Rugby Canada hopes Olympic bronze medal will help grow sport
National rugby players say spotlight on the sport will motivate people to get involved
Women's rugby sevens has proven to be one of the most exciting sports so far at the Rio Olympics — and a massive recruiting tool as well. Team Canada's bronze medal will no doubt give the sport even more exposure and provide Rugby Canada with a platform to recruit new talent.
"We have seen examples of when sports have done really well and haven't been geared up and ready to capitalize," said former national team standout and Rugby Canada official Gareth Rees.
"If people don't know where to find a rugby club, a school or a program that plays the game it defeats the purpose of them getting great exposure through CBC."
Taking advantage
Canada sealed the bronze medal with a 33-10 victory over Great Britain to close out the three-day tournament. Rugby sevens was making its debut at the Rio games.
Rugby Canada has launched the website TryRugby.ca as a way to encourage young athletes to get involved in the sport. As Rees puts it, Canada's performance at the Olympics and at other international women's rugby competitions has helped 'legitimize the sport.'
"Moms on deciding what sports their daughter is going to play, or dad to that matter, the game is more legitimate. The old perception is old guys drinking beers. It is actually a physical sport with values and culture."
Getting girls involved
Although this was the first Olympics for rugby sevens, it has been played for a long time at high schools and rugby clubs across the province. The 15-a-side version of rugby was last played in the 1924 Olympics.
National team player and CBC rugby commentator Andrea Burk sees the Olympics as the most important stepping stone for growing the sport.
"The Olympic broadcasting brings rugby into the homes of so many people to be exposed to the sport, get interested and register," said Burk. "After the 2014 World Cup I got a call from a dad in British Columbia who said during one of the games his daughter went into her room, put on a Canada shirt and said I want to play like the girls on the screen."
The bronze medal will provide an additional boost to the exposure players like Williams Lake's Kayla Moleschi will get when they return to Canada.
"When they come home with the hardware they will get more opportunity to visit schools, to show it off and make it a tangible reality for other girls," said Canadian rugby player Barbara Mervin.