• • Facebook
  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • Technorati
  • Reddit
  • Stumble Upon
  • Furl

Canada Women are set to be without dangerous strike runner Heather Moyse in San Diego, and more importantly for the Rugby World Cup Sevens. Moyse is currently in training with the Canadian Bobsleigh squad.

However, team captain Maria Gallo remains confident that her side can challenge for top honours in Dubai, and in San Diego where they undergo their final preparations.

"Missing Heather is a loss but we have plenty of speed and physical presence in the team," said Gallo.

"I believe we have the best team going to this World Cup in terms of fitness, skill and intensity, a really good mix of girls. I just hope we can put it together on game day."

Snowy conditions have forced Gallo and the other members of the squad based in Vancouver to train largely indoors for the past few weeks, making San Diego all the more crucial.

"We're making San Diego our last kick in the can, our last trial run," said Gallo.

"We've been to Hong Kong, San Diego and Amsterdam in the past year and a half but it's all reaching a climax now and there are some very good teams taking it seriously so it's an ideal final stepping stone in our preparation."

Moyse who can operate anywhere in the back three is currently in camp with the team in British Columbia, working towards the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver as the teams brakesmen.

Her ability to crossover to different sports is an example of the varied raw athletic attributes that are required in sevens. Olympic inclusion in rugby sevens could pave the way for athletes in North America to perhaps chase their medal hopes through sevens.

"Rugby really helps me here, in this sport. In rugby, you're always competing for a spot; a starting position. If you have a terrible week training, at the end of the day you're not going to play,” said Moyse.