The opening day of the Paris Sevens couldn鈥檛 have gone much worse for the Langford-based Canadian rugby team. But it did.
sa国际传媒 went winless in pool play Saturday after losing 21-19 to Samoa, 24-19 to Spain and 26-12 to the U.S. and will play Wales on the consolation side today.
Then it emerged that Connor Braid of Victoria, who is second behind leader Vilimoni Botitu of Fiji in the DFH Impact Player season standings, is out for the season with a dislocated collarbone. That is devastating news for sa国际传媒, with the American and Caribbean Olympic qualifier looming July 6-7 in the Cayman Islands.
The national team lost two months of training last fall at Westhills Stadium to a labour dispute with Rugby sa国际传媒, then head coach Damian McGrath was recently let go. Braid鈥檚 injury only adds to sa国际传媒鈥檚 woes.
鈥淚 have utmost confidence in this group and strongly believe the boys can do it and qualify for the Olympics,鈥� said Braid, whose right arm is in a sling after he was injured last week in London. 鈥淢eanwhile, I鈥檒l get on the rehab train and be ready for September.鈥�
Mike Fuailefau of Victoria and former University of Victoria star Nathan Hirayama had their moments Saturday for world No. 12 sa国际传媒, but it wasn't enough. Also in the lineup were Luke McCloskey of Victoria and Isaac Kaay of the UVic Vikes.
The top four teams in the 2019 World Series standings will qualify directly for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Fiji, New Zealand, South Africa and the U.S. have locked up those berths. The latter is a big break for sa国际传媒, which now will not have to face the Americans in the North American and Caribbean qualifier.
Interim head coach Henry Paul, in his first World Series tournament as Canadian bench boss, guided sa国际传媒 into the quarter-finals of the London Sevens last week before placing eighth. sa国际传媒 can place no higher than ninth in Paris.
