Several Abbotsford athletes are continuing their efforts to represent Canada on the international stage as they prepare to join Team Canada for the final stop of the 2025 HSBC SVNS rugby tour.
Taking place in Los Angeles, this competition signifies the end of this rugby season, with the two Abbotsford competitors prepared to leave it all out on the pitch.
For Shalaya Valenzuela and the women's team, this tournament represents a chance for the Canadians to snag their first HSBC SVNS championship title. The team is entering the tournament ranked fourth, putting them in the B pool alongside Japan, Great Britain, and the defending champion New Zealand team.
Meanwhile, James Thiel will rejoin Canada's men's team in hopes of being able to earn a top 12 finish, which would cement their spot in Division 2 of the 2026 HSBC SVNS season, which was recently announced will .
According to World Rugby, the LA tournament will determine which of the three new divisions each team will be sorted into for next season as part of the revitalized path to the HSBC SVNS World Championship.
As one of the top eight women's teams going into the final tournament of the 2025 season, Canada can rest easy knowing that they'll be sorted into Division 1 for next year, regardless of how they perform this weekend.
If the men's Canadian team isn't able to sneak its way into a top 12 spot, then it'll be sent down to Division 3 for next year, making it significantly harder to earn a spot in the world championship tournament.
Matches will take place on May 3 and 4, with Team Canada's opening competitions being at 10:22 a.m. on Saturday for the men and 10 a.m. for the women.
A full schedule and results can be found at .
