Zaruba large and in charge for Canadian rugby sevens

Recall the adage: “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” That’s been Adam Zaruba’s story in the 2016-17 World Rugby Sevens Series. Zaruba is huge: He’s 6-foot-5, 260 pounds.

His first two seasons, he showed flashes of brilliance. A big run here, a thrilling try there. But this season with Team Canada, his game has been as immense as his stature. In Wellington, New Zealand, he scored tries and set up tries. He was named to the tournament Dream Team — that’s rugby for all-star. In Sydney, he was battered and bruised, but still made a big tackle in the final match on Kenyan superstar Collins Injera, helping guide his team to a win.

He’s starting to talk about it now, too.

“It’s a culmination of all the efforts I’ve put in over the years. It’s starting to come to a level now where I feel confident in myself and physically I’m stronger and faster than I’ve ever been,” he said Thursday. “I honestly have to give some credit to the boys for that as well. When everyone else is playing at their top level, they’re doing it, it really helps me as well.”

The Canadian attack has been revamped and Zaruba, who usually patrols the wing, has been used as a “crash” runner, bringing the ball back infield as something akin to a search-and-destroy missile, opening holes for teammates.

“I love it, that’s what I live for,” he said with a smile.

His coach is pleased with his progress.

“It seems to me he’s got some self-belief,” said Damian McGrath, who took over the team at the end of last summer. “He’s realized how good he could be and that takes you a long, long way.”

It’s about Zaruba improving and about the whole package, too.

“We’ve worked hard on his defence — but for the whole team, we have a way of playing we all believe in. I haven’t told them what to do or how to do, but why we’re going to do what we’re going to do and they all believe in what we’re doing.”

“You play to your strengths. It’s using the players in what fits their ability. We’ve got some really talented players.”

Zaruba points to the work he put in on improving his fitness as the key in reaching his sevens heights.

“Being a big boy playing sevens, it’s the biggest thing that can hinder or help my performance,” he said. “It’s about not shying away from working hard. That’s something I’ve tried to perfect.”

And after last year’s frustrations over not making the Olympics, a now-resolved dispute with Rugby Canada management over how the team is financed, the team as whole is in a better space, too.

“We’re just having fun again. We’ve dealt with that stuff, it’s in the past, it’s done, now we can just focus on playing the game.”