Meghan Mutrie breaks away from US tackler at 2007 event.

After winning the North America West Indies (NAWIRA) qualifiers in the Bahamas in November, Canada's women's sevens team has firmly put its hand up as a team to watch at the 2009 IRB Sevens World Cup in Dubai this coming March.

The team attended the Dubai Sevens event in December - winning its pool games easily before bowing out in a tight match with England - 12-5 in the semi-finals.

"We played phenomenal versus England today. We dominated territory. Losing 12-5 was a major step from our 40+ point loss to them in Amsterdam," says Head Coach Natascha Wesch, speaking proudly to the progress the team has made since NAWIRA and also over the course of five days in Dubai.

"We are very pleased and happy with how we performed," she concludes.

Wesch and her squad will return home to Canada and look ahead to the new year when they will head to the USA Sevens in February, 2009, before returning to Dubai in March for the 2009 IRB World Cup of Sevens.

Jocelyn Barrieau Town of Mount Royal RFC (QC) Montreal QC
Natalie Bendavid Aurora Barbarians (ON) Richmond Hill ON
Susy Bienstock Town of Mount Royal RFC (QC) Montreal QC
Rosie Cobbett Burnaby Lake Rugby Club (BC) Fort Nelson BC
Jess Dovanne Velox (BC) Maple Ridge BC
Tara Eckert Calgary Irish (AB) Saskatoon SK
Maria Gallo Leprechaun-Tigers Rugby Club (AB) Guelph ON
Genevieve Gay Bayside (BC) Miramichi NB
Jill Harris Edmonton Rockers (AB) Lloydminster AB
Michele Helmeczi Calgary Irish (AB) Calgary AB
Jennifer Kish Edmonton Rockers (AB) Edmonton AB
Mandy Marchak Capilano RFC (BC) Winnipeg MB
Barbara Mervin Velox (BC) Peterborough ON
Meghan Mutrie Velox (BC) Calgary AB
Tanja Ness Lindsay RFC (ON) Brechin ON
Ashley Patzer Lethbridge Rugby Club (AB) Lethbridge AB
Cheryl Phillips Toronto Scottish (ON) Toronto ON
Kelly Russell Toronto Nomads (ON) Bolton ON
Laura Stoughton Calgary Irish (AB) Saskatoon SK
Julia Suguwara Burnaby Lake (BC) Surrey BC
Brittany Waters Meraloma Athletic Club (BC) Vancouver BC
Julianne Zussman Town of Mount Royal RFC (QC) Ottawa ON