Few sporting events can match the pulsating rhythms of the Hong Kong Sevens when it comes to atmosphere and colour.
The Langford-based Canadian sevens rugby team is a part of it this weekend, before 50,000 fans, but ran into a nation that holds an iconic place in the sport. Canada was defeated 45-0 by Fiji, which historically has been the greatest sevens-playing nation.
The loss denied Canada a spot in the championship quarter-finals after earlier pool games in which it beat Belgium 28-12 but lost to Samoa 24-19, the latter which the Canadians knew going in would be the crucial swing game.
Canada was relegated to the Bowl quarter-finals, where it rebounded nicely by beating Kenya 21-10. Canada will play France today in the Bowl semifinals.
At stake in the placings are qualifying points for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Several players from Island teams are in Hong Kong with the national side: Mike Scholz, Ciaran Hearn and St. Michaels University School-grad Mike Fuailefau are from the Castaway Wanderers of Oak Bay; Lucas Hammond, Sean Duke and Duncan’s Pat Kay from the University of Victoria Vikes; and captain John Moonlight, Liam Underwood and Oak Bay High-grad Sean White from James Bay Athletic Association. The other players are Adam Cejvanovic from Burnaby Lake, Adam Zaruba and Harry Jones from Capilano, Conor Trainor from Vancouver and Justin Douglas from Abbotsford.
The Langford-based Canadian women won their third consecutive Hong Kong Sevens title with a 24-12 victory over Japan in the final.
“Playing in the Hong Kong stadium is always an event,” said Canadian coach Sandro Fiorino, in a Rugby Canada statement.
“The ladies came out flying and executed the game plan in the first half.”
It kickstarts a big spring for the world third-ranked Canadian women, who will host a World Series tournament April 18-19 at Westhills Stadium, a points qualifier for the 2016 Olympics.
The Canada-U.S. rugby rivalry was on display at the Premiership men’s club level Saturday when James Bay met Seattle RFC at Macdonald Park in the newly inaugurated National Rugby News Challenge Cup. The James Bay and Seattle rugby clubs have been among the most successful of their respective countries.
But this one wasn’t even close as the Bays pounded Seattle 71-0.
Across town at Wallace Field, the Vikes got three tries from Canada-capped Dustin Dobravsky as UVic continued its fine B.C. Premier season with a 45-7 victory over Capilano.
The Vikes are 9-2-2 atop the Premiership and closing in on home-field advantage throughout the Rounsefell Cup playoffs.
