Team Canada's Rugby Sevens team dominated a regional qualifying tournament in George Town, Cayman Islands, this weekend, effectively booking them for the team's first ever Olympic games — and joining them will be a Kamloops product.
FULL TIME: Canada takes the win over Jamaica in the #RAN7s final, punching their ticket to the teams first ever Olympic games! A convincing effort by the entire squad! 🏉🍁 #RugbyCA #RC7s #Tokyo2020
— Rugby Canada (@RugbyCanada) July 7, 2019
🇨🇦 40-5 🇯🇲 pic.twitter.com/ri5ABG7RTh
Isaac Kaay, a 25-year-old Kamloops athlete and University of Victoria alumni, will be adorning the maple leaf on the pitch in Tokyo, Japan for the 2020 Olympic Games next summer.
Team Canada went undefeated during the two-day 2019 RF Group Rugby Americas North (RAN) Sevens tournament which qualified them, as well as the women's Mexico team, for the Olympic Games. The Canadian women's team will also be joining them in Japan next year.
🥇@Tokyo2020 QUALIFIED❗️🏆 @RugbyCanada @WorldRugby7s #RAN7s pic.twitter.com/CmAxzJUWYG
— RugbyAmericasNorth (@RugbyAmericasN) July 7, 2019
Over the course of the tournament, Canada shutout three teams over their six games played and outscored their opposition throughout the tournament 293-15.
🇨🇦 Captain @jonesharry3 shares what it means to qualify for @Tokyo2020! @WorldRugby7s @RugbyCanada @CBCOlympics pic.twitter.com/CIiFmKqxYo
— RugbyAmericasNorth (@RugbyAmericasN) July 7, 2019
In the quarterfinals building up to their championship win, Canada edged out Guyana in a 47-5 victory to move onto the semi-finals against Bermuda on Sunday afternoon. They left Bermuda dazed with a 55-0 win to move onto their final game.
Team Canada punched their ticket to Tokyo with their final win of the tournament against Jamaica in a 40-5 victory. Kaay was especially active in the last game, scoring two of the team's tries.
Best of luck to Okanagan Coo @ZekeKaay and the @rugbycanada 7s boys as they try to earn their way into the best sporting event in history... The OLYMPICS!! What an opportunity you guys have, enjoy and make the most of it, your country is behind you 🇨🇦🏉 #rugby #canada #Olympics
— Okanagan Rugby Club (@OkanaganRugby) July 6, 2019
Congratulations, Kaay and Team Canada!
