Charity Williams scored her ninth and tenth tries of the weekend as Canada held off USA 21-19 to claim bronze at HSBC SVNS Bordeaux and third overall in the World Championship standings.
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Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
USA struck first inside 90 seconds. Kayla Canett — who set a new single-season SVNS try record of 34 in this match — powered over from close range. Alena Olsen converted for a 7-0 lead.
Canada answered almost immediately. Florence Symonds recycled possession through Fancy Bermudez, who fed Williams on the outside. The Toronto flyer outran Canett in a straight footrace to score under the posts. Asia Hogan-Rochester converted, 7-7.
With half-time approaching, a USA clearance kick stayed in field and Canada pounced. Williams chased it down, the ball was shifted wide, and Hogan-Rochester finished through two defenders — dummying a kick, then fending off the last cover — before adding her own conversion to make it 14-7 at the break.
USA levelled early in the second half. Kristi Kirshe, the veteran Olympic bronze medallist, combined with Eti Vina and Alev Kelter before Kaylen Thomas changed direction sharply to score. Olsen's conversion tied it at 14-14.
Williams struck again to restore Canada's lead with under four minutes to play. Taylor Perry found the winger with an inside pass, and Williams stepped through the line for her 10th try of the tournament — the most by any player across the Bordeaux weekend. Hogan-Rochester converted for 21-14.
USA refused to fold. Thomas ran 50 metres sideways and 60 metres forward, scorching across field to score her second of the match under the posts. But Olsen's conversion attempt drifted wide, leaving the score at 21-19 with 35 seconds on the clock.
Canada controlled the restart and kept possession through the final whistle. Hogan-Rochester held the ball in the air as the hooter sounded, sealing the bronze.
The turning point
Olsen's missed conversion after Thomas's sensational 110-metre solo try kept Canada ahead by two points. The miss meant USA needed another score rather than a conversion to win, and Canada's discipline in the final 35 seconds — keeping the ball tight through Breanne Nicholas and Savannah Bauder — prevented USA from touching the ball again.
Key performers
Charity Williams (Canada) — Player of the match by distance. Two tries took her weekend tally to 10, the highest of any player in Bordeaux. The Markham Irish flyer scored in every knockout match: two against Fiji, two against New Zealand in the semi-final, and two in the bronze-medal match. Her try count across the three-tournament World Championship season reached 29.
Asia Hogan-Rochester (Canada) — A try and two conversions, including a brilliantly worked solo score and a vital conversion from wide. Also made a try-saving tackle on Kristi Kirshe in the second half.
Kaylen Thomas (USA) — Two tries, including a remarkable individual effort that nearly dragged USA level. The American winger was a constant threat in space.
Kayla Canett (USA) — Opened the scoring and set a new SVNS single-season try record (34), surpassing Victoria Pelayo and Naya Tapper, per the match broadcast.
By the numbers — interpreted
The 21-19 scoreline reflected two evenly matched sides who traded blows rather than one dominating the other. Canada scored three tries to USA's three — the difference was Hogan-Rochester's two conversions against one from Olsen. Canada's ability to score first after conceding, and to hold possession in the final minute after Thomas's try, were the margins that decided a bronze medal.
Canada's 10 tries conceded across the tournament — including just three in knockout play before the New Zealand semi-final heartbreak — show a defence that tightened when it mattered most.
What it means
The bronze medal lifted Canada past both France and the USA in the overall HSBC SVNS World Championship standings, securing third place for the first time this season. The top eight — Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA, France, Fiji, Japan and Spain — were confirmed for next season's main HSBC SVNS Series, with Spain promoted at Great Britain's expense.
USA finished fourth overall, while tournament champions Australia claimed the World Championship title with a 26-19 final win over New Zealand earlier on the same day.
"We're really proud," Canada Head Coach Jocelyn Barrieau told Rugby Canada. "This is a group that chose to bounce back on day three, something we haven't been able to do this year. It took hard work and a lot of detail."
Barrieau credited captain Florence Symonds for rallying the team after the semi-final loss: "She gathered everyone and said, 'We're going to get through this because we have each other's backs.' It was just an amazing display of leadership."
Verdict
Canada's bronze was forged in the 20 minutes between the semi-final heartbreak and the bronze-medal kick-off. A team that had finished fourth at both previous tournaments this season delivered when the podium was on the line. Charity Williams was the tournament's outstanding attacking force, and the composure Canada showed in the final seconds against a dangerous USA side suggests a squad that may be a genuine contender in 2027.
Rivalry since 2017
Canada 7s W vs USA 7s W Head to Head Results· 40
Canada 7s W and USA 7s W have met 40 times — Canada 7s W won 14, USA 7s W won 25, with 1 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2017. USA 7s W leads the head-to-head with 25 victories from 40 meetings. A combined 1371 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 34.27 per match (644 for the home side, 727 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 39 matches (98%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 40 games (100%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. USA 7s W are currently unbeaten in the last 5 meetings. The highest-scoring encounter finished 33–22 in 2026.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 26 Jun 2026