We caught up with Rugby Canada's Gareth Rees on the eve of this weekend’s World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series round in Langford.

World Rugby: April 16, 2015 - Being an Olympian is a dream that athletes all around the world aspire to, and rugby players are no different now that sevens has been welcomed into the fold for the 2016 and 2020 Games.



For North Americans, it has a particularly nice ring to it – or, if you like, five multi-coloured ones –according to Gareth Rees, Rugby Canada's manager of their national men's programme.

Canadian rugby legend Rees believes the chance to see future gold medallists in action has made this weekend's inaugural Canada Sevens in Langford, British Columbia, the hottest ticket in town.

Always the bridesmaid and never the bride, Canada’s women have the chance to finally pull a veil over a string of near-misses in front of what promises to be a large and vociferous home crowd.

“To bring the tournament to our training centre in Langford is great, it’s exciting for our athletes because they’ll have their best chance of winning at a home event. We’re hoping that it will give them that little extra edge to get over the hump and win a World Series event,” saidRees, who played 55 tests for Canada from 1986-99.

“We’re expecting a big crowd – the biggest crowd on the circuit so far. We’ve worked really, really hard on filling the stadium, and right now we’re close to realising that expectation.

“All North Americans get the Olympic story, and the fact that our women are on track to do well there, they are top three in the world, resonates well with the Canadian public.

“There’s a real appetite for Olympic success. If we could win a tournament it would send out a message to the Canadian public, the media and potential sponsors that this is a team that could be going to Rio to wear a gold medal.

“There’s not many team sports other than ice hockey that have put on an Olympic gold medal, and it would be one step further than our women’s soccer team who had a very successful tournament at London 2012. It would be new territory for Canadian team sport.”

Such a perfect Day

While Canada have still to confirm their place in Rio as a top four finisher, a hat-trick of third-place finishes this season leaves them on the verge of qualification. John Tait’s side go into their home tournament placed joint second with Australia in the overall standings on 48 points – 12 behind leaders New Zealand and 12 in front of fifth-placed USA.

Rees will be on hand to describe all the action in his role as TV commentator. Joining him in the commentary booth will be his long-time friend, the former England captain Sue Day.

“Sue was a field hockey player when we were at Oxford University together and I’m proud of the fact I converted her to rugby. She’s a fantastic athlete and a very smart girl who has been a great servant to England and the women’s rugby cause over the years," Rees said.

“There were some naysayers around in North America when it came to women’s rugby, and sometimes it gets marginalised here, so it will be an absolute privilege for me to be on the microphone and present to the world the women’s story and the competitive nature of the rugby, especially when it’s in my own back garden.

“We’re going to fill the stadium (capacity 3,500) and I think it’s going to look great on TV. Victoria is a great city for sport and amateur sport, it has hosted the Commonwealth Games and really embraces the tournaments that come there.

"There’s going to be a high school tournament featuring 20 teams going on around the series event so there will be lots of young girls there. It’ll be great for them to see close up how our athletes conduct themselves. They are brilliant role models for any young person.

“I’m really looking forward to the buzz around the event and the chance to introduce some new people to rugby. It’s going to be the biggest deal in town this year.”

Follow the Women's Sevens Series on Twitter @worldrugby7s. Click here to see where you can watch the action in Langford unfold