LANGFORD – That might be the last time Krissy Scurfield gets cut.
On the heels of a remarkable World Rugby HSBC Sevens Series, the speedy standout from Canmore set herself apart and was fan-voted to the Dream Team, where only seven athletes are chosen for having top-tier performances in Langford, B.C. on April 30 and May 1.
It was the cherry on top of a weekend of feel-good moments for the teenager, who only a few days prior had been scratched off the list of Canadians who would participate at the world series on home soil.
“It really means so much to me, not even just the fact that I was a late call-up, I’m just beyond happy with being on the Dream Team,” said Scurfield. “It seriously is a dream for me to be involved in something like this, so it’s just incredible I’m up with some of the all-stars of the series.”
⭐️ A local hero, try machines and the newly-crowned champions
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) May 4, 2022
🇨🇦 The Langford #HSBCDreamTeam has it all @HSBC_Sport | #HSBC7s pic.twitter.com/mkId3vKkAR
She's the only Canadian woman to be selected to a Dream Team this season.
Her offence came up big, but her tackling was even bigger against the world's best sevens players.
Scurfield scored four tries on four clean breaks, tying for most among Canadians with Vulcan, Alta.’s Keyara Wardley. She also held a last line of defence for the Canucks, madly chasing down what would have been sure tries with cheetah-like speed to claim Canada’s best placing of the season so far.
A day after Canada beat rivals USA to place fifth, Scurfield was resting all day and could barely walk from a sore quad.
She recalled the lead up to Langford, right after returning from a world cup qualifier tournament in the Bahamas, the former Banff Bear was told she wouldn’t be playing in the upcoming sevens world series.
“I was pretty upset and a little bit confused why I wasn’t going, but held my head high because I was supposed to be playing in the NextGen tournament that weekend instead, so that I could get more game time. That’s what my coach said,” said the 18-year-old who's played rugby for less than five years.
“A day after we were home, one of my teammate’s head starting hurting and she had concussion symptoms, so I got the call in the morning that I was back on the roster.
“I was just really happy to be back with my team.”
Although, she was aware of her situation where she felt she needed to prove her spot.
On the first day of action, Canada defeated Spain (19-10), Mexico (43-0) and lost 28-5 to Australia.
Canada’s second match against Mexico was Scurfield’s only action that day and she scored twice for the red and white and delivered punishing hits.
“I just wanted to show that I deserved to be with the team this weekend and wanted to give it my all,” she said.
On the second day, Canada dropped its second-straight match to the Tokyo 2020 gold medallist New Zealand 7s, 38-0.
The loss knocked the Canucks out of medal contention and set up a showdown with Tokyo 2020’s bronze medallist Fiji, to see which country would play for fifth place.
Scurfield helped Canada set the tone, scoring two tries and making a couple of big tackles to slow Fiji’s momentum. Canada won 26-19 and played rivals USA for fifth spot.
"The wheels around the outside and the teenagers going to go in for @RugbyCanada"
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) May 1, 2022
Pure speed by Krissy Scurfield for her second!#HSBC7s | #Canada7s pic.twitter.com/sLEHVcsW0G
In a close game, some inexperience came out for Scurfield and the Canmorite received a two-minute penalty after a hit to the head of a U.S. player. She was stressing out in the sin bin that the U.S. would capitalize on her mistake, she said.
However, Canada managed to fight off the pressing Americans and won 12-7.
“We haven’t beat them for a while, so it felt really nice to beat them on our home soil. It was just incredible. Something we have been really working towards a while," Scurfield said.
During the tournament, head coach Jack Hanratty briefly spoke about 18-year-old Scurfield playing in her second world series event.
“She was actually a very late call-up to this week, so for her to be able to not just be here, but perform at the world stage again is incredible,” he said.
After the series, a social media post showing a proud coach and emotional Scurfield gained traction.
"He basically just came up to me and told me that he was proud that I came to this tournament," said Scurfield. "It really hit home for me because of the chat we had earlier when he cut me, so it was really just a heartfelt moment between us."
Great moment between Krissy Scurfield and head coach Jack Hanratty following Canada's final match of the weekend. #HSBC7s | #Canada7s | @WorldRugby7s pic.twitter.com/GQappGWBsI
— HSBC Canada Sevens (@CanadaSevens) May 1, 2022
Up next, Canada Sevens heads to the world series in Toulouse, France from May 20-22.
