CanadaMen set for Olympic debut – Women want another medal
On the podium
Although Canada’s men did not qualify for Rio 2016, the nation’s women ensured the country had reason to cheer.
Canada finished each of the first four women’s editions of the World Rugby Sevens Series in the top three.
And they carried that form into the Olympics, beating Great Britain 33-10 in the bronze medal match to earn their place on the podium.
Olympic debutants
Having missed out on rugby’s return to the Olympics in Rio, Canada’s men will be keen to make up for lost time.
Since Rio, Canada have claimed three top-three finishes at World Series tournaments.
The squad played its first competitive matches for a year in April, and came second in week two of the Emirates Invitational Sevens.
Sevens Pedigree (Women)
Canada’s women have finished outside of the top three in the World Series only once, collecting two silver and five bronze medals across eight seasons, as well as two Pan American Games titles.
Sevens Pedigree (Men)
Their male counterparts’ best World Series finish came in 2014 when they were sixth. They too have won two Pan American Games titles.
No female player has scored more World Series points than Canada’s Ghislaine Landry.
Playmaker Landry has amassed 1,356 points since making her debut against Russia in Dubai almost nine years ago.
More than half of that total has come through tries, with Landry crossing the whitewash 143 times in 208 matches.
Prolific leader
Nathan Hirayama was closing in on 2,000 World Series points prior to the outbreak of COVID-19.
Only Ben Gollings (2,652) and Tomasi Cama (2,028) have scored more points on the World Series than Hirayama’s 1,859.
At 33 this is likely to be his only shot at an Olympic medal, having represented Canada at two Rugby World Cups and RWC Sevens.
Formidable Farella
Bianca Farella lined up alongside Landry at Rio 2016, scoring six tries as Canada secured bronze.
One of those scores came in the bronze medal match against Great Britain, helping her side build a commanding 26-5 lead by half-time.
Farella has been equally prolific on the World Series, scoring 153 tries in 208 matches.
