Inconsistency has tripped up the young Canadian menB次元官网网址檚 rugby sevens squad during the first half of the season, but head coach Henry Paul is confident his team can find its legs during this weekendB次元官网网址檚 HSBC Canada Sevens rugby tournament.

B次元官网网址淲e have to stop doing the self-harm things,B次元官网网址� Paul said after a practice at BC Place Stadium. B次元官网网址淪ome of our fundamentals in the sevens game is letting us down. ItB次元官网网址檚 less what other teams are doing. WeB次元官网网址檝e got to fix what we want to do.B次元官网网址�

Co-captains Nate Hirayama and Harry Jones, along Justin Douglas and Connor Braid, are among the 10 veterans who retired from the sevens team that finished eighth at the Tokyo Olympics.

Established players like captain Phil Berna and Jake Theil remain, but this yearB次元官网网址檚 team has been stocked with young faces like Brenning Prevost of Victoria, Elias Ergas of Vancouver and CalgaryB次元官网网址檚 Matthew Oworu.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been a rebuilding year,B次元官网网址� said Theil. B次元官网网址淎ny time when you have the full team switching over itB次元官网网址檚 going to be a bit of a tough adjustment.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 difficult, itB次元官网网址檚 had its ups and downs. Each tournament we kind of build on. Hopefully this is where weB次元官网网址檙e going to hit our peak. WeB次元官网网址檙e going to be really good in year or two. We just need time to grow.B次元官网网址�

The Canadian men have 24 points in five tournaments this year, leaving them tied for 13th place with Wales among the 19 teams competing in the World Rugby Sevens Series.

CanadaB次元官网网址檚 best result was losing in the quarterfinals of the tournament in Malaga, Spain. In the following two tournaments in Seville and last week in Singapore, Canada won just one of 11 games.

Paul said the team has showed flashes of its potential.

B次元官网网址淓ndeavour and effort I canB次元官网网址檛 fault,B次元官网网址� said the native of Tokora, New Zealand, who played internationally for both New Zealand and England. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been in most games with a score or less to go with time just expiring and we just do something a little bit silly, a little bit dumb.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e trying to learn from those moments.B次元官网网址�

Berna said experience will eliminate some of the mistakes.

B次元官网网址淭hat comes with having a young team,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been in this position before.

B次元官网网址淐onsistency has always been something weB次元官网网址檝e been striving for. WeB次元官网网址檙e a bit rough around the edges but (thereB次元官网网址檚 been) a lot of positive moments.B次元官网网址�

Another positive step for the team is former Canadian international Sean White being named an assistant coach.

B次元官网网址淲e havenB次元官网网址檛 done a really good job of growing Canadian coaches and Canadian rugby is strong,B次元官网网址� said Thiel, who missed the Singapore tournament is a leg injury. B次元官网网址淲e need to start growing the coaches along with the players.

B次元官网网址淭he thing Sean brings is heB次元官网网址檚 been around and he knows these young players. Sean will back anybody and he wants to give these kids a shot.B次元官网网址�

The tournament, being held Saturday and Sunday at BC Place, will see 16 teams in action including South Africa, which leads the standings with 98 points after winning the first four tournaments.

Australia and Argentina, tied for second with 83 points; the U.S. and Olympic gold medallists Fiji will also compete.

The teams are divided into four pools. Canada is slotted into a challenging group that includes South Africa, Australia and Spain, currently ranked ninth in the standings.

Paul said his team wonB次元官网网址檛 be intimidated.

B次元官网网址淲e want to be making the quarterfinals,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to be difficult. WeB次元官网网址檙e under no illusions B次元官网网址� but I think weB次元官网网址檙e up to the challenge.B次元官网网址�

Due to the pandemic, the 2021 menB次元官网网址檚 season was reduced to two events B次元官网网址� in Vancouver and Edmonton in September B次元官网网址� with several top teams unable to compete due to COVID-19-related travel restrictions.

South Africa won both tournaments, with Canada finishing sixth and fourth.

Of the 13 players selected to this weekendB次元官网网址檚 roster, nine were either born in B.C. or play rugby on the West Coast.

Berna said playing in Vancouver, in front of friends and family, will be an advantage.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always a tournament that provides the boys a lot of energy,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e just hope it all clicks this weekend. With the fans behind us, IB次元官网网址檓 optimistic that it will.B次元官网网址�

The tournament comes not long after an independent review into Rugby CanadaB次元官网网址檚 high-performance programs painted a damning picture of a dysfunctional organization at odds with its athletes, staff and supporters.

Thiel said the report is a chance for Rugby Canada to move forward.

B次元官网网址淪omeone needs to lead the pack,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭his new generation of player has accepted that role. ItB次元官网网址檚 never easy to stand up and demand change, but thatB次元官网网址檚 what we have done.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e let our voices be heard and are trying affect positive change, which I think is coming.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址� Jim Morris, The Canadian Press