The golds at the 2016 Games were Fiji for the men and Australia for the women, but sport fans in Canada soon came to realize this country is rather good at the sport, the women’s team capturing bronze in Rio.
While there were no medals for Canada at the 2020 Games, and the United States has yet to medal in the sport, Rugby 7s has gained popularity.
So it’s no surprise that with growing popularity has come the launch of a 7s league.
Premier Rugby Sevens (PRS) is a professional sport which hosted its Inaugural Championship Series recently with both men’s and women’s teams competing – and of note making equal pay.
The new league has taken the form of the World Rugby Sevens Series which has national teams descending on a city for a weekend of intense play to determine a winner.
The PRS with six men’s teams and four women’s, at least in year one, did it basically the same way, hosting one event in Memphis in early October.
The finals were actually broadcast in Canada on TSN, which was great as in the women’s final the Loonies came out on top and Delaney Aikens was named the game’s top player.
Aikens grew up on a farm near Briercrest, SK. where she was a pretty good hockey player in her youth – good enough to attended Notre Dame in Wilcox.
It was at Notre Dame Aikens’ sports career took a turn after she was introduced to rugby when she was in Grade 9 by instructor Darren Beaulac.
Initially playing 15’s, Aikens eventually found the 7s game and was on the radar for Canada’s national team for a time.
But, Aikens had retired from the national picture, and had expected her high level rugby days were behind her.
The PRS contacted her about taking a spot on one of the women’s team, and she jumped at the opportunity, becoming one of three Canadian women on the four teams.
“I had stepped away from the Canadian program a couple of months ago,” she said in a recent interview.
“I didn’t think I’d get the opportunity to play at a high level again.”
The call gave her that chance.
“I was so happy to play rugby again, the game that I love,” said Aikens.
It was great she was not the lone Canuck too.
“It was really nice to be at the tournament with other Canadians. I think we represented Canada very well,” said Aikens.
As for the championship game, Aikens said it was rather special.
“Honestly it was a pretty crazy game,” she said, noting her team the Loonies had lost earlier in the event to their opponents the Headliners, “so we wanted to go out there and give it our all.”
Aikens said her team put in a great effort as a unit.
“I think that’s what a winning team is all about,” she said. “. . . I think we all had the same mind set, the same drive, to out and be the best for each other.”
Individually, Aikens had a huge day, scoring two tries and earning the game award.
“It meant a lot. I think it was the best I’ve played in a while,” she said. “I was super happy. I think I deserved it.”
Plans are under way for the PRS in 2022, with the likelihood of more than one event being held.
Aikens said she sees only good things ahead for PRS.
“Rugby 7s is growing tremendously all around the world,” she said, adding the game seems well-suited for the attention of people today. “It’s such a quick game. It’s 14-minutes of intense, hard work. I think it can become really big.”
Aikens admits some people wonder what can be done in a sport where games are so short, but that tight time clock means players can’t afford mistakes which ramps up the intensity.
“You have to be very skillful,” she said, adding that you need more than physical tools, as the game requires players to be thinking all the time too.
“You’ve really got to keep things tight, stick to your game plan, and there’s not a lot of room for mistakes.
