Team: Canadian national men’s squad
Sport: Rugby sevens
What’s their story?
Canada’s men’s sevens team has had a busy year. Battling through a rash of injuries that left the squad without some of its most reliable players, Canada finished ninth in the Sevens World Series—a disappointing result after they placed sixth the year prior—before heading off to Cary, N.C., for the NACRA Sevens where a berth in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio was on the line. Canada brought its strongest squad of the season to Cary but ultimately fell in the final to the United States, 21–5, watching the Rio berth slip through their hands and forcing the team to wait until a last-chance repechage tournament next year in order to qualify. The men now turn their attention to the Pan Ams where the Canadians will try to defend their 2011 gold medal in front of a home crowd at the end of a long, gruelling season.
Best result
Canada won gold at the 2011 Pan Ams after sweeping their pool and beating Mexico, the U.S. and Argentina in the elimination stages. The final two games were especially close as Canada edged the US, 21–19, in the semis and won a nail-biter against the Argentines, 26–24, in the final. Several players from that gold medal team will feature in Canada’s 2015 squad, including Sean Duke, Nathan Hirayama, John Moonlight, Conor Trainor and Sean White. But the Americans are much improved since that tournament, and the Argentines have given Canada trouble at times.
Biggest rival
The United States. The Americans, under new head coach Mike Friday, emerged as a perennial threat during this season’s World Series, finishing sixth in the competition and even winning the final tournament of the season in England. Games between the cross-border rivals are always intense, hard-hitting affairs, and a meeting at the Pan Ams on Canadian soil will surely be no different.
Players to watch
John Moonlight The 27-year-old captain from Pickering, Ont., plays every minute of every game for Canada and is easily the team’s most reliable, technically sound player.
Harry Jones The West Vancouver native is slippery with the ball in his hands and is one of Canada’s best kickers, too; the 25-year-old led all Canadians with 191 points during the 2014–15 World Series season.
Sean Duke The 27-year-old veteran is one of Canada’s fastest players and especially tough to contain in open space.
Prediction
Canada earns retribution for their defeat at NACRA, topping the United States in a close contest to defend as gold medallists.
