The adage “from club to country” is enduring in sports for a reason.

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That’s because every journey to the international level begins at a club.

That was brought home Saturday during the Castaway Wanderers season-opening gala at Windsor Park as Kelly Russell and Bianca Farella displayed their rugby sevens bronze medals from the 2016 Rio Olympics.

CW isn’t the home club for either Toronto’s Russell or Montreal’s Farella — both based in Langford with the Canadian sevens program — but they stressed the importance of grass-roots clubs in general in the supply chain that leads to the national team.

“For me, club rugby is very home-like . . . it’s a family atmosphere,” said Farella.

Russell, who helps coach at Brentwood College, said club play “reinforces a sense of community in rugby.”

Gareth Rees, who played in four World Cups and captained Canada in two of them, is considered the greatest Canadian rugby player of all-time.

“I still remember my first practice at age nine here at CW with coach Don Burgess,” said Rees, in addressing the assembled at Windsor Park.

“This club has been at the heart of everything I have done in the sport, up to the national team,” added the first rugby player inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.

Several other former CW national team and World Cup players were also on hand Saturday in an event that included coaching clinics, skills competitions and games featuring kids in mini rugby up to senior level players.

The admiring young CW players crowded around Farella and Russell to touch their Olympic medals.

“It’s been a whirlwind,” said Russell.

The new rugby season kicked off with a few games Saturday but begins in force next weekend.

cdheensaw@timescolonist.com