VANCOUVER 鈥� The fans dressed as virologists Saturday at sa国际传媒 Place said it all about the defiantly cheeky attitude of sports fans in the province.
They are not staying away due to coronavirus concerns, as attested by the 39,533 people who gathered to watch the Langford-based Canadian men鈥檚 rugby team go 3-0 in pool play on the first day of the sa国际传媒 Sevens. It was the largest crowd ever for rugby in this country as world No. 10 sa国际传媒 defeated France 31-14 and then shocked 2016 Rio Olympics gold medallist Fiji 26-21 before dispatching Wales 29-7. sa国际传媒 advanced to play Spain in the quarter-finals this morning. The semifinals and final are this afternoon.
Veteran Canadian players Mike Fuailefau and Connor Braid, both of Victoria, and Pat Kay of Duncan had large contingents of family and friends in the stands from the Island.
鈥淭he ferries were full,鈥� quipped Fuailefau.
The crowd was a swirl of exuberant wittiness. The white lab coats were an amusing addition this year amid the usual lumber jack, RCMP, Where鈥檚 Waldo, Hanson Brothers, Mario Brothers, Joker, Gilligan, Devo, Pope, Princess Leia, Chewbaccka and Smurf outfits that makes this event like no other on the provincial sporting calendar in terms of panorama.
And leprechauns? With Ireland playing in March, you don鈥檛 even have to ask.
There were the passionate ex-pat Fijian fans cheering on their beloved defending Olympic champions only to be overtaken both by the Canadian fans in the stands and Canadian team on the pitch.
鈥淭he crowd was fantastic. It鈥檚 unbelievable to have 40,000 Canadian fans cheering for you,鈥� said Fuailefau, a graduate of St. Michaels University School.
Braid, a graduate of Oak Bay Secondary, concurred.
鈥淭he crowd was huge for us. It definitely helped,鈥� he said.
Especially one impromptu moment that brought chills.
鈥淚t was special when the crowd sang O sa国际传媒 so deafeningly at half-time of our game against Wales,鈥� said Braid.
Canadian head coach Henry Paul also felt it.
鈥淚t was outstanding. Even I got taken up in it, but I had to stay level-headed,鈥� said the Langford-based Canuck bench boss.
Joining Islanders Fuailefau, Braid and Kay on the Canadian team are co-captains Nathan Hirayama, a former University of Victoria Vikes star, and Harry Jones of West Vancouver. Also on the Canadian squad are Isaac Kaay and Phil Berna of the UVic Vikes and former Vikes player Lucas Hammond.
鈥淚 wish this tournament was seven days long and we could do this every day,鈥� said Hirayama.
鈥淚t definitely feels like we鈥檙e growing and building a platform for this summer.鈥�
sa国际传媒 has qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Saturday鈥檚 record gathering showed many sports fans believe strongly that events must go on. So does the IOC, which has stated the Summer Games will be held as scheduled in Tokyo from July聽24 to Aug. 9.
鈥淲e all want to go to the Olympics,鈥� said Fuailefau.
鈥淚鈥檓 not a doctor. But I鈥檓 sure the right people in the right places聽will make the right decisions.鈥�
Those thoughts were echoed by Braid: 鈥淭he IOC is listening to [the World Health Organization]. They are doing everything they can to make it a go. It doesn鈥檛 change anything for us. We just go out and play hard every day.鈥�
The Canadian women鈥檚 sevens team has also qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The 2016 Rio Olympic bronze-medallists will host the women鈥檚 sa国际传媒 Sevens May 2-3 at Westhills Stadium in Langford.
