Episode 262: Canadians in New York

·21 min·1 clip

Canada's men's sevens squad for Montevideo faces Germany, Kenya, the USA, Uruguay, and Belgium after Nairobi.

The episode opens on the final round of the men's Six Nations in Europe and the close of Sevens Division One in North America. That framing quickly gives way to the first-ever New York Sevens. The conversation stays centered on Canada's women. The start is rough. Canada goes down 24-0 to the USA. Australia then wins 40-0. Pool play also includes a 19-31 loss to Japan. The knockout stage does not turn right away. France beats Canada 19-24. Canada then finds a response. A 22-14 win over Great Britain closes the event on a better note. The weekend leaves Canada seventh in New York City. It also leaves them fifth overall in the standings. The hosts treat that as a fairly safe spot for next year's qualification picture. From there, the talk moves off the scoreboard. Attendance at the New York Sevens becomes the main concern. The numbers discussed are thin for a city and region of that size. The same worry is tied to Vancouver, where crowds have also dropped from earlier highs. Weather, storms, hurricane warnings, and a St. Patrick's Day weekend all get folded into the explanation. The episode lands on the idea that sevens needs sun, comfort, and a better setting if it wants casual fans to show up.

As heard by us

Canada's women rebound on paper, but the bigger story is sevens fighting the calendar.

Canada's women come away from New York Sevens with the damage still in view. The episode is strongest when it sits with the results rather than chasing them: a 24-0 loss to the USA, a 40-0 loss to Australia, then a 22-14 win over Great Britain and fifth overall in the standings.

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Why you'd press play

Canada's women in New York, a fifth-place overall finish, and the awkward business of growing rugby in bad weather.

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