The international sporting sanctions against Russia will touch an Island event. The Russian women’s rugby team, ranked No. 3 in the HSBC World Sevens Series standings, has been dis-invited from the World Series Canada Sevens tournament set for April 30-May 1 at Starlight Stadium.
The Russian team will be replaced by Mexico in Langford.
World Rugby, the governing body, this week announced the suspension of Russia from all international and cross-border club activities until further notice.
“We fully support World Rugby’s strong stance and decision,” Sally Dennis, board chair of Rugby Canada said in a statement.
“Rugby Canada, its provincial unions and clubs will not compete against Russia at any level until peace is restored. We add our collective voice to the call for the restoration to the Ukrainian people of peace, sovereignty and territorial integrity and condemnation of Russia’s actions.”
The 12-nation Canada Sevens tournament will consist of Canada, Australia, Brazil, Ireland, England, Fiji, France, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain and the U.S.
“We are pleased to welcome Mexico to this year’s HSBC Canada women’s sevens and to offer this opportunity to another Rugby Americas North Union,” said Rugby Canada interim CEO Jamie Levchuk.
“We believe their participation will help further the growth of rugby in North America.”
The annual Canada Sevens returns to Starlight Stadium after two years in the dark due to the pandemic. Two-day tournament passes are available at canadasevens.com.
“It’s unique in that not many national teams get to play in the same facility in which they train,” said Canada interim head coach Jack Hanratty.
“There’s a real excitement and energy around that in our group.”
Rugby Canada is based in Langford.
The host Canadian team is looking to rebuild from its dizzying fall as bronze medallist in the 2016 Rio Olympics to missing the quarter-finals in the Tokyo Olympics.
“There’s been great conversations, and a great deal of honesty, about the challenge ahead. We want to tackle that head on,” Hanratty told the Times Colonist.
It’s going to be a long and hard road back. Canada, previously reliably in the top-three of the World Series with New Zealand and Australia, is ranked No. 8 currently following the four opening 2021-22 season tournaments held in Dubai and Spain. The Aussies lead the standings, followed by Tokyo Olympics silver-medallist France, Russia, U.S., Ireland, Tokyo Olympics bronze-medallist Fiji and seventh-place England. The Tokyo Olympic-champion Kiwis have yet to play in the World Series due to pandemic travel restrictions and will also miss Langford.
Following Langford, the HSBC World Series concludes with the France Sevens in Toulouse from May 20-22. That will be followed for Canada by the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games this summer, the World Cup sevens qualifying tournament, and if successful in the qualifier, the World Cup Sevens in South Africa in September.
The Canadian men’s team, ranked No. 13, is also based in Langford. The HSBC World Series Canada Sevens men’s tournament is April 16-17 at B.C. Place.
