Heartbreak for Canada after rugby loss

MONACO — Canada’s Olympic men’s rugby sevens dream was extinguished Sunday in a 14-12 loss to Russia in the quarter-finals of a last-ditch qualifying tournament.

Trailing 14-7 late in the game, Canada had a chance to tie when Ciaran Hearn crashed over the line on the right flank leaving a tough conversion. Nathan Hirayama, one of the leading pointscorers on the World Series circuit, missed the kick and Russia corralled the ensuing kickoff, booting the ball into touch when the clock ran down to end the game.

The first half was a cagey affair with Russia taking a 7-0 lead with no time remaining on a converted try by German Davydov. Conor Trainor answered for Canada early in the second half with Hirayama’s conversion knotting the score at 7-7.

Captain Vladimir Ostroushko broke through a pair of tackles for a converted try that gave the Russians a 14-7 lead with under three minutes to play.

In semifinal action, Spain downed Russia 17-12 and Samoa defeated Germany 26-14, setting up a Spain-Samoa final later Sunday to decide the final Olympic qualifier.

The repechage tournament winner joins host Brazil, Argentina, Australia, Britain, Fiji, France, Japan, Kenya, New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.S. at Rio 2016.

Canada rallied to down Ireland in consolation play, moving into the fifthplace game against Hong Kong.

It’s the latest in a series of disappointments for the Canadians, who were denied making the Cup quarter-finals on tiebreakers at three stops of the World Series tour this season.

The Canadians made things difficult for themselves Saturday by losing 21-19 to Germany in their final game on Day 1 after crushing Uruguay 33-0 and Sri Lanka 57-0.

The loss meant the Canadians finished runner-up in Group B to unbeaten Germany and had to play Group C winner Russia rather than runner-up Chile.

The Canadian women have already qualified for the Olympics.