Canada's 12-strong women's squad for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games features nine players who won gold at the Pan-American Games in Toronto last year, including captain Jen Kish and fellow stalwarts Karen Paquin, Kelly Russell and Ghislaine Landry. 

The third seeds, who qualified for sevens' Olympic debut by finishing as runners-up in the 2014-15 HSBC World Rugby Women's Sevens Series, will undoubtedly be among the favourites to medal at the Deodoro Stadium in Rio on 6-8 August.

Landry was the top point-scorer in the 2015-16 Series and also the only Canadian named in the season's dream team after a campaign which saw them finish third overall, behind champions Australia and New Zealand, and win their second Cup title in Clermont-Ferrand in May.

Hannah Darling and Charity Williams, meanwhile, were part of the Canadian sevens side that won silver at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing in 2014. 

“I’m excited about the team we’ve assembled for the Rio Olympics as we take part in the historic debut of rugby sevens,” coach John Tait said. “We’re looking forward to building off of our recent success, playing on the world’s biggest stage and making our country proud.”

Kish added: “The whole team is so excited to represent Canada in this historic event. We cannot wait to hit the field in Rio and represent our country with the entire world watching.”

Canada will face Great Britain, hosts Brazil and Japan in Pool C at Rio 2016, opening their campaign against the latter on 6 August.

Before then they will continue their preparations on Vancouver Island at Rugby Canada's Centre of Excellence and the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence (PISE). 

Canada squad: Britt Benn, Hannah Darling, Bianca Farella, Jen Kish (captain), Ghislaine Landry, Megan Lukan, Kayla Moleschi, Karen Paquin, Kelly Russell, Ashley Steacy, Natasha Watcham-Roy, Charity Williams.