One of those computer-generated word graphs was displayed on a big screen Friday night in the hotel ballroom as the national team players headquartered at the Rugby sa国际传媒 Centre of Excellence in Langford were introduced to the media, civic officials and sponsors in anticipation of the 2013 international season.
鈥淧ride鈥� was the word most mentioned when the players were asked what they feel when they put on the Maple Leaf jersey.
鈥淥pportunity鈥� was the word most cited when the players were asked what best describes being selected to be centralized on the Island with the best in the country.
Sixty players from the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 senior and Under-20 XVs and sevens national teams programs 鈥� essentially the best players not playing pro overseas 鈥� are centralized in Langford.
They are all looking forward to a big year which begins when the Canadian women鈥檚 sevens team 鈥� tipped as a potential medallist for when sevens makes its Summer Olympics debut at Rio 2016 鈥� leaves later this month for the IRB Houston and Las Vegas Sevens.
The year will be highlighted for the Canadian men in XVs by the Americas regional qualifier for the 2015 World Cup, which will be interspersed between several Test matches, including against Ireland.
鈥淭his is a massive year for us,鈥� said Canadian men鈥檚 head coach Kieran Crowley.
鈥淏etween XVs, sevens and the U-20s, we will have about 40 events this year for our various national sides. 鈥�
There really isn鈥檛 much time at this level for anything but rugby, noted Jennifer Kish of Edmonton, who will captain the Canadian women鈥檚 sevens and who also plays for the national XVs.
鈥淧eople ask me what鈥檚 my career? I say rugby,鈥� said Kish. 鈥淲e are as professional as anybody in sports, but we don鈥檛 get paid like pros.鈥�
But it does have other pay-offs.
鈥淭he whole world will be watching rugby at Rio in 2016, and you don鈥檛 have to be a rugby fan, just like at London we all watched the Canadian athletes, regardless of the sport,鈥� said Kish.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an exciting time for rugby in sa国际传媒,鈥� added Sean White of Victoria, a veteran of the 2011 World Cup. 鈥淭his is the busiest it鈥檚 ever been for our national team programs and having us all here in Langford makes it like one family. That transfers onto the field as you are willing to lay it all on the line for people you respect.鈥�
