Their bodies are in Paris today, for the start of the France Sevens, but their eyes are fixed firmly down to the coast on Monaco. The Langford-based Canadian men’s sevens rugby team is using the final World Series tournaments, this weekend in Paris and next week in London, as preparation for the last-chance Olympic qualifier for Rio on June 18-19 in Monaco.

“We are looking to build momentum to Monaco, where we want to peak,” said Canadian head coach Liam Middleton, before the team left Victoria for Paris.

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The players know the stakes.

Nathan Hirayama, a graduate of the University of Victoria Vikes program, leads the World Series with 288 points and is tied for fifth in Series tries with 26.

“We’ve been looking to the Olympic qualifier in Monaco all year … it’s definitely in the back of our brains,” said Hirayama

Named for the Paris tournament are Hirayama and fellow UVic Vikes product Lucas Hammond, Mike Fuailefau, Sean White and Luke McCloskey, all from Victoria, Luke Bradley of Port Alberni, Adam Zaruba, Conor Trainor and Phil Berna, all of Vancouver, Admir Cejvanovic of Burnaby, Justin Douglas of Abbotsford, John Moonlight of James Bay and Matt Mullins from Belleville, Ont.

Also travelling with the team is veteran Phil Mack of Victoria, the Oak Bay High and UVic Vikes grad who was injured in March at B.C. Place during the Canada Sevens. Mack’s presence would certainly boost world No. 13 Canada’s chances of qualifying for the Olympics.

“It’s good to have Phil back,” said Middleton.

“The target for him is London [next week]. He has been a great servant of the game and we really want to see him in Monaco for the qualifier.”

Canada’s pool for Paris today is tough and all-Rio qualified with Argentina, U.S.A. and host France.

The Langford-based Canadian women’s sevens team qualified for the 2016 Olympics based on its No. 2 world ranking last year.

cdheensaw@timescolonist.com