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 “If (rugby sevens were in) the 2012 Olympics, that would definitely be exciting,” said Ottawa’s Julianne Zussman, who scored the game-winning try in Canada’s 19-14 preliminary-round decision over Spain en route to winning the recent Challenge Cup in Dubai and giving the national team its No. 1 world ranking. “But, at the same time, it will be nice to have this time. This is only the tip of the iceberg.”

Rugby sevens for women and men will be introduced at the Summer Olympics during the 2016 Games at Rio de Janeiro. Rugby, the 15-player version of the game, was played in four of the first seven Olympics, beginning in 1900.

By winning the women’s rugby sevens Challenge Cup, which was sanctioned for the first time by the International Rugby Board, Canada has established itself as the women’s leader in the fast and explosive version of the game.

“To win the first Olympics would be incredible,” she added. “I’m excited to see how this team does in terms of consistency and development over the next five years.”

The Road to Rio continues in January, when the Canadian team centralizes in Victoria to train for the sixth Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2013 in Russia. The competition is staged every four years.

During the next five months, the Canadian women’s rugby sevens team will have tournaments in Las Vegas in February, Hong Kong in March and London in May. Victoria may play host to a tournament in May.

Canada was undefeated in the Challenge Cup as it defeated Brazil 31-0, Spain and defending world rugby sevens champion Australia 14-7 in the preliminary round, the United States 36-0 in the semifinals and England 26-7 in the gold-medal final.

Winning the gold medal didn’t come as a complete surprise to the Canadian team since that had been the team’s goal going into the competition.

“We knew it would be difficult because the competition is strong," said Zussman, who has played in three international rugby sevens tournaments for Canada and has 16 caps while playing for the national team in traditional rugby matches involving 15 players a side. “The coaches had a simple, but effective game plan and we took too it.”

Besides having exceptional fitness, top flight speed and quality rugby skills, the coaches wanted the players to move the ball from sideline to sideline and create open space during the 14-minute games.

Zussman said. “We were excited to face world champion Australia and when we beat them, it was a huge confidence builder.”

That victory gave Canada a perfect 3-0 pool record and shot it into the playoffs, where the national squad outscored the United States and England by a combined 62-7.

Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/Canadian+rugby+women+long+Olympic+glory/5852392/story.html#ixzz1gRS84Tfi