Not that Canada hasnB次元官网网址檛 always been among the rugby elite in the unique sub-sport of sevens. But this year the Langford-based side is taking their game to a new level.

Heading into this weekendB次元官网网址檚 Canada WomenB次元官网网址檚 Sevens tournament on home turf at Westhills Stadium, the penultimate event on the six-stop World Rugby HSBC Womens Sevens Series, the Canadians sit third B次元官网网址� two points back of Australia and 12 back of perennial leader New Zealand Black Ferns.

The season has included a tournament win in Sydney in February, followed by a third-place effort in Las Vegas and a silver after a narrow loss to the Kiwis in the final in Japan last month.

Head coach John Tait, whose charges opened the sevens series with a sixth-place finish before the victory Down Under, said the team has been B次元官网网址済etting a little betterB次元官网网址� as the season has progressed.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 really happy with the way weB次元官网网址檝e finished off the last few tournaments. WeB次元官网网址檝e built really well and been executing well and weB次元官网网址檙e playing the game at a higher pace than we really ever have before,B次元官网网址� he said. The development of younger players is adding to the depth of the program, he added.

Beating New Zealand has been an elusive goal to date for Canada, but theyB次元官网网址檙e getting closer. The final in Japan saw the Canadians lead for much of the second half, but give up a last-minute try in a 17-14 loss.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檝e been our bogey side for a couple of years now; theyB次元官网网址檙e a good team,B次元官网网址� Tait said. B次元官网网址淔or us, weB次元官网网址檝e got to shift our mentality and stop thinking about them and really just be focusing on ourselves. WeB次元官网网址檝e lived by the motto the last few tournaments, B次元官网网址榠tB次元官网网址檚 not who we play, itB次元官网网址檚 how we play.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

Bianca Farella, among CanadaB次元官网网址檚 leaders in caps with 118 in sevens play, agreed.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e just as fit as them and the skill levels are the same. I think itB次元官网网址檚 just a matter of being smart,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淕ood teams are going to capitalize on mistakes. In Japan we only lost because we lost possession with 30 seconds left in the game, giving them a set piece in their 22.B次元官网网址�

Canada opens play in Pool B this Saturday (May 27) against Brazil at 12:20 p.m., followed by matches against France (3:04 p.m.) and Russia (5:48 p.m). New Zealand and Australia head up the A and C pools, respectively. The playoff rounds get underway Sunday morning, with the top two in each pool plus the two best third-place finishers qualifying for the Cup quarter-finals.

B次元官网网址淚n Japan we had such a phenomenal tournament, all 12 of us played so well. ItB次元官网网址檚 just really rare that all 12 of us play so well on the same weekend of the year B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 remarkable to see how far these girls have come well since the Olympic Games,B次元官网网址� Farella said.

Given the season theyB次元官网网址檝e had, the Canadian women are treating the Langford tournament as B次元官网网址渙ur pinnacle event of the year,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always a very special feeling playing at home in front of familiar fans that you see sometimes on a daily basis, and sometimes they come out just to support us on this special weekend.B次元官网网址�

Team captain Ghislaine Landry knows well how one game can alter the numbers given the Series playoff format. , Canada lost just one match, a nailbiter to France in the quarter-finals, yet finished fifth overall.

B次元官网网址淲e were on really good form that weekend, so things could have been very different quite easily,B次元官网网址� she said Tuesday after practice. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been a good season so far and we know what weB次元官网网址檙e capable of, so the biggest goal is to stay on task and stay focused and the rest of it takes care of itself for us.B次元官网网址�

Last year was an intense one with the Olympics thrown into the mix, Landry said. This year, as younger players have been integrated onto the roster, the team has found its stride sooner B次元官网网址� the win in Sydney was the earliest series victory ever for Canada.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e having a great year weB次元官网网址檙e having a lot of fun and that helps,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a really good mix of experience and youth and I think thatB次元官网网址檚 why weB次元官网网址檝e been doing really well.B次元官网网址�

Despite playing on their home turf, the Canadian team will treat this tournament like any other, keeping the routines the same, staying in a local hotel, eating meals together and busing to the stadium.

B次元官网网址淲e try to make it as if weB次元官网网址檙e on tour, as if weB次元官网网址檙e in another country and make everything familiar, because routine is so important in our day-to-day,B次元官网网址� Farella said. B次元官网网址淚 feel like if I was at home I would be worrying about doing laundry.B次元官网网址�

Charity Williams, a speedy young back who was working her way into the lineup at last yearB次元官网网址檚 Langford tournament, has been a mainstay for the team this season, scoring 10 tries in 24 World Series matches.

Not surprisingly, the home tournament is her favourite of the six-stop series.

B次元官网网址淭he one thing I love about playing in Langford is you get to play in front of your family and friends and everyone really wants to be a part of whatB次元官网网址檚 happening here, they want to be a part of your journey,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭he cool thing is that the field is so close to the stands that you can hear people actually calling your name and really giving you all their attention.B次元官网网址�

Personally, Williams feels sheB次元官网网址檚 developed more this season with more playing time, and tries to set a good example for other young players coming up through the program, like Oak Bay High product Caroline Crossley.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 just coming to training every day and doing what I can for the team, just doing my job and hopefully that shows on the field.B次元官网网址�

To purchase tickets ahead of time, visit , or for a full schedule go to rugbycanada.ca and click on WomenB次元官网网址檚 7s.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com