Team Canada won their first game of the 2024 Men’s Rugby Sevens Olympic Qualifying Tournament at Stade Louis II in Monaco on Friday. This is a last chance tournament with only the winner of the 11 team tournament going to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
In a convincing victory, Canada defeated Uganda 31-12. In all Team Canada collected five tries. Those players who got on the scoreboard were Matthew Oworu of Calgary, Alberta (two tries), Ethan Hager of Brantford, Ontario (one try), Phil Berna of Vancouver, British Columbia (one try), and Cooper Coats of Halifax, Nova Scotia (one try). Coats also generated three conversions.
Team Canada is in a first place tie in Pool B with Great Britain. In the other Pool B matchup, Great Britain beat China 35-19. In Saturday’s matchups Canada plays China at 4 am MT and Great Britain at 9:30 am MT.
The top eight teams from the Pool Stage reach the quarterfinals on Sunday. Other teams to win their first game on Friday were South Africa, which defeated Mexico 44-0, Chile which beat Tonga 14-5, and Spain, which beat Brazil 38-0. Papua New Guinea withdrew before the tournament on the men’s and women’s side began because they did not secure their necessary travel documentation according to World Rugby.
