Interesting how sports continues to grow and for those who have attended a sporting event, so are far more entertaining than others.
In today’s world it seems that all major sporting events are after the “dollar” and while some entertain others are or seem to be a “cash-grab” and you leave wanting more.
Such is not the case with a newly found sport for many in the lower mainland and when it comes to town it’s a fan favourite packing BC Place Stadium with well over 60,000 fans.
OK – so now you know that I am talking about Rugby and in particular the Rugby 7’s event that is like attending the Mardi Gras in New Orleans, but without the cost.
We know it’ll return and hopefully bigger and better that before it that is indeed possible, but now we are hearing that Canada finished 11th at the Paris Sevens after losing a match to Argentina in their Challenge Trophy Semi-final.
Canada was 1-2 on the first day of competition after a convincing win over Japan, but went away with defeats to scotland and South Africa, which was a pair of “tough losses” for the squad.
They had defeated Russia to open Day 2 in their Challenge Trophy quarter-final.
Following the exceptional and stellar play by the squad last month in Singapore managing to pull off its first ever HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series title they entered the event in Paris as the defending champions for the very first time.
Canada put it on cruise control and walked over Russia after a five-try performance with Justin Douglas giving Canada the start they wanted placing a corner less than 40 seconds in for an early 7-0 start.
Pulling a show and go was a move that Mike Fuailefau seemed to perfect that allowed Canada to jump out to a 14-0 lead at the half.
Nathan Hirayama added two second half tries that followed by a Harry Jones “try squeezed” play rounding out a 33-0 win.
In a match against Argentina the Canadian squad had the lead until the end that saw them fall by a 15-14 margin that deflated Canada at least for the moment.
Look for Canada to rebound and once again have Canadian’s embrace the 2018 Rugby 7’s when they play at BC Place.
