Canadian path to 2020 Tokyo Olympics may be easier if U.S. remains hot

Canadians are no strangers to cheering on Americans, but when it comes to this season of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, it’s a must.

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The Americans have played in all five finals this tournament season and finally won their first title a week ago. That all adds up to first place overall in the series standings, a powerful statement about where the American program has progressed in four years under head coach Mike Friday.

It also comes with a hefty dose of good news for the Canadians. In fact, Canadian coach Damian McGrath is brutally honest about what it means.

“The USA are doing us a big favour,” he said this week.

A favour? Well, if the Americans finish this season in the top four of the standings, they’ll automatically qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. (This season’s top four teams qualify for Tokyo.)

Automatic qualification for the Americans would remove them from the North American Olympic qualifying tournament that’s slated for July 6-7 in the Cayman Islands.

Canada will be the odds-on favourite to win that tournament as all the other teams will be fully amateur. Jamaica was the only other North American team to play in last summer’s Rugby World Cup Sevens and they finished last.

For rugby sevens’ 2016 Olympic debut in Rio, the Canadians lost the North American qualifying final to the Americans. They played in a last-chance tournament for the 12th and final spot at Rio but bombed out of that event.

If the Americans qualify and the Canadians are handed the easiest road they can find, McGrath insists his squad will take full advantage.

“If we’re prepared properly and we’re given the opportunity … I just think that in the next 12 months we’ll see a different Canada. We’ve got a focus,” he said.

“What’s just happened over the last six to eight months, I’m not surprised we’re struggling a little bit,” he said, alluding to a contract dispute last summer between his players and Rugby Canada management. The players missed nearly two months of preseason training as a result.

“We’re a long way off the pace physically. Plus we don’t have an S and C (strength and conditioning coach, cut because of funding constraints). It’s like going into a boxing match with both hands tied behind your back. Given the circumstances, I’m happy … We’re getting stronger as the year goes on,” McGrath said.

“The dispute brought the group together.”