World Rugby have announced their plans for the World Sevens Series for 2021. As we have seen before, plans in the COVID era are just that – plans, they can change very quickly. The plan includes the Olympics going ahead which is something that isn’t 100% confirmed at this time. The latest news indicates the Olympics will likely go ahead but without foreign fans allowed into the country.
The top news for Canada is the women’s team were awarded 3rd place in the 2020 series behind NZ and Australia. Canada were tied with Australia in points with 80 but the World Rugby tie breaking scenario gave Australia second. It wasn’t made clear what that tie breaking scenario was but Australia had a slightly better win percentage and point differential over the series.
[ed. photo credit to BC Rugby News if using for other than personal reasons]
Damian McGrath started coaching Canada in December 2016 at the Dubai 7s and hit a high point with a World series title at the Singapore 7s in 2017. Slowly Rugby Canada management began to dismantle his support structure by dismissing his assistant coach Lee Douglas in 2018. Rugby Canada continued to press the issue by renegotiating the 7s players contracts which initiated strike action by the players at the beginning of the 2018-19 season. Rugby Canada finalized putting the nail in the 7s coffin by dismissing McGrath earlier this month. It puzzles Canadian rugby supporters why head office is trying to meddle in a successful program which looks certain to qualify for the 2020 Olympics. It’s been put down to personality conflicts and a power struggle between the XVs group at Rugby Canada led by Kingsley Jones and Gareth Rees and the 7s group led by Damian McGrath. Rugby Canada CEO Allen Vansen sided with the XVs group and appointed Kingsley’s right hand man, Henry Paul, as the new 7s coach.
Rugby Canada media release
posted March 30 2014
HONG KONG – Canada’s Men endured a tough final day at the Hong Kong Sevens as back-to-back defeats saw the team ultimately bow out at the Plate semi-final stage on Sunday. However, the topeight finish sees Canada gather 10 IRB Sevens World Series points to move to seventh on the Series circuit.
by BCRN 7s correspondent
posted March 24 2014
Day 1 in Japan we had indicated in our brief selection preview of this tournament that despite the opportunities available in this Pool Canada would have be cognisant of what had occurred a year ago at the very same stadium.