Canada confident of good show in CWG rugby

OTTAWA - Canada’s men’s Rugby Sevens team is confident of posing a strong challenge to the world’s top sides at the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

Canada will be up against rugby powers like the three-time defending gold medalist All Blacks from New Zealand, England, Australia, Fiji and South Africa in the 16-team tournament. India as hosts is a wild card entry in the tournameent.

“I know that the Rugby Sevens tournament in Delhi will be one of the hottest spectator draws of these Games. It’s a great test for our talented squad,” said Canada’s chef de mission Martha Deacon.

Head coach Geraint John expects a strong performance from Canada in these Games.

“Six of the seven players who started for us in the Bowl Championship (consolation final) at the Hong Kong Tournament in March will be with us in Delhi. We won that final over Wales and we’ll be carrying that momentum into the Games next month,” said John.

Rugby Sevens was introduced in 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games. The two-day competition will be held from Oct 11-12 at the Delhi University grounds.

The squad: Nanyak Dala , Thyssen de Goede, Sean Duke, Ciaran Hearn , Nathan Hirayama, Phil Mack, Ian Schoults, Neil Meechan, Justin Mensah-Coker, John Moonlight , Taylor Paris Barrie and Conor Trainor.

Coach: Geraint John

Assistant Coach: Quentin Fyffe

Team Manager: Rodger Swany