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Canada’s sevens coach Shane Thompson has admitted that they will be starting behind the pack for the NSM7’s first tournaments of their IRB World Sevens Series campaign, according to Rugby Canada.

Thompson admits that not being a core member of the International Rugby Board tour in 2009 will make for a bit of a cold start for most of the players - who last saw action at the World Cup qualifier in the Bahamas.

"Because all the other countries have two tournaments under their belts they get some experience," explains Thompson. "We went to the Bahamas where the level wasn't that high.

"It will be tough for new faces in the team. - Not going to Dubai and George South Africa was two less opportunities to play at a high level."

He will have to do without a couple of solid performers for the first leg in Wellington - as Adam Kleeberger and Ciaran Hearn are on high performance training cycles that would preclude them from participating until the team hits California.

In identifying future talent and to fill the gap Thompson has orchestrated rigorous training sessions and simulated trial matches in the hoping of knocking his squad into shape and assessing where they stand. Victoria was the last stop on this ‘training series’ as players were tested for their fitness and placed in a mini tournament of four teams.

NSM7’s regulars such as Neil Meechan, Jordan Kozina, Nanyak Dala, Phil Mackenize, Bryn Keys, Sean Duke, Tony Lacarte and Gordie Sawers were all present.

For young prospects like Beau Parker, the training camps served as a proving ground for a possible call up to the international stage. Parker certainly served a notice to the training staff finishing with the best beep test score and second place finish in the sprint tests.

“Today serves as both a trial and an identification process,” said Coach Shane Thompson before explaining the structure of Saturday’s session.
The mini-tournament was structured around the draw that the squad has in the first leg of the Wellington Sevens. Through playing three games with only an hour break in between, Thompson says his players will learn to adapt to a tournament style of preparation.

“It’s not just about what happens on the field,” says Thompson. “Players have to get used to recovering properly through cooling down and eating properly before they come back and do it all again.”

With the roasting temperatures of San Diego certainly on Thompson’s mind, the process of hydration and re-cooperation will prove vital in the team’s upcoming matches.