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Rugby Canada expected to take a hit on Own The Podium funding for its men’s sevens team. But it did not expect the entire well to dry up.

Own The Podium has told Rugby Canada that the men’s sevens squad, which got $850,000 in OTP recommended funding in 2016-17, won’t get anything in fiscal 2017-18.

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It’s a harsh example of the link between Olympic funding and success on the playing field.

The Canadian men have struggled in recent years and failed to crack the 12-team field for the Rio Olympics.

Canada currently stands 12th in the World Series standings after four events, although it did finish fourth in Wellington under new coach Damian McGrath. He backs his starting seven players against anyone but says the program is suffering from lack of depth. Losing the funding money won’t help his talent search.

The team was 13th overall last season, ninth in 2014-15 and sixth in 2013-14.

Rugby Sevens can be a capricious sport, where one poor showing at a tournament can mean the difference between contesting for the championship and being shunted to consolation play. For example, Canada won five of six games at last year’s inaugural tournament in Vancouver and finished ninth. Its only blemish was a Day 1 loss to Wales on a try scored with no time remaining.