VICTORIA — Captain Jen Kish will lead an experienced squad in Canada's hunt for a medal in the debut Olympic rugby sevens event in Rio.
Canada, a medal favourite after placing third and second the last two seasons on the world circuit, opens pool play in a group with Britain, host Brazil and Japan.
"Honestly to have the opportunity to lead these beautiful and wonderful women into the Rio Game ... is a huge honour and privilege," Kish told a news conference Friday.
"We're a squad of sisters and I think when we a step out on that field, that's what you're going to see — is the sisterhood. I'm just so proud of these girls."
Coach John Tait's 12-woman roster includes scoring sensation Ghislaine Landry and defensive quarterback Ashley Steacy in a lineup full of experience and savvy.
"I'm excited about the team we've assembled for the Rio Olympics as we take part in the historic debut of rugby sevens," Tait said in a statement. "We're looking forward to building off of our recent success, playing on the world's biggest stage and making our country proud."
The Canadian women won the last stop on the 2015-16 HSBC World Sevens Series, toppling Series leader Australia 29-19 in France.
But there is no place for Magali Harvey, named World Rugby's female player of the year in 2014 in the 15s game.
The Olympic roster includes nine members of the team that won gold at the 2015 Pan-Am Games: Kish, Landry, Steacy, Britt Benn, Hannah Darling, Kayla Moleschi, Karen Paquin, Kelly Russell and Natasha Watcham-Roy.
The team was named at a news conference in Victoria where the team members were presented with their Canadian team jackets.
The Canadian women will train in Victoria before heading to a camp north of Toronto at the end of July. The team flies to Rio on July 28 with Olympic play starting Aug. 6.
Canada Rugby Sevens Olympic Roster
Britt Benn, Guelph Redcoats, Napanee, Ont.; Hannah Darling, Peterborough Pagans, Warsaw, Ont.; Bianca Farella, Town of Mont Royal RFC, Montreal; Jen Kish (capt.), Edmonton Rockers, Edmonton; Ghislaine Landry, Toronto Scottish, Toronto; Megan Lukan, unattached, Barrie, Ont.; Kayla Moleschi, Williams Lake Rustlers, Williams Lake, B.C.; Karen Paquin, Club de Rugby Quebec, Quebec City; Kelly Russell, Toronto Nomads, Bolton, Ont.; Ashley Steacy, Lethbridge, Alta.; Natasha Watcham-Roy, Hull Volant, Gatineau, Que.; Charity Williams, Markham Irish, Toronto.
