B.C. rugby players look to shine on home turf

Canada Sevens goes this weekend at B.C. Place

When you’re a home-province player in the tunnel of B.C Place, and 30,000 fans are awaiting your entrance for the Canada Sevens rugby tournament, certain things have a way of curing themselves.

“All those niggling little injuries suddenly disappear,” said Canadian player Pat Kay of Duncan

“This tournament [Saturday and Sunday] is definitely exciting, especially for the players from B.C., but all the Canadian players.”

The Canada Sevens, now in its third year, has become an unexpected hit of the World Series season with colourfully-clad fans filling the lower bowl of B.C. Place to cheer on the Langfordbased Canadian national side.

“It’s definitely a highlight we have circled in red on the calendar,” said Nathan Hirayama, the former University of Victoria Vikes great.

“The crowds are amazing and are excited as we are. Nobody expected it to take off as it has.”

For the B.C. players, there are added things taking away from the focus on the field.

“This is a celebration not only for the B.C. players, but all the Canadian players. The distractions are something we have to manage with family and friends,” said Hirayama, a native of Richmond.

“We’re trying to stay focused on the job, on the field, that we have worked so hard for in training in Langford.”

If there’s a harbinger for Canada, it’s that the host Americans won the Las Vegas Sevens last weekend in Sin City.

Needing increased consistency, however, is a theme running through the Canadian camp.

“We’ve finished anywhere from fourth to 13th this season in World Series tournaments. Being more consistent is the key for us,” said Kay, a graduate of the Cowichan High Thunderbirds.

Canada is in 11th place in the World Series standings, but the top-10 beckons with France just two points ahead and Samoa three.

South Africa, New Zealand and 2016 Rio Olympics gold-medallist Fiji head into the Canada Sevens as the top three squads. But there’s plenty of time for the other national teams to make up ground.

“It’s a big year, and a long year, with the World Cup in San Francisco and Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast [Australia], added in to make it a 12-tournament season for us,” noted Kay.

The women’s Canada Sevens, hosted by the 2016 Olympic bronze-medallist Canadian side, will run May 12-13 at Westhills Stadium in Langford.