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Harry Jones wants one thing clear: This isn’t about the money.

“This about chasing a dream,” he said Wednesday evening.

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Practice at Rugby Canada’s national training centre in Langford kicked off on Tuesday, but a baker’s dozen of his Canadian rugby sevens mates have been sitting out. (Jones himself just had shoulder surgery and won’t be back on the field until January.)

They’re in a dispute with Rugby Canada’s leadership over the short-term, and possibly long-term, future of the game in this country.

At stake is the best team possible for Rugby World Cup qualifying, as well as the careers of a number of top players.

Yes, there are threats of retirement. There’s also talk of unionization.

And there’s even fear that maybe this is just the end of it all, that men’s rugby is just going to die in the next year or two.

It’s a shocking situation, and it’s really rather remarkable to hear how it’s all played out.