Rugby sevens: Canada here we come

You would think I am Catholic and draw inspiration from St Jude, the patron saint of hopeless causes, with my continued ramblings on rugby sevens and women’s rugby.

In reality, I have been involved a few causes that have been perceived as important but hopeless. Usually it just requires ongoing persistence and in time things change.

So what’s been happening in the sevens world?

Here are some key points: 
• Australia’s men’s sevens team won bronze in Singapore and Canada
• Australia’s women’s sevens are playing in Canada this weekend
• New Zealand are back on the World Series
• Former sevens great Emilee Cherry is now assistant coach of the women’s sevens
• Evania Pelite stepped away from the Aussie sevens program
• Former Black Ferns sevens player Gayle Broughton is playing league

Unbeknownst to many, the men’s rugby sevens program seems to be getting it together.

Earlier in April the men’s Aussie sevens squad won consecutive bronze medals in Singapore and Canada.

This should not be sneezed at with Fiji, New Zealand and Samoa back on the World Series.

Whether they can continue to develop and hang around the podium on the World Series stage is yet to be seen.

It should be noted they are doing it under a different program set-up to the women. The men’s program has only eight to nine full-time contracted players, then they pull in players from the Super Rugby clubs and more recently Shute Shield as needed.

At the Singapore and Vancouver tournaments they recruited in four Shute Shield players from Eastwood, Sydney University and Warringah, who all played very well.

The bottom line is that they had cracking good tournaments and as a commentator said, they are possibly the best Australian team he has seen. Well done to coach John Manenti and the coaching team.

The women’s sevens team this weekend are playing in Langford, Canada.

(Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

It will be very, very interesting as this tournament marks the return of the big guns the Black Ferns sevens team for the first time this World Series.

They will be champing at the bit to hit the pitch and no doubt will want to show the Australian women’s team that they are still the boss.

Note 11 of their 13 players are Tokyo gold medalists.

No doubt, just like the men the other week in Vancouver, the players will be running around with taped-up knees and elbows to protect against the astroturf.

The team has not been announced at this time.

I have not seen confirmation but recently it has been shown on BEIN on Foxtel.

The games are as follows: 
Australia versus Mexico, Sunday, 4.20am AEST
Australia versus Spain, Sunday 7.24am AEST
Australia versus Canada, Sunday 11.03am AEST

In other news, it shouldn’t be a big announcement but it sort of is. Emilee Burton (nee Cherry), who has done everything in rugby sevens, has been appointed as an assistant coach to the women’s sevens team.

She is highly respected by the players and generally known as ‘the GOAT’. Again, it is a progressive move by the women’s sevens program.

One of the best women’s Aussie sevens players, Evania Pelite – a Rio gold medalist – has stepped away from the sevens program after nine years (and she is only 26 years old).

She is a big loss. She did play for the Gold Coast Titans this year in the NRLW and has been selected in the Queensland State of Origin squad.

Former sevens player Emma Tonegato was named joint Dally M NRLW player of the year, with former Wallaroos blindside flanker Millie Boyle.

With the continued growth of the NRLW, Rugby Australia will need to consider how to keep players engaged in rugby programs when they step away.

Otherwise the sevens program will just become a development pathway to the NRLW. Then again, maybe there is not anything Rugby Australia can do.

It looks like the NRLW is providing a bit of interest over the ditch too.

For those with an interest in women’s sevens, over the weekend former gun Black Ferns sevens player Gayle Broughton – having stepped away from sevens at 25 years old – is now playing club rugby league in Sydney.