It was one of the first things the Canadian women鈥檚 sevens rugby team saw upon returning home from Rio de Janeiro last summer.
Head coach John Tait said it brought a lump to his throat to see the sign that was erected at the time on the Trans-sa国际传媒 Highway, at the Langford turnoff, congratulating the team for its bronze medal in the 2016 Olympic Games.
鈥淭hat meant a lot to the players, as does all the support we receive through Greater Victoria. Because the players don鈥檛 do this for money. They do this for Canadian pride,鈥� said Mill Bay鈥檚 Tait.
The Canadian rugby teams, men鈥檚 and women鈥檚, are centralized on the Lower Island.
Langford acknowledged that connection by proclaiming May 27 as Rugby Day in that community.
鈥淲e are honoured to have Rugby sa国际传媒 call Langford home, and we are proud of the hard work, talent and dedication these elite athletes put forth,鈥� Mayor Stew Young said in a statement.
That day is also the start of the sa国际传媒 Sevens, set for May 27-28 at Westhills Stadium.
It is among the six tournaments that make up the women鈥檚 HSBC World Series. Among the 12 teams participating will be all the podium teams from the Rio Olympics 鈥� gold-medallist Australia, silver-medallist New Zealand and bronze-medallist sa国际传媒.
This is the third consecutive year the sa国际传媒 Sevens is being held at Westhills.
鈥淚t鈥檚 special to play at home because usually, our family and friends get up in the middle of the night, and turn on their computers to watch us play [overseas],鈥� said Canadian captain Ghislaine Landry, following a training session Thursday at the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence on the Camosun College Interurban campus.
鈥淲e鈥檝e created a big following here on the Island. This is one of the best World Series stops in terms of fan support, and in such an intimate venue [Westhills].鈥�
The sa国际传媒 Sevens tournament has a capacity for 6,430 over two days. Fans are encouraged to go to canadasevens.com as limited tickets remain.
