Sport has taken the brunt of event cancellations caused by COVID-19 and it continues to wreak havoc on the sporting calendar.
The latest to be affected on the Island are the Canada Sevens women’s rugby tournament and the start of the Canadian Premier League soccer season, both slated for Westhills Stadium, and both postponed to later in the year in separate announcements made Friday.
Pacific FC was scheduled to open its CPL season with three consecutive home dates beginning April 11 against FC Edmonton and continuing April 17 against the HFX Wanderers of Halifax and April 26 versus Valour FC of Winnipeg.
The Canada Sevens was set for May 2-3.
“We are disappointed to have to postpone the tournament, and recognize the investment and commitment put in by our players, coaches, officials, staff, city of Langford and fans,” said Rugby Canada CEO Allen Vansen, in a statement.
“However, as this unprecedented situation continues to evolve, the health and welfare of all involved remains our top priority.”
Rugby Canada said advance ticket holders will retain their seats for the rescheduled tournament. Once a new date is set, ticketholders will have the option of a refund or to retain their seats. If the Canada Sevens is cancelled, refunds will be made to all ticketholders.
“We were expecting it, but it’s still disappointing when you officially hear it,” said Canadian head coach John Tait of Mill Bay.
Canada has qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics and is tied for second in the World Series standings with Australia behind New Zealand. The next tournament, as it stands now and if it happens, would be the Olympics in July.
“It’s important to keep planning as if we are going,” said Tait, by phone.
“But we have to be realistic. The Olympics, at least to me, seem unlikely to take place. It is something the players have been working toward for four years, and in some cases, eight years. There’s always hope organizers will come up with something that can make the Tokyo Games still happen and assure everybody’s safety, which is the main issue. Then it will come down to the athletes and if they feel safe in going.”
Rugby Canada has suspend all sanctioned activities, from youth to club to internationally, until at least April 10.
“We are self-isolating and keeping players apart for two weeks,” said Tait, who coached Canada to the bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
“Players are training on their own and avoiding contact.”
Postponed to September were the upcoming male Paris and London World Series tournaments. That affects the Langford-based Canadian men’s team, which has also qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
“At this extraordinary time, we are united in our commitment to finding ways of ensuring that on-field activity can resume as soon as it is safe and possible to do so,” said World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont.
Meanwhile, CPL commissioner David Clanachan labelled the postponed start of 2020 league play a “difficult decision” but in line with the Canada Soccer announcement March 13 banning all sanctioned soccer activities.
“It’s a challenging time and it was a difficult, but unanimous, decision by all eight clubs,” said Pacific FC president Josh Simpson.
“All our players are continuing to self-isolate. We are in a holding pattern but we intend to play the season. It’s an unfortunate situation and we want to play football as much as our fans want to watch it. But first and foremost, we want to do what’s right for our community, and that’s keeping players and fans healthy until this pandemic is brought under control.”
It had already been announced the Canada friendlies against Trinidad and Tobago, considered crucial for 2022 World Cup Qatar qualifying in CONCACAF and scheduled for March 27 and 31 at Westhills Stadium, are cancelled.
All amateur leagues, such as the Vancouver Island Soccer League, and youth leagues have also been shut down by B.C. Soccer until further notice.
“Sport has long been a rallying point for our nation and will continue to be so,” said CPL commissioner Clanachan.
But health is paramount.
“Collectively, with our clubs and owners, we unanimously agree that our number one priority is to protect the well-being of our fans, players, officials, employees and the general public,” said Clanachan.
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