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World Rugby announces two post-Tokyo sevens tournaments for Canada

As we were saying before being so rudely interrupted. The last sporting event held in the province before the pandemic was the men’s Canada Sevens at B.C. Place in March 2020.

As we were saying before being so rudely interrupted.

The last sporting event held in the province before the pandemic was the men’s Canada Sevens at B.C. Place in March 2020. As part of the reopening, Canada will host two HSBC World Series tournaments, Sept. 18-19 at B.C. Place and Sept. 25-26 at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.

“The issue of fans might still be up in the air, but it’s another good step in the right direction,” said Canadian team player Pat Kay of Duncan.

Other 2021 World Series tournaments will be staged in Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai and Cape Town.

Alberta plans to allow 31,000 fans per day in Edmonton, according to the Canadian Press. There is no indication of how many spectators will be allowed at B.C. Place Stadium. Attendance was limited by the province to 10 per cent, and only for the latter portion after July 1, for the Tokyo Olympics men’s basketball qualifying tournament at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria.

“Ongoing work continues with all respective governments, health agencies, stakeholders and partners to ensure the events meet relevant COVID-19 requirements as the health and well-being of players, fans and all involved remains paramount,” World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin said in a statement. “The next six months are an exciting time for rugby sevens’ re-emergence as the Olympic Games are followed by today’s updated HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series schedule of events as we navigate the incredibly complex circumstances relating to the global COVID-19 pandemic.”

The annual Canada Sevens women’s World Series tournament, held at Starlight Stadium in Langford, was cancelled in both 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, but is expected back on the Island next year. The women will jump back into World Series play Oct. 2-3 in Paris. The Canadians, ranked No. 3 in the world, could be going in as Tokyo Olympic medallists.

The World Series plans capped a big week of news for the Langford-based Canadian rugby sevens teams after the announcement of the pools for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

The Canadian men have been drawn into a daunting pool with the defending gold and silver medallists from the 2016 Rio Olympics, Fiji and Great Britain, and host Japan, which was fourth at Rio.

“It’s a great challenge, but whatever pool you are drawn into at the Olympics will be difficult,” said Canadian captain and former University of Victoria Vikes great Nate Hirayama.

“We believe in our abilities to make something happen.”

Canadian team player Connor Braid of Victoria concurred.

“Have you seen the other pools? There are no easy pools in the Olympics,” said Oak Bay High product Braid.

“Fiji is awesome, but we beat them in Vancouver and we know GB well and match up against them in terms of size and speed.

“We truly believe we can do something special in Tokyo. Anything can happen in sevens. It often depends on the bounce of the ball.”

The Canadian women sevens, also based in Langford, won bronze in the 2016 Rio Olympics and have been drawn into a pool with Brazil, Fiji and France for the Tokyo Games.

Rugby in the Tokyo Olympics runs from July 26 to 31.

cdheensaw@timescolonist.com