Rugby Canada has announced the centralization of its men’s and women’s Sevens programmes for the upcoming 2013/14 season and one high profile addition to the men's full-time set-up is Adam Kleeberger, whose beard and robust back row play brought him to prominence during the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

Having played on the World Series earlier in his career, Kleeberger rejoins a strong squad featuring several HSBC Sevens World Series regulars, such as Nanyak Dala, Phil Mack, Sean Duke, Ciaran Hearn, Nathan Hirayama, Harry Jones, John Moonlight and World Cup wing Conor Trainor.

Last season Canada performed well under coach Geraint John, reaching four out of nine Cup quarter finals and succeeding in securing their core team place for 2013/14 without needing to re-qualify.

This bold new step should allow John, and 15-a-side national team coach Keiran Crowley, to plan an even stronger campaign.

Based at Langford’s Canadian Rugby Centre of Excellence and Canadian Sport Centre Pacific, the full-time training environment includes support with technical and tactical coaching, nutrition, medical, strength and conditioning, video analysis and sport psychology.

The centralized athletes are allocated Sport Canada AAP cards, with each 'carded' player receiving financial support to enable them to commit to the daily training environment.

Carded players also receive tuition support to attend post-secondary education throughout the year or when their rugby careers have finished. The union has been able to take the step thanks to support from Sport Canada’s Athlete Assistance Program (AAP) and Own the Podium.

Canada men's Sevens squad:
Connor Braid, (Doncaster Knights/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
Nanyak Dala, (Castaway Wanderers RFC/Prairie Wolf Pack) Saskatoon, SK
Justin Douglas, (Abbotsford RFC) Abbotsford, BC
Sean Duke, (Uvic Vikes/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
Mike Fuailefau, (Castaway Wanderers/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
Lucas Hammond, (Castaway Wanderers/Ontario Blues) Toronto, ON
Ciaran Hearn, (Castaway Wanderers/Atlantic Rock) Conception Bay, NL
Nathan Hirayama, (UVIC Vikes/BC Bears) Richmond, BC
Harry Jones, (Capilano RFC/BC Bears) West Vancouver, BC
Pat Kay, (Cowichan RFC/BC Bears) Duncan, BC
Adam Kleeberger, (University of Victoria/BC Bears) White Rock, BC
Phil Mack, (Uvic Vikes/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
John Moonlight, (James Bay AA/Ontario Blues) Pickering, ON
Mike Scholz, (Castaway Wanderers/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON
Jack Smith, (Peterborough RFC) Peterborough, ON
Conor Trainor, (Western University) Vancouver, BC
Jake Webster, (Lindsay RFC/Ontario Blues) Lindsay, ON
Sean White, (James Bay AA/BC Bears) Victoria, BC