When the dust has settled, the big defeat in the final will be long forgotten and all will remember the huge achievement of the Canadian men in making the final of the Emirates Glasgow 7s on the HSBC World Sevens Series
It was bittersweet. But when the entire scope of the achievement is taken into consideration, it was far more sweet than bitter.
The Langford-based Canadian men’s rugby sevens team reached the championship game of an IRB tournament for the first time in its history Sunday — an encouraging sign with Rio 2016 Olympic qualifying set to begin next year.
The final of the IRB Glasgow Sevens, a lop-sided 54-7 lambasting at the hands of New Zealand, was a letdown. But just making the final was a breakthrough for Canadian rugby.
It was the fifth consecutive tournament in which Canada reached at least the quarter-finals. Canada’s previous best showing at an IRB tournament was in winning the bronze medal earlier this year at the Las Vegas Sevens. The 19 points earned from the Glasgow Sevens propelled Canada to No. 6 in the world rankings.
“Overall, it’s amazing,” said Gareth Rees of Victoria, national teams program manager for Rugby Canada.
“We’re disappointed in the final. New Zealand schooled us. But we broke the glass ceiling [by making the final].”
Can Canada now dare to dream the before-thought impossible?
“We’re at the stage we can make a case that we could win a medal if we make it to the Olympics [at Rio in 2016],” said Rees.
“There’s a lot of work still to be done. But this is new territory for all of us.”
The Canadian squad consisted mostly of players from Island clubs: Phil Mack, Connor Braid, Sean White and captain John Moonlight are from James Bay, Adam Kleeberger, Mike Scholz and Mike Fuailefau from Castaway Wanderers and Sean Duke and Pat Kay from the UVic Vikes.
What made the Glasgow run even more impressive is that it was achieved without missing regulars Ciaran Hearn, Nanyak Dala, Chauncey O’Toole of Castaway Wanderers and Nathan Hirayama of the UVic Vikes, all either injured or concentrating on XVs.
Canada defeated Kenya 14-5 in the quarter-finals and Scotland 10-7 in the semifinals Sunday. The Canadians began the tournament Saturday by defeating Japan 52-0 and France 28-12 before tying England 7-7 to top Group B.
It’s interesting that New Zealand, Canada and Scotland comprised three of the four semifinalists on the weekend. The Kiwis, Canucks and host Scots are in the Group of Death this summer for the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, in which rugby sevens will be held at historic Ibrox Stadium.
Canada plays in the London Sevens this weekend at Twickenham in the last IRB Sevens tournament of the season.