Rugby Canada and Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) today confirmed the athletes to be named to Canada’s Men’s Sevens Team for the XXth Commonwealth Games in Glasgow Scotland in July.
Rugby Sevens is a sport on the rise in Canada as was witnessed throughout the 2013/14 IRB Sevens World Series. Canada’s Men’s Team finished a best ever 6th place overall, with two top-three results (2nd – Glasgow, 3rd – Las Vegas).
The 12-member squad assembled for the Commonwealth Games features many familiar faces from this record-breaking season. Leading Canada onto the pitch will be Captain John Moonlight (27, Pickering, ON) who was named to the 2013/14 IRB Sevens World Series Dream Team.
“This Canadian Rugby Sevens Team has been playing at a world class level,” says Team Canada Chef de Mission, Chantal Petitclerc. “With their strong results on the IRB World Series this past season, those taking in the action at Ibrox Stadium are sure to be treated to exceptional games.”
The Canadian sevens team has been placed in Pool A with 4-time defending champions New Zealand, Barbados, and host-nation Scotland.
The sevens tournament will run over two days with preliminary rounds the first day and tournament finals on the second.
“We’re excited about the team that has been selected for the Commonwealth Games and are eager to return to Glasgow”, said Steve Lancaster, Rugby Canada’s High Performance Manager. “Our previous trip to Scotland this year was very positive, and our guys proved that they can succeed against the best in the world.
We see the Commonwealth Games as a big opportunity for this team, and will be looking for another strong result in Glasgow leading us into next year’s Pan American Games in Toronto and the Rio Olympics in 2016”, added Lancaster.
“Canada’s well-earned reputation as a fierce competitor on the rugby pitch is growing with every competition,” said the Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport). “The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow offer this team a chance to grow that reputation even further. Congratulations and good luck to the athletes who will make up Canada’s rugby team for the Games this summer.”
A team of 265 athletes and close to 100 coaches and support staff will be in Glasgow, Canada’s largest Team ever fielded for a non-home Games.
The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games will be held from July 23rd to August 3rd, 2014, and will be the largest ever multi-sport event held on Scottish soil.
The mission of CGC is to strengthen sport within Canada and throughout the Commonwealth by participating in the Commonwealth Games and by using sport as a development tool.
Visit www.commonwealthgames.ca for information.
