Canada Sevens coach Shane Thompson has named five newcomers in his 12-man squad for the final two legs of the IRB Sevens World Series 2007/08 in London and Edinburgh this month as he continues to build for the future.
Chauncey O’Toole, Jebb Sinclair, Robert Wilson, Nanyak Dala and Bryn Keys will all make their debuts as Thompson loses some of his regulars to the IRB North America 4, IRB Junior World Championship, Barclays Churchill Cup assembly and final exams.
Among the players missing are Nathan Hirayama, Ty Shannon and Harry Jones who have all been named in Canada’s Under 20 squad for the inaugural IRB Junior World Championship in Wales from 6-22 June, plus Ciaran Hearn and RWC 2007 veteran Adam Kleeberger.
Phil Mack will continue as captain, flying in from Australia where he has been playing for Randwick recently, with Neil Meechan, Jordan Kozina, Gordie Sawers, Kris Witkowski and Tony LaCarte having all played in the Series this season.
“Players’ roles shift up one, guys who were on the bench become starts. The guys who normally start but aren’t in a leading role become leaders,” explained Thompson, Canada’s former captain and leading appearance maker in the history of the Series.
One eye on the future
“We are developing different leaders with different qualities. I hope these young players have a positive attitude about the selection and take advantage of it for the opportunity it is.”
Canada, who reached the Plate final in Hong Kong, have been drawn in Pool C with Fiji, Australia and Portugal at the Emirates Airline London Sevens at Twickenham on 24/25 May. They then face Samoa, Wales and Spain a week later at the Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens at Murrayfield.
Thompson though has one eye on the future as he builds towards the North America qualifier for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009 in the Bahamas in October, knowing that the young players he has been blooding this season will reap the benefits a few years down the line.
“People need to be patient and wait for these young guys to develop. It is such a big leap for them to play club rugby one weekend and then take on New Zealand in Sevens the next. We will see the benefits of this in four or five years time.”
Canada Sevens squad:
Nanyak Dala, Ben Grant, Bryn Keys, Jordan Kozina, Tony LaCarte, Phil Mack, Neil Meechan, Chauncey O’Toole, Gordie Sawers, Jebb Sinclair, Robert Wilson, Kris Witkowski.
