By Cleve Dheensaw From Times Colonist

No one in rugby tires of the Hong Kong Sevens, the granddaddy of the sevens version of the sport and still the most vibrant and expressive World Series stop.

While the beers, streamers and costumes were in the stands among the 40,000 fans, the Langford-based Canadian team was just not up to the occasion, going 1-2 in pool play. A 19-12 victory over Portugal followed 19-14 and 24-12 losses to Argentina and France, respectively. 

Canada, No. 12 in the World Series standings, capped Saturday with a 19-0 consolation-round loss to Kenya and was preparing to play Wales for 13th place this morning. Canadian star Connor Braid of Victoria was looking to build on his outstanding season in which the Oak Bay High and James Bay product leads the individual World Series DHL Performance standings.

Mike Fuailefau of Victoria is playing in his 49th World Series tournament.

The St. Michaels University School graduate will hit the 50 plateau at the tournament in Singapore next weekend.

Also on the Canadian team in Hong Kong is fellow SMUS-grad Luke McCloskey of Victoria, Isaac Kaay of the University of Victoria Vikes, Matt Mullins of James Bay and former UVic Vikes star Nathan Hirayama. Regular Pat Kay of Duncan is injured.

Hong Kong is the seventh of ten 2018-19 World Series tournaments, through which the top-four teams will qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Heading into Hong Kong, those spots were held down by the U.S., New Zealand, Fiji and South Africa.

So there was a lot at stake in the Hong Kong championship quarter-finals in which South Africa was set to meet the U.S., Fiji was drawn against Argentina, England was readying to meet Samoa and France was set to take on New Zealand.

Canada’s route to Tokyo 2020 will be through the Americas and Caribbean regional Olympic qualifying tournament, July 6-7 in George Town, Cayman Islands.

The top-four women’s teams in their 2018-19 World Series season will also advance to Tokyo 2020.

The Langford-based and 2016 Rio Olympics bronze-medallist Canadians are third in the standings after the first three of six World Series events.

Island fans will get a first-hand taste of the Olympic qualifying race when the fifth women’s World Series tournament, the Canada Sevens, swings into a revamped 6,000-seat Westhills Stadium on May 11-12.

If Canada crashes out of the World Series top-four this season, it must try to qualify for Tokyo through the women’s Olympic Americas and Caribbean qualifier, which will be held in the Cayman Islands alongside the men’s.

For more on this story go to; https://www.timescolonist.com/sports/canada-fails-to-spark-at-hong-kong-sevens-1.23783297