On July 26, Lucas Hammond will try not to be overcome by the moment when he sets foot on the Olympic rugby pitch for the first time.

ItB次元官网网址檒l be what heB次元官网网址檚 been working towards after nearly a decade on CanadaB次元官网网址檚 sevens team, and a realization of his lifelong dream.

B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 going to be very emotional,B次元官网网址� Hammond said.

HeB次元官网网址檒l appreciate that moment, he told Black Press Media, but quickly rid that thought and be solely focused on the game ahead.

His Olympic debut is special in several ways. HeB次元官网网址檚 been immersed in the sport since he was young. After being born to two Canadian missionaries in South Africa, Hammond started playing rugby at the age of seven. When his family moved to Toronto from his hometown of Vryheid, in South AfricaB次元官网网址檚 KwaZulu-Natal province, he kept playing until he eventually moved to Victoria in his late teens to play with the national team.

B次元官网网址淚 love playing rugby, IB次元官网网址檝e always loved it and doing it with the Canadian flag on your jersey makes it even more special,B次元官网网址� the scrum-half said.

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B次元官网网址淎ny chance I get to do that is a huge honour and what bigger honour than doing it at the Olympics.B次元官网网址�

But heB次元官网网址檚 been deprived of the game he loves for much of that last three years. The Canadian team qualified for Tokyo while Hammond was in the middle of being sidelined for two years with a foot ligament injury. He returned to competition in early 2020, just months before the pandemic stole another year of play from him.

But those few return matches were still enough to know he was back.

B次元官网网址淜nowing I was out there and helping the team,B次元官网网址� Hammond said, B次元官网网址渢hat gave me all the confidence that my injury is in the past.B次元官网网址�

After missing the 2016 Summer Games, the Olympics has long been in the sevens teamB次元官网网址檚 heads. Despite the little competition, theyB次元官网网址檙e confident heading into the Games.

B次元官网网址淲e could have a lot of excuses for this year, but I think everyone is just focused on getting there and giving our best performance possible.B次元官网网址�

The rugby teamB次元官网网址檚 waning number of training days left are dialled in on the specifics. TheyB次元官网网址檙e working out in a heat tent to acclimatize themselves to Tokyo temperatures and pulling some all-nighters to get their bodies running on Japan time. ItB次元官网网址檚 those little details that will hopefully make a difference.

For now, the team isnB次元官网网址檛 looking past the immediate challenge of their Olympic poolB次元官网网址檚 three strong competitors in Fiji, Great Britain and Japan.

B次元官网网址淲e all have the belief that if we play our game, we can compete with anyone out there.B次元官网网址�

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