Don Mills C.I. connection to sevens rugby tourney

Don Mills C.I. connection to sevens rugby tourney. Dan Kunanec is coaching Team Ontario at USA Rugby's sevens' tournament Feb. 10-12 in Las Vegas. Photo/COURTESY

About a dozen players on the under-18 squad, including four students from the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), made the trek to the U.S. for the annual elite-level competition series taking place Feb. 10 to 12.

"Sevens rugby is growing in popularity," said Kunanec, explaining there are only seven players per team playing on the same size field as the traditional 15-a-side rugby game. "In Toronto and Ontario, in particular, we're ahead of the curve."

When Kunanec started convening a TDSB league in 2003, there were 80 students playing the game. He estimated there are currently more than 1,200 student athletes who play in the fall.

"It's such an athlete focused game," he said. "At the international level, these are some of the best athletes in the world."

With sevens rugby to be played in the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto as well as voted in to become an Olympic sport for the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Kunanec's goal is to help field the best team possible for both the men's and women's teams.

"We're trying to build depth for Rugby Canada," he said. "That's the plan. I'm really hoping to see that."

The team coached by Kunanec is scheduled to play its opening game Feb. 10 against the team from British Columbia followed by matches against the U.S. All-American and Washington teams.

More than 40 countries are represented at the tournament throughout the men's, women's and youth divisions.

For more information about the tournament, visit www.usasevens.com/las-vegas/