Canadian men look to continue their climb back up the rugby sevens ladder in Dubai

The men's and women's captains pose ahead of the HSBC SVNS Division 3 challenger event, in Dubai in a Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, handout photo. Canada men's captain Lockie Kratz is sixth from the left in red. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout — World Rugby (Mandatory Credit)

Lockie Kratz will captain Canada at this weekend’s HSBC SVNS Division 3 challenger event in Dubai as the Canadian men look to continue their climb back up the rugby sevens ladder.

The standalone tournament at The Sevens Stadium features eight men’s and six women’s teams with Belgium, Colombia, Hong Kong, Italy, Madagascar, Samoa and Tonga completing the men’s field.

The top two men’s and women’s sides will earn promotion to the three-event HSBC SVNS 2 series in Nairobi (Feb. 14-15), Montevideo (March 21-22) and Sao Paulo (March 28-29). The SVNS 2 series is one level below the elite HSBC SVNS circuit, which is home to the Canadian women.

The top four men’s and women’s teams from HSBC SVNS 2 will join the eight HSBC SVNS core sides for the final events in Hong Kong, Valladolid, Spain, and Bordeaux, France, in April, May and June. The top eight teams over that three-event stretch will retain their core status with the bottom four relegated.

The Canadian men qualified for the HSBC SVNS Division 3 In November by winning the Rugby Americas North (RAN) Sevens tournament in Trinidad.

Interim Canada coach Christiaan Esterhuizen has chosen seven players — Kratz, Ethan Turner, Elias Hancock, Thomas Isherwood, Johnny Franklin, Adam Doane and Ian Jones — from the victorious RAN Sevens squad for Dubai.

Kratz returned to action in November after being sidelined by a January 2024 knee injury.

Josiah Morra returns to the sevens program for the first time since the 2024 RAN Sevens after focusing on 15s play with the MLR’s New England Free Jacks and Canada. Takoda McMullin, who has five caps with the Canadian 15s squad, is in line to make his Canada sevens debut.

Canada opens against Italy on Saturday before facing Belgium and Madagascar.

“Training camp has been highly productive,” Esterhuizen said in a statement. “Despite a short preparation window and challenging pre-camp conditions, including snow and difficult weather, the group demonstrated strong commitment and resilience throughout.”

“We retain a strong core from RAN, which provides important continuity,” he added. ”As we head into Dubai, we know we’ll be tested against quality opposition such as Italy, Belgium, and likely Tonga and Samoa. This is an experienced group, full of confidence, and ready to compete with energy and purpose.”

The Canadian men, relegated from the top tier in June 2024, had hoped to reclaim their place via a promotion-relegation playoff series last May after climbing out of the second-tier Challenger Series. But World Rugby rejigged the entire sevens series structure ahead of the season-ending tournament in California, taking promotion off the table.

Canada Roster

• Adam Doane, Sutton, Ont., Aurora Barbarians
• Brenden Black, Oakville, Ont., Oakville Crusaders
• Elias Hancock, Ottawa, Bytown Blues
• Ethan Turner, Maple Ridge, B.C., Burnaby Lake Rugby Club
• Ian Jones, Bass River, N.S., Pictou County
• Jack Shaw, Oakville, Ont., Oakville Crusaders
• Johnny Franklin, Bowen Island, B.C., Capilano RFC
• Josiah Morra, Toronto, Balmy Beach
• Kal Sager, Peterborough, Ont., Peterborough Pagans
• Lockie Kratz, Victoria, UBCOB Ravens
• Morgan Di Nardo, Toronto, University of Victoria
• Takoda McMullin, White Rock, B.C., UBC
• Thomas Isherwood, Okotoks, Alta., Westshore RFC

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 15, 2026.

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press