KINGSTON, Ont. (January 28, 2010) - Karlye Wong and Jocelyn Poirier, both from Ottawa, Ont., have been selected to represent Canada at the upcoming World University Rugby Sevens Championship.

The event, which runs from July 21 to 24 in Porto, Portugal, will see Canada go head-to-head with 15 other teams from around the world, including China, the USA, Bulgaria, Brazil, Guam and host Portugal.

According to Gaels head coach Beth Barz, both Wong and Poirier posses the skills and fitness that is required to compete in the high-intensity sevens game.

“Karlye's physical style of play and determined attitude will allow her to excel on the Canadian team while Jocelyn's cerebral play will push her teammates to new heights and will force respect from her opponents,” commented Barz.

Both Wong and Poirier enjoyed excellent seasons for the Gaels that saw them named to the OUA All-Star team. It was Poirier's third time being named to the team while Wong was named for the second time.

The two fourth-year athletes become the second and third Queen's rugby players to represent Canada at the FISU Championship. Former Gael Erin Bailey represented Canada at the 2006 tournament held in Rome, Italy.

FISU was created in 1948 in Luxembourg and was officially founded in Merano, Italy, in 1949. FISU was inspired by the first world university games, organized in 1923 in Paris. Nowadays, FISU presents itself as one of the world's most important sports organizations. It is composed of 144 national university sports federations.