Hirayama鈥檚 difficult last-ditch convert attempt from an acute angle, which if successful would have sent the game to extra time, sailed wide in a 14-12 loss to Russia in the quarter-finals of the last-chance qualifier for the 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games. Ciaran Hearn, developed in Oak Bay as a Castaway Wanderer, scored a try with 30 seconds remaining to bring sa国际传媒 within two. Rio, however, was not to be.
The unpredictability of sevens was again on ample display as Russia went on to lose to Spain in the semifinals as the latter rank-outsiders went on to also upset Samoa in the final to earn the 12th and final berth into the Rio Olympics. Spain in the rugby Olympic tournament seems almost inconceivable. The favourites for the 12th berth were Samoa, sa国际传媒 and Russia, the only teams of the 16 in the final qualifier who play regularly in the World Series.
sa国际传媒 went on to beat Ireland 24-19 and Hong Kong 24-17 in meaningless consolation games later Sunday, but the day ended in the realization that the likes of Hirayama, Oak Bay-grad Phil Mack and SMUS-grad Mike Fuailefau will not become Olympians, at least at Rio 2016. The 24-year-old Fuailefau is young enough that he will be around for Tokyo 2020. But at 30, this is likely it for Mack.
Mack, and captain and James Bay product John Moonlight, are each two-time Pan Am Games gold medallists who have defined the game of sevens in sa国际传媒. To not be in Rio, where rugby sevens makes its Olympic debut, has to be deeply disappointing.
There could be repercussions in the program.
鈥淲e are all disappointed the team did not qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro,鈥� said Jim Dixon, GM of rugby operations for Rugby sa国际传媒, in a statement.
鈥淎s per department protocol, Rugby sa国际传媒 will be conducting a thorough review of all elements of the men鈥檚 sevens program on an immediate basis.鈥�
sa国际传媒鈥檚 Olympic hopes in rugby sevens now rest with the women鈥檚 side, which is ranked No. 3 in the world, and training daily at Westhills Stadium in Langford and PISE on the Camosun College Interurban campus in preparation for Rio.
