Louperivoise rugby player Justine Pelletier has been integrated into Canada’s rugby sevens team following a series of international friendlies aimed at selecting the best players for Olympic qualification in Paris in 2024.

She was invited to the training camp with three Olympians and eleven players who competed in the 2023 World Rugby Pacific Four Series in Ottawa against New Zealand and Australia.

“A couple of players from the Rugby 15 team were brought into the squad during training camp to bring something different. I didn’t have any expectations because it was the first time I was in this environment,” explains Justine Pelletier, who is also part of the rugby team at 15.

The latter will take part in the Rugby Americas North 7 rugby tournament in Langford, British Columbia, on August 19th and 20th. The winner will receive their passport to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

La Louperivoise is a regular at Rugby 15’s scrum half. She will have similar roles in the Rugby 7s team but will need to adapt to new strategies. “Once the game starts everyone does a little of everything, the fastest attacking on the sides. My role is a bit different but similar at the same time,” adds Justine Pelletier.

Rugby 7s underlines the athletic qualities of the players with fast play and robust tackles. At 15, there is less space available on the field, so teams must use strategy and combine their efforts to get the ball into the end zone.

“It’s up to me to be adaptable. “In Rugby 7 I have to acquire certain physical qualities that are different from my Rugby 15 game but still complement it,” said the Rivière-du-Loup player.

Although encouraged by this new national team selection, Justine Pelletier keeps her cool and focused on one goal at a time. Above all, his team must win the next tournament before they can participate in the Paris 2024 Olympics. “Rugby brings me a lot of beautiful things and I do it with joy and joy.”

Above all, she wants to seize this opportunity and do everything she can to achieve her next goal in her first-ever international rugby 7s tournament.

The tournament begins on August 19 with a match against Mexico, St. Lucia and Jamaica and ends on Sunday, August 20 with a match between Canada and St. Vincent, the Grenadines. The clashes will be broadcast live by CBC Sports.

Remember that the Stade Bordelais Lionesses, Justine Pelletier’s rugby team, won the French champions title in June 2023. La Louperivoise also took part in the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand last autumn with the Canadian team.