After a disappointing showing at the Perth stop of the HSBC SVNS Series, both the Canadian menB次元官网网址檚 and womenB次元官网网址檚 rugby sevens squads are looking for better results in Vancouver.
The womenB次元官网网址檚 side lost a tight Cup quarterfinal 7-0 to Britain in Perth, eventually finishing seventh, while the menB次元官网网址檚 team ended up in 12th.
Phil Berna, playing in his 50th sevens series, said he and his teammates are looking to put the experience in Australia behind them and focus on the present.
B次元官网网址淲e had a bit of a tough one in Perth results wise and injuries wise, we lost three key members,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 thought I broke my leg at one point and now IB次元官网网址檓 back training so IB次元官网网址檓 really grateful to be back.B次元官网网址�
The focus, he added, is integrating younger players into the squad for when absences pile up for Olympic qualifying in Monaco.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 another opportunity for new guys that weB次元官网网址檙e going to need at the end of the year when injuries inevitably happen B次元官网网址� and theyB次元官网网址檙e getting exposure now,B次元官网网址� he said.
MenB次元官网网址檚 head coach Sean White, who played in the first of the competitions held in Vancouver as part of the sevens series, said his team is looking to improve its consistency.
He pointed out his team went 0-5 at the tournaments in Dubai and Perth while finishing seventh at Cape Town, which shows a need for consistency.
B次元官网网址淗ow do we make that moment last longer?B次元官网网址� White said. B次元官网网址淲hen we play our game, and itB次元官网网址檚 a very basic game, we donB次元官网网址檛 try to overcomplicate what we do on the field, but when we get it right, weB次元官网网址檙e dangerous. We just hope to get it right more often than we donB次元官网网址檛.B次元官网网址�
Heading into the three-day Vancouver competition that starts Friday, the Canadian women are sixth in the overall standings, while the menB次元官网网址檚 team sits 11th.
Sophie de Goede, the captain of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 womenB次元官网网址檚 rugby 15s team, current Allianz Premiership WomenB次元官网网址檚 Rugby points leader and 2022 World Rugby WomenB次元官网网址檚 Player of the Year nominee, will make her return for the womenB次元官网网址檚 rugby 7s team in Vancouver.
She made her international sevens series debut last May at HSBC France Sevens and helped CanadaB次元官网网址檚 WomenB次元官网网址檚 Sevens Team qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics in August in Langford, B.C.
B次元官网网址淚 think the start to the season in Dubai and Cape Town was a really strong start for us bouncing back from finishing ninth in the overall series last year, and then bit of a dip back for us in Perth,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淪o I think this is a really good opportunity for us to have a big bounce back tournament at home.B次元官网网址�
WomenB次元官网网址檚 head coach Jack Henratty said he and his team are B次元官网网址渄isappointedB次元官网网址� with their place in the current standings, but itB次元官网网址檚 an improvement from last season.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e sixth at the moment, I think all in all weB次元官网网址檙e disappointed but itB次元官网网址檚 a much better place than ninth was at the end of last year,B次元官网网址� Henratty said.
B次元官网网址淲e were very disappointed last year. We looked at it and said B次元官网网址榳eB次元官网网址檙e a better team than ninthB次元官网网址� but the facts and the results said differently.B次元官网网址�
Vancouver was confirmed as one of eight stops on the sevens circuit in July, having first been introduced as one for the menB次元官网网址檚 games in 2016.
There had been concerns that the popular stop wouldnB次元官网网址檛 make the cut as World Rugby looked to streamline the tournament series, but White and Berna emphasized the importance of having a Canadian destination on the circuit.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know offhand if the numbers are growing, but I think tournaments like this, you know, really give that opportunity for growth,B次元官网网址� White said.
After Vancouver, the teams head to Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Singapore before wrapping up in Madrid from May 31 to June 2.
The menB次元官网网址檚 team will also play an Olympic qualifier in Monaco in June.
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