Canada complete Rugby Americas North Sevens double

Canada’s men and women have been crowned Rugby Americas North Sevens champions for 2016, but there was also cause to celebrate for teams from Jamaica and Guyana.

Canada complete Rugby Americas North Sevens double

There was double celebration for Canada’s men and women as they were crowned Rugby Americas North Sevens 2016 champions in Port of Spain over the weekend.

Canada’s men, in their first outing under new coach Damian McGrath, were the only HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series core team in the tournament and fielding many of their series regulars they were simply too strong for their rivals.

They topped their pool with victories over British Virgin Islands (59-0) and Bermuda (52-0) and then overcame Mexico 24-0 in the quarter-finals and Jamaica 40-0 in the semi-finals to set up a title decider. Canada were again too strong, but Guyana managed what no-one else had and scored a try in 52-5 defeat.

There was still cause for Guyana to celebrate as by finishing second they confirmed their place at the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2017-18 qualifier in Hong Kong in April. They will be joined form the Rugby Americas North region by Jamaica, who edged hosts Trinidad and Tobago 24-19 to finish third in Port of Spain.

Canada’s women took a more development team to Trinidad and Tobago but were still equally dominate, beating Bermuda (52-0), Cayman Islands (52-0), Turks and Caicos Islands (59-0) and Jamaica (40-0) in the pool stages, before powering past Mexico 41-0 in the semi-finals.

The Olympic bronze medallists faced Jamaica again in the final, this time running out 41-0 winners. Jamaica, like their men’s team, will take their place in the 2017-18 series qualifier alongside teams from World Rugby’s other regional associations.

Canada’s men and women will be back in action at the opening round of the 2016-17 series in Dubai on 1-3 December.

Photo: Ashley Allen Photography/KLC Rugby

Sourced from World Rugby.

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