Canadian sevens teams back to work with Tokyo in mind
The Langford-based Canadian women’s rugby team opens play today in the Dubai Sevens believing it can run with anybody in the world. That is attested by the speed of players such as captain Ghislaine Landry, the first player in World Series history to reach the career 1,000 points plateau.
So it’s no surprise that defence was emphasized during the national side’s training sessions at Westhills Stadium before departing for Dubai. Successful sports teams don’t dwell on their strengths. They work on their weaknesses.
“I believe our attack patterns can beat anybody in the world,” said Canadian star player Charity Williams.
“So defence is going to be the key for us.”
Canada was third in the seasonopening USA Sevens World Series tournament in Denver, which is significant because the top-four finishing teams in the 2018-19 World Series will earn berths into the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
“We know this is the first qualifying period for 2020 but we’re focused on the day-to-day process,” said Williams, refusing to look too far ahead.
Joining Landry and Williams in Dubai are Caroline Crossley of Victoria, University of Victoria Vikes star Pam Buisa and Kayla Moleschi of Williams Lake. The others selected for Dubai by head coach John Tait of Mill Bay are Olivia Apps, Britt Benn, Bianca Farella, Julia Greenshields, Sara Kaljuvee, Kaili Lukan and Breanne Nichols.
Canada opens pool play in the wee morning hours PT against Fiji, Spain and France.
Meanwhile, Canadian head coach Damian McGrath named his lineup for the men’s Dubai Sevens. Included are Connor Braid and Luke McCloskey, both of Victoria, Pat Kay of Duncan and Isaac Kaay of the UVic Vikes. Former UVic Vikes great Nathan Hirayama will captain Canada. Also named to the Langford-based squad are former UVic player Lucas Hammond, Jake Thiel and Justin Douglas, both of Abbotsford, Admir Cejvanovic of Burnaby Lake, Josiah Morra of Toronto, Matt Mullins of Belleville, Ont., and Adam Zaruba of North Vancouver.
Canada opens Friday in a tough pool play against England, Australia and Japan.
Dubai is the opening tournament of the men’s World Series, out of which the top-four finishers will also advance to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
“We know this is the first Olympic qualifier and that there are avenues after that [repechage qualifiers that will fill out the 12team field for Tokyo 2020]. But right now every nation is on an equal field with zero points,” said an optimistic Braid.
He also knows Canada must overcome missing eight weeks of training at Westhills Stadium when 13 players boycotted camp in protest of proposed new funding and training regimens initiated by Rugby Canada. The impasse came to an end when the players, some still dissatisfied, agreed to proceed with the season under an agreement that was reached Nov 1.
Braid rather vividly described the Canadian players as being “behind the 8-ball” and that “our lungs will be burning in Dubai.”
The World Series tours will again feature Canada Sevens tournaments, with the men’s March 9-10 at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver, and the women’s May 11-12 at Westhills Stadium in Langford.