Although sa国际传媒 heads into the Paris Sevens this weekend ranked No. 12 in the world, Connor Braid of Victoria is No. 2 individually. The Oak Bay High and James Bay product was looking to track down leader Vilimoni Botitu of Fiji atop the DFH Impact Player season standings. Being World Series Impact Player of the year would have been a landmark achievement for a Canadian. But those dreams were dashed as Braid was sent back to the Island on the eve of the Paris tournament with an injury.
The Paris tournament is聽the final World Series event to prepare before the North American and Caribbean Olympic qualifier July 6-7 in the Cayman Islands. But it is better to have Braid hopefully well for the Olympic qualifier than to press him this weekend. The nature of the injury was not disclosed.
The Canadians are hoping a season of turmoil ends right with Olympic tickets stamped for Tokyo 2020. The national squad lost two months of training last fall at Westhills Stadium to a labour dispute with Rugby sa国际传媒 and then head coach Damian McGrath was recently let go. An injured Braid for the qualifier would only add to sa国际传媒鈥檚 woes.
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 down those berths. The latter is good news and a massive break for sa国际传媒, which will now 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 weekend before eventually placing eighth.
Island players on the Canadian roster in Paris include聽Mike Fuailefau and Luke McCloskey, both of Victoria, Isaac Kaay of the University of Victoria Vikes, Matt Mullins of James Bay and former UVic Vikes star Nathan Hirayama. Harry Jones of North Vancouver will captain and posed with the other captains Thursday in front of the Eiffel Tower.
sa国际传媒 meets Samoa, Spain and the U.S. in pool play.
