Hearn back for Canada

Editor

Canada Sevens head coach Liam Middleton has announced his squad for this weekend's crucial Olympic repechage qualifier in Monaco.

The tournament offers the last opportunity for Canada to qualify for the inaugural sevens event at 2016's Olympics in a winner-take-all format.

Canada will again be led by John Moonlight, who is joined by regulars such as Nathan Hirayama, Harry Jones, Phil Mack and Conor Trainor.

Additionally, Ciaran Hearn, who left the sevens program before the start of the season to take a professional deal with London Irish after an impressive 2015 Rugby World Cup, is recalled. The centre hasn't featured for Canada’s sevens team since the 2015 Glasgow Sevens.

"We're focusing on one game at a time, preparing in detail for that performance and then turning our attention to the next one," Middleton said. "It's all about process, going about our work with intensity. Every team that competes in this tournament knows what the prize is.

"It's simply about picking the best team for this tournament. Our focus as a team won't go past the first game but the aim is to play six games and considering how challenging each game will be and the fact that we won't ask all of our players to play every minute I made the squad based on the requirement to get the best out of every player."

He added on Hearn's inclusion in the squad: "Ciaran is an experienced sevens player and I enjoyed working with him before he joined London Irish. He brings pace and physicality with an excellent kicking option."

In Monaco, Canada has been drawn into Pool B where they will face Uruguay, Sri Lanka and Germany. The tournament features only two other Sevens Series regulars – Samoa and Russia – with Canada entering the competition hoping to use their underdog status to their advantage.

Canada: Phil Berna, Admir Cejvanovic, Justin Douglas, Mike Fuailefau, Lucas Hammond, Nathan Hirayama, Ciaran Hearn, Harry Jones, Phil Mack, John Moonlight (c), Conor Trainor, Adam Zaruba