- Lockie Kratz (Victoria, British Columbia) – Castaway Wanderers / UBCOB Ravens
- Jack Shaw (Oakville, Ontario) – Castaway Wanderers / Crusaders d’Oakville
- Elias Hancock (Ottawa, Ontario) – Université d’Ottawa/ Bytown Blues
- Reece Thompson (Minesing, Ontario) – University of Victoria / Barrie Rugby Club
Match Schedule in Nairobi:
- Saturday, February 14:
- Canada vs. Kenya – 11:50 p.m. PT (February 13) / 2:50 a.m. ET
- Canada vs. Germany – 2:30 a.m. PT / 5:30 a.m. ET
- Canada vs. United States – 5:10 a.m. PT / 8:10 a.m. ET
- Sunday, February 15:
- Canada vs. Belgium – 1:06 a.m. PT / 4:06 a.m. ET
- Canada vs. Uruguay – 5:40 a.m. PT / 8:40 a.m. ET
An updated match schedule can be found here.
Canadian fans can catch all the action live on TSN+.