Dan Fogelberg was referencing the Kentucky Derby when he sang: 鈥淚t鈥檚 the chance of a lifetime in a lifetime of chance.鈥�
But he could have been singing about any athlete or team that has one shot.
For the Langford-based Canadian men鈥檚 sevens rugby team, their chance of a lifetime comes June 18-19 in the final Olympic qualifier for Rio 2016.
The team departed YYJ on Saturday for the last two World Series tournaments, next weekend in Paris and the following weekend in London, before the Olympian date with destiny next month in Monaco.
鈥淲e definitely want to make a statement before heading into the Olympic qualifier,鈥� said Canadian player Mike Fuailefau of Victoria.
鈥淲e want to be keeping the boys on their toes, and hungry, for sure,鈥� added the St. Michaels University School graduate.
鈥淎ll eyes are looking toward the prize. We are not holding anything back as we look to go into Monaco fully confident.鈥�
Nathan Hirayama, a graduate of the University of Victoria Vikes, leads the World Series with 288 points and is tied for fifth in the Series with 26 tries for the 13th-ranked Canadian team.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been looking to the Olympic qualifier in Monaco all year . . . it鈥檚 definitely in the back of our brains,鈥� said Hirayama, during training last week at Westhills Stadium in Langford.
Named for the Paris tournament are Hirayama and fellow UVic Vikes product Lucas Hammond, Fuailefau, Sean White and Luke McCloseky, all three from Victoria, Luke Bradley of Port Alberni, Adam Zaruba, Conor Trainor and Phil Berna, all of Vancouver, Admir Cejvanovic of Burnaby, Justin Douglas of Abbotsford, John Moonlight of James Bay and Matt Mullins from Belleville, Ont.
Also travelling with the team is Phil Mack, the veteran from Victoria, who was injured in March at sa国际传媒 Place during the sa国际传媒 Sevens. That indicates the Oak Bay High and UVic Vikes grad, considered the heart and soul of the national side, might be ready, if not for Paris, then the following week in London, and for the Olympic qualifier.
鈥淧hil is a freak. There are not many players who could come back from four knee surgeries,鈥� noted Hirayama.
Quipped Fuailefau: 鈥淧hil packs more tape for the physios, to keep his body together, than any other player.鈥�
Mack, earlier this year, said the Olympic dream 鈥渋s the reason I have stuck around so long.鈥�
sa国际传媒鈥檚 pool for Paris next weekend is stiff and all-Rio qualified with France, Argentina and the U.S.
The Langford-based Canadian women鈥檚 sevens team qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics based on its No. 2 world ranking last year and the current world No. 4 will be a threat for the podium in Rio this August.
