(Via Rugby Canada)
Day 3
Canada ended its USA Sevens campaign on Sunday as they were beaten by England in their fifth place semi-final.
With a seventh place finish, Canada collects 10 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series points as they head home for the Canada Sevens in Vancouver, BC.
CANADA 5-12 ENGLAND
In a game low on drama or action, it was England who advanced onto the fifth place final with a narrow win over Canada.
England grabbed first half tries from Tom Mitchell and Richard de Carpentier before Harry Jones got Canada on the board. However, Canada couldn’t obtain much ball possession in the remaining four minutes and fell 12-5.
Day 2
Having advanced to their second cup quarterfinal of the season, Canada fell to Fiji Saturday night after at the USA Sevens in Las Vegas.
Canad had made it to the cup quarters after a 21-0 win over France earlier in the day. With the win over France, Canada finished second in Pool A.
On Day 1, Canada had lost to South Africa but beaten Wales meaning they had to beat France to advance out of the pool stages. Canada will play its fifth place playoff Sunday at 4:22pm ET/1:22pm PT.
What head coach Damian McGrath said:
“We had an aim of a quarterfinal and I feel that we are a top eight team and we showed it against South Africa and Wales and really showed it against France when we controlled the game from start to finish. We were confident coming into the Fiji game but a few things didn’t go our way but I was happy with what we did. The players want to finish as high in the table as they can and we’re aiming for fifth place.”
CANADA 21-0 FRANCE
It was a dominant performance by Damian McGrath’s men as Canada took full control of France to advance to the cup quarters.
After a John Moonlight try had been overturned for not grounding the ball, Canada, who dominated possession in the first half, finally found their breakthrough with a minute left in the half as Mike Fuailefau scored his second try of the tournament for a 7-0 lead.
With Canada still ahead, captain Harry Jones preserved the lead as he managed to hold up Jeremy Aicardi after the Frenchman had chipped over the Canadian defence.
Isaac Kay sealed victory with a minute left as he powered his way over for his second career HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series try before Justin Douglas completed the scoring with a long run after France had lost the ball in the tackle.
CANADA 12-31 FIJI
Canada’s quest for a cup title was denied by a clinical Fijian side Saturday night.
Apisao Domolailai gave Fiji an early 7-0 lead before Canada’s speedster Justin Douglas got Canada on the board but tries from Domolailai and Vatemo Ravouvou pushed the Fijian lead to 21-5 at the break.
Waisea Nacuqu extended the Fiji lead to open the second half before John Moonlight touched down for Canada’s second try but a late Samisoni Virivri try completed a 31-12 win.
Canada’s Men’s Sevens Squad for USA Sevens (Name, club, hometown):
Phil Berna – (UBC Thunderbirds) Vancouver, BC
Luke Bradley, UVic Vikes/Port Alberni Black Sheep (Port Alberni, BC)
Justin Douglas – (Abbotsford RFC/BC Bears) Abbotsford, BC
Mike Fuailefau – (Castaway Wanderers/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
Lucas Hammond – (UVIC Vikes) Toronto, ON
Nathan Hirayama – (UVic Vikes/BC Bears) Richmond, BC
Harry Jones – Captain (Capilano RFC) Vancouver, BC
Caleb Jordan – (Montreal Wanderers) Montreal, QC
Isaac Kaay – (UVic Vikes) Kamloops, BC
Pat Kay – (Castaway Wanderers/BC Bears) Duncan, BC
Luke McCloskey – (Castaway Wanderers) Victoria, BC
John Moonlight – (James Bay AA/Ontario Blues) Pickering, ON
Adam Zaruba – (Capilano RFC/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
Unavailable for Selection:
Matt Mullins – (Queen’s University/Ontario Blues) Belleville, ON
Liam Underwood – (Balmy Beach RFC/Ontario Blues) Toronto, ON
Day 1 Schedule:
Canada 7-26 South Africa
Canada 24-21 Wales
Day 2 Schedule:
Canada 21-0 France
Canada 12-31 Fiji
