Vancouver is maybe yes, Langford a hard no.
The rugby sevens 2021 World Series schedule was released Wednesday with the sa国际传媒 Sevens men鈥檚 tournament tentatively set for September at sa国际传媒 Place Stadium, moved from its usual March slot. But the sa国际传媒 Sevens women鈥檚 event, annually held at Westhills Stadium in May, was left off the pandemic-abbreviated list of tournaments.
Both the Canadian men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 teams are based in Langford and are training for the Tokyo Olympics this summer.
鈥淲e鈥檙e obviously disappointed not to have the sa国际传媒 Sevens but it鈥檚 understandable. It鈥檚 not a huge shock,鈥� said Canadian women鈥檚 team player Caroline Crossley of Victoria, about the Langford tournament not being staged for a second consecutive year.
The important thing, said Crossley, is there will be two women鈥檚 tournaments in May over back-to-back weekends at Paris. Those will be the only World Series competitions ahead of the Olympics.
鈥淭hat will be our first formal play and it鈥檚 critical to have that,鈥� said Crossley, of being able to prepare for the Tokyo Games in the Paris tournaments.
Canadian team player Pam Buisa concurred.
鈥淚t鈥檚 tough not to get a home date in Langford, but we are in a global pandemic, and we can only control what we can control,鈥� said the former University of Victoria Vikes standout.
鈥淥ur main goal this year remains to get to the top of the Olympic podium in Tokyo.鈥�
sa国际传媒, bronze medallist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, is ranked No. 3 in the world.
The Canadian men鈥檚 team has also qualified for the Tokyo Olympics and is preparing at Westhills and Goudy Field.
鈥淚鈥檓 pleased we will hopefully get to play at sa国际传媒 Place this year,鈥� said Nate Hirayama, the former UVic Vikes great, and all-time leading Canadian scorer.
鈥淚t鈥檚 great news. It鈥檚 one of the best stops on the circuit. Our mindset right now, however, is all about Tokyo.鈥�
Unlike the women, however, the men will get no World Series tournaments ahead of the Olympic Games.
The men鈥檚 World Series season dates confirmed are at Singapore on Oct. 29-30, followed by joint men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 tournaments in Hong Kong on Nov. 5-7, at Dubai on Dec. 3-4 and in Cape Town the week after that. Detailed discussions are continuing with London and Vancouver on the viability of hosting men鈥檚 events in the window following the Olympic Games and prior to the Singapore Sevens in October.
