By Duncan Mackay in Vancouver

March 2 - Canadian rugby officials hope Olympic bobsleigh gold medallist Heather Moyse (pictured left) will make a successful return to the sport so they can include her in their preparations for this year's women's rugby World Cup in England.



The 31-year-old finished top scorer in the last tournament in Edmonton four years ago with seven tries from five matches as Canada finished fourth in an event won by New Zealand.

It was a remarkable performance as Moyse had only taken up the sport earlier that year after the disappointment of narrowly missing out on a medal in the bobsleigh at the 2006 Olympics in Turin.

But Moyse has not touched an oval ball in almost two years.

She fractured a shoulder shortly after playing in the Hong Kong Sevens and then began preparing for Vancouver, where she claimed gold with partner Kaillie Humphries, who was the team's driver.

Rugby Canada placed a congratulatory banner on their website after her victory.

Now they hope to get her to commit herself to the World Cup, which opens on August 20 in London.

Moyse (pictured) said: ''There are no guarantees.

"The coaches have been amazing in keeping that door open for me.

"Granted they know I haven't been sitting on a couch for the last year or two.

"But the endurance part, that's going to be the toughest part for me.

"To be able to handle 80- minute games over and over and just the technical aspects.

''It'll be fun, but it'll be a challenge.

"If I'm not performing I don't expect a spot.''

Moyse plans to resume training at the end of this month with the aim of being picked by Canada for a tour of New Zealand and Australia in April.

She said: ''That'll be the hard part.

"To not be where I want to be at that time, but I'm just going to have to keep things in perspective and know that it will come.''

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