Canada Sevens coach Shane Thompson has named a blend of veterans and newcomers in his 12-man squad for the NAWIRA [North America West Indies Rugby Association] regional qualifier for RWC Sevens 2009, which takes place in the Bahamas later this month.
The likes of Phil Mack, Adam Kleeberger, Neil Meechan, Phil Mackenzie, Ciaran Hearn, Tony La Carte and Jordan Kozina all played on the IRB Sevens World Series last season under coach Thompson, as did Canada’s captain at RWC 2007 Morgan Williams.
They are joined by Sevens newcomers James Pritchard, who plays his club rugby in England with Division One side Bedford, and Sean Duke. The latter gets his chance after impressing for IRB North America 4 champions Canada West earlier this year.
Canada will be looking to secure one of two places available from the men’s qualifier in the Bahamas for the fifth Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009, which take place at the purpose-built ‘The Sevens’ venue in Dubai next March.
The biggest obstacle to Canada’s qualification hopes of winning the NAWIRA event and so securing the higher seeding of the region’s qualifiers will be the USA, who have replaced their neighbours as a core team on the IRB Sevens World Series for 2008/09.
Number one in NAWIRA
“We have two goals coming up at the qualifiers,” said Thompson, whose side will play six of the eight events on the IRB Sevens World Series, missing the first two in Dubai and George. “The first goal is to qualify for the World Cup which we can do by finishing in the top two positions.
“The second is to prove we can be the best Sevens team in the NAWIRA zone, which will not be an easy task with so many quality teams at the qualifiers and with the Americans riding the confidence from gaining full-time status on the IRB Series.
“We have added some new athletes to the squad which will help us not only at the World Cup qualifiers, but also for down the road at the events we will be taking part of on the Sevens series.”
Sixteen teams are set to contest the men’s qualifier – which runs alongside the women’s event – in Nassau, the Bahamas, on 25-26 October with Canada and USA joined by Barbados, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Cayman Islands, St Vincent & The Grenadines and Trinidad & Tobago.
Canada squad:
Sean Duke (University of Victoria), Ciaran Hearn (Castaway Wanderers), Bryn Keys (Velox Valhallians), Jordan Kozina (UVic Vikes), Adam Kleeberger (University of Victoria), Tony La Carte* (Bayside Sharks), Phil Mack (James Bay AA), Philip MacKenzie (UVic Vikes), Neil Meechan (UVic Vikes), James Pritchard (Bedford RFC, England), Christoph Strubin (Capilano RFC), Morgan Williams (James Bay AA)
*subject to fitness testing/injury
