Bryan Kelly, Communications Manager for Rugby Canada, sent a very exciting press release our way today. The highlight in it for me is that The Osprey’s Canadian duo of Tyler Ardron and Jeff Hassler will join Agen’s record-breaking-try scoring Taylor Paris in the squad. Further great news is that Phil Mack is out of sick bay. Mack is an excellent Sevens player because he’s incredibly quick-thinking, a necessity to get the ball moving forward. The additions of the three club stars are positive ones because they all have immense speed. Hassler has been incredible on the wing for Ospreys and has certainly factored in their overall points scored this season. And Barrie’s own Paris, who we all know is fleet-footed, has gone viral in a video posted of him scoring an incredible try all the way from behind his own posts! Talk about the length of the field – that was an exciting try to watch over and over again!
Really excited for the next couple of tournaments, but our boys have GOT to have another strong one, as they did for the last two rounds of the World Series tour, especially London where they reached the quarter-finals. The great news is that it’s being streamed online by USA Rugby as well, so we will all have access to the tournament.
The following is the press release.
Canada Sevens Roster Announced for Crucial Olympic Qualifying NACRA Tournament
Overseas professionals look to contribute as Canada attempts to qualify for 2016 Summer Olympic Games against North American and Caribbean opposition in Cary, NC
LANGFORD, BC – Canada Men’s Sevens Team’s head coach Liam Middletown has selected his squad for this weekend’s crucial NACRA Sevens Olympic qualifying tournament.
Middletown has named a 14-man squad for the tournament, where the winners will automatically qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. After training with the squad over the course of the last week, Ospreys duo Jeff Hassler and Tyler Ardron are selected, as is Agen winger Taylor Paris.
There is also a return to the squad for Phil Mack after a long injury layoff.
“Tyler, Jeff and Taylor join us from the club season in Europe, all of them have played sevens for Canada previously and they bring different elements to our game,” Middleton said. “We also see the return of Phil who adds a lot of playmaking ability to our side.”
The team is captained by John Moonlight, while Connor Braid, Mike Fuailefau, Adam Zaruba, Harry Jones, Nathan Hirayama, Conor Trainor and Sean Duke all keep their places after appearing in the London Sevens, the final event of the 2014-15 HSBC Men’s Sevens Series.
Justin Douglas is recalled to the line-up, as is Ciaran Hearn, both of whom had missed recent tournaments due to injury. However, there is no place for Pat Kay, Sean White, Admir Cejvanovic or Matt Evans, who all appeared in London.
Canada was drawn into Pool B where they will face Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas.
“There is a positive and confident vibe in the group, competition for places has been intense and everyone is focused on getting the right result,” Middleton said. “There is no change in our preparation.
“We are as detailed and meticulous as we would be for a World Series event, however there is an added level of determination and focus to achieve this big result.”
Canada are coming off of a ninth place finish in the 2014-15 HSBC Men’s Sevens Series, however, the team reached the cup quarter-finals in four of the last five events, including a semi-final appearance at the Tokyo Sevens after Canada knocked off New Zealand in the quarters.
“We will focus on doing what we are good at and what we have done well in games so far this year,” Middleton said. “We know what we need to do to win and it’s about executing that.”
The entire tournament will be streamed at www.usarugby.org!
