Canada’s rugby teams preparing for do-or-die Sevens World Cup format
Canada’s rugby teams will be met with a daunting challenge each time they take the field at the Sevens World Cup in San Francisco this weekend.
Lose one game and they’re done.
In an elimination format that’s new to the tournament, a team’s loss at any point will drop them out of contention for the championship match. Losing teams will continue to compete for lower-ranking titles — either the challenge on both the men’s and women’s sides of the tournament, or the bowl, which is exclusive to the larger men’s event — but medals will be off the table.
“You could literally lose the first game and your whole weekend is finished,” Canada’s men’s head coach Damian McGrath said. “It’s not very popular within the teams and the coaches. We prefer our normal round-robin series but this time it is what it is.