ItB次元官网网址檚 exciting enough to be preparing to play in a world-class tournament, but two members of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 international womenB次元官网网址檚 sevens rugby program have also been thrilled by the level of support theyB次元官网网址檝e seen in and around their adoptive hometown.
Scrum half Elissa Alarie and centre/wing Paige Farries, who are roommates in Colwood, get stopped regularly by well-wishers when theyB次元官网网址檙e out wearing their national team gear.
B次元官网网址淎nywhere from Langford, Colwood, View Royal and Victoria, itB次元官网网址檚 amazing,B次元官网网址� Farries says. B次元官网网址淚f youB次元官网网址檙e wearing the Rugby Canada emblem, people will stop you and congratulate you for how your team did, or even how the menB次元官网网址檚 team is doing or the womenB次元官网网址檚 15s are doing. ItB次元官网网址檚 a really incredible culture around here; people donB次元官网网址檛 need to ever have played rugby to be a supporter of the game.B次元官网网址�
As the Canadian squad gets ready to host 11 of the worldB次元官网网址檚 top teams for this weekendB次元官网网址檚 Canada Womens Sevens event at LangfordB次元官网网址檚 Westhills Stadium, the players can feel the excitement building, both within their ranks and in the community, Alarie says.
B次元官网网址淲e get to train at great facilities like PISE and at the (Rugby Centre of Excellence in Langford), and so people see us a lot around town,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e often asking, B次元官网网址榳hen can we see you play?B次元官网网址� And weB次元官网网址檙e always saying B次元官网网址榳ell, we kind of play internationally, elsewhere.B次元官网网址� Now for the first time itB次元官网网址檚 nice to actually say we play coming up this weekend, so get your tickets. People are really excited to see us play, finally.B次元官网网址�
The tournament kicks off tomorrow (April 18) with an 11 a.m. match between France and China. With these fast and furious matches over in 20 minutes, fans wonB次元官网网址檛 have long to wait to see CanadaB次元官网网址檚 first game, a 12:50 p.m. showdown with Russia.
Pool play happens all day Saturday, with the playoff quarter-finals set for Sunday starting at 10 a.m.
Alarie, a native of Trois-Rivi猫res, Que., was among 12 players selected by head coach John Tait to play in the Langford tournament.
Farries, who was in the lineup for the recent Hong Kong Sevens tournament B次元官网网址� where Canada defended its title for a second straight time, B次元官网网址� wonB次元官网网址檛 be on the pitch this weekend. Nonetheless, she and others not chosen remain very much part of TaitB次元官网网址檚 roster puzzle for upcoming events on the IRB WomenB次元官网网址檚 World Series. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 always something to look forward to. We have a back-to-back tournament coming up in London and then in Amsterdam. WeB次元官网网址檙e leaving for it two weeks after Langford, so itB次元官网网址檚 a really quick turnaround.B次元官网网址�
Competing for tournament spots is a constant occurrence during training, Farries says. B次元官网网址淓very dayB次元官网网址檚 a tryout. The week or two weeks leading into the tournaments are trials, but every day you need to show up with 110 per cent and your full effort and full attention.B次元官网网址�
Alarie is quick to point out the gap between the skill level of players in the sevens program has been narrowing through the season. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a hard selection every time, because all the athletes have brought their game up so much,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a good problem for a coach to have and it helps our top players to get even better.B次元官网网址�
On the seemingly rare times when she and Farries are home, they split up the chores, more or less, with both doing some cooking. Asked whether she has introduced any Qu茅becois cuisine to the household, Alarie says not really, but she is attempting to teach her roomie some French.
B次元官网网址淧lus Paige is learning Spanish and so am I, with Rosetta Stone, so we try to keep our minds busy,B次元官网网址� she says.
In almost typical Canadian style, the womenB次元官网网址檚 team has been consistent through the first three rounds of the series, working its way into a tie with Australia for second place overall. The top four finishers automatically qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics, when sevens rugby makes it debut.
While every one of the tournaments is meaningful, Alarie is excited for the teamB次元官网网址檚 opportunity to thank local supporters through their play and showcase what theyB次元官网网址檝e been working on.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think people know exactly how hard we train every day B次元官网网址� we train six days out of seven B次元官网网址� so itB次元官网网址檒l be nice to be able tell people how hard we work and then to see the result; to win the cup.B次元官网网址�
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
