The nearly 2,000 fans ringing Bullen Park yesterday were a testament to the boost in interest that inclusion in the Summer Olympics, beginning at Rio in 2016, has given sevens rugby.

The players who will represent Canada in Rio are probably currently playing for high school or middle school teams up and down the Island. The players taking part in the Buccaneer Sevens at Bullen, the first event in the inaugural nine-event B.C. Rugby Sevens Series over the summer, are proud to have paved the way.

But don’t count out current national team players from the UVic Vikes such as 24-year-old Phil Mack or 22-year-old Nathan Hirayama, who led Team Canada to Bowl titles this year in the Hong Kong and London sevens ahead of this fall’s 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.

“The Olympics [the IOC voted in sevens rugby last October] has really provided a nice spark for sevens and you can see that by the response out here today,” said Mack.

The Oak Bay High-grad Mack helped lead the UVic squad at the Buccaneer Sevens yesterday on a Bullen pitch still lush three years after serving as a practice venue during the 2007 FIFA U-20 soccer World Cup.

“Having sevens in the Olympics makes this an event and this tournament will only grow over the years and it’s because of these guys out there today who have built this version of the sport,” said Team Canada sevens head coach Morgan Williams.

“They have laid the foundation on which Canada will build for 2016.”

UVic, South Seas POS, James Bay and Burnaby Lake were the men’s semifinalists yesterday and James Bay, Velox, Cowichan and Burnaby Lake the women’s.

cdheensaw@tc.canwest.com