Challenge plagued rugby team heads to Dubai
The Canadian men’s rugby sevens team is back training after a labour dispute with Rugby Canada.
But challenges remain for coach Damian McGrath, whose squad takes the field in Dubai on Nov. 30 for the opening of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series. The squad flies out in three weeks.
“I’m happy to have the players back but I also know that we’re going to go into this tournament desperately underdone,” McGrath, an English native, said in an interview Friday. “I’ve been following the other teams with envy on Twitter and social media, seeing all the videos of them training hard and preparing. We haven’t had that luxury.”
While the players have been working out on their own, it is not the same as preparing in the team environment. McGrath has to balance getting his players ready without pushing them too hard for fear of injury. Catching up will take time.
“If we can put some effective performances in (in Dubai), I’ll be more than happy ... I think it will be after Christmas, into the new year, before we’ll start to get into our stride again,” he said.
Unhappy at the conditions, the players boycotted training and refused to sign new contracts after their existing deals with Rugby Canada ran out Aug. 31. A spokesperson for the sevens players said they signed contracts “reluctantly and under protest” to get back on the field.
McGrath, however, said both sides had to make compromises.
Of the 13 players who returned to training Thursday at the Al Charron Rugby Canada National Training Centre in Langford, B.C., Harry Jones, Mike Fuailefau and Phil Berna have long-term injuries and aren’t expected to be ready until the new year.
Jones (shoulder) and Fuailefau (ankle) are recovering from surgery. Berna is still dealing with a serious ankle fracture suffered in Cape Town in December 2017.
The labour dispute meant the three did not get the treatment and rehabilitation they normally would have.
“I’m hoping come the new year, we’ll have all three close or ready to go,” said McGrath.
McGrath also hopes to get Admir Cejvanovic and Luke McCloskey, who have not been offered contracts, back into the fold. Thanks to the addition of some prospects, McGrath had 14 players at Thursday’s training session.
Nate Hirayama will serve as captain and return to co-captain with Jones when he gets healthy.
The 2018-19 season has Olympic ramifications. The top four teams at the end of the campaign will secure automatic qualification to the 2020 Games in Tokyo, as with the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
Twelve men’s teams will go for Olympic gold, with host Japan already assured of a berth in the field.
South Africa topped the World Series standings last season, followed by Fiji, New Zealand and Australia. England was fifth, followed by the U.S., Argentina, Kenya, Canada and Samoa.
Canada will realistically look to book its ticket via a North America regional qualifier some time between June and December 2019.
“That’s the focus of our entire year,” said McGrath.