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Perhaps we’ll one day look back and say, “Man, those were tough times for Canadian men’s rugby; they’ve sure climbed away from there.”

But after a run of 11 straight rugby sevens losses, it’s a hard thing to think about right now.

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There’s no denying it: the Canadian men’s sevens squad is at a low ebb.

The results of late have been horrendous. The thrilling effort in Vancouver in March, which suggested they were set to turn the corner and rediscover the form that landed them in sixth overall in 2013-14, seems a long time ago.

And there’s still an Olympic qualifying tournament still to come, at the end of June in Monaco. Only the winner of the 16-team tourney qualifies for the Rio Olympics in August.

When the 10-stop World Rugby Sevens Seriesseason began in December, most observers looked at Canada and Samoa as the two teams most likely to face off for the 12th and final spot for Rio. After all, last season the Canadians finished ninth and the Samoans 10th.