Langford will be hosting the rugby sevens Olympic qualifier in August after Rugby Canada succeeded in its bid.

Several cities had been vying to host the event. Having the qualifiers played in front of a home crowd should give the teams a boost, according to Gareth Rees, commercial and program relations for Rugby Canada.

B次元官网网址淚 think thatB次元官网网址檚 one of the reasons weB次元官网网址檙e here in Langford, weB次元官网网址檒l have the best chance to win, no question about that,B次元官网网址� Rees said. B次元官网网址淏oth our teams have raised their games whenever theyB次元官网网址檝e come back to the Canadian stop of the World Series.B次元官网网址�

The qualifiers will feature North American sides vying for a spot in the Paris 2024 Olympics, with both womenB次元官网网址檚 and menB次元官网网址檚 teams taking to the field.

Rees said the U.S. will have the strongest team at the event, but was hopeful the crowd could encourage the menB次元官网网址檚 team to an upset victory and said the womenB次元官网网址檚 team would be strong challengers to qualify for the Olympics.

MenB次元官网网址檚 team member Brock Webster says the qualifiers would B次元官网网址減otentially be one of the biggest games of our lives,B次元官网网址� adding he was excited at the prospect of playing in Langford.

B次元官网网址淚 havenB次元官网网址檛 played many places where seven metres off the side of the pitch your parents can be there B次元官网网址� you can look over during the game and have get assurance,B次元官网网址� Webster said. B次元官网网址淚t takes you back to when youB次元官网网址檙e younger and you start playing the game when youB次元官网网址檙e 10 to 11 years old.B次元官网网址�

READ MORE: Canada win against U.S. in fifth-place final

The last time sevens rugby was at Starlight Stadium, the womenB次元官网网址檚 team won in the fifth-place final against the U.S. in front of a jubilant crowd in May 2022.

More recently, the womenB次元官网网址檚 team finished sixth in the Vancouver sevens B次元官网网址� held for the first time at B.C. Place in Vancouver earlier this month B次元官网网址� while the menB次元官网网址檚 team finished 15th. The men came into the tournament sitting 14th in the World Rugby Sevens Series standings and are fighting to avoid relegation, with the number of menB次元官网网址檚 core teams for the 2024 season set to be cut from 16 to 12, to match the womenB次元官网网址檚 side and the Olympic competition structure.

Both teams competed at the Tokyo Olympics with the menB次元官网网址檚 team finishing eighth and the women coming ninth.

READ MORE: Rugby Canada bidding to host Olympic qualifiers in Langford