The Langford-based Canadian men’s and women’s rugby sevens teams begin play today at AT&T Park in San Francisco in their respective World Cup tournaments that are both direct and to the point.
The World Cups for both men and women feature an unforgiving single-loss-knockout format. There is no group play.
“That’s big pressure right from Day 1,” said St. Michaels University School graduate and Canadian men’s player Mike Fuailefau of Victoria.
Canada opens today against Papua New Guinea in the men’s World Cup.
“There are no second chances to win the championship,” said Canadian player Connor Braid of Victoria.
“Lose one and you’re done. Win and you stay in. We’re top-10 in the world and so I think we have a medal opportunity.”
(There is a consolation round that teams will go into after a single loss, but with no chance to rejoin championship-flight play).
The Island-tinged world No. 9 Canadian men’s team includes Fuailefau and fellow SMUS-grad Luke McCloskey and Oak Bay-product Braid, all of Victoria, Pat Kay of Duncan, University of Victoria Vikes star Isaac Kaay, former UVic Vikes great Nathan Hirayama, Andrew Coe of Markham, Ont., Admir Cejvanovic of Burnaby Lake, Justin Douglas from Abbotsford, Lucan Hammond of Toronto, Matt Mullins of Belleville, Ont., and captain Harry Jones of North Vancouver.
“It shows the strength of Island rugby,” said Kay, a Cowichan High product.
“I played with and against many of these guys growing up.”
The Canadian women’s team, which includes Caroline Crossley of Victoria, will open against Brazil today in the stadium by the bay.
Joining Oak Bay High-grad Crossley on the 2016 Rio Olympics bronze-medallist Canadian women’s squad are Pam Buisa of the UVic Vikes, Kayla Moleschi of Williams Lake, Charity Williams of Toronto, Olivia Apps of Lindsay, Ont., Britt Benn of Napanee, Ont., Bianca Farella of Montreal, Julia Greenshields of Sarnia, Ont., Sara Kaljuvee of Ajax, Ont., Breanne Nicholas of Blenheim, Ont., Natasha Watcham-Roy of Gatineau, Que., and captain Ghislaine Landry of Toronto.
“Because of the [single-loss elimination and no group play as in normal World Series tournaments] format, you have to be focused on every game,” said Williams.
The 2018 World Cup features the top 24 men’s and top 16 women’s teams in the world and runs through Sunday in the Bay Area.
