Tight-knit P.E.I. men's rugby team ready to take on everybody at Canada Games

With only a few weeks left until the whistle blows at the 2025 Canada Games in St. John's, N.L., Prince Edward Island's men's rugby sevens team is sweating it out in practice in the hope of finishing in the top five.

The sport is back in the games for the first time in over a decade. The teams will be playing seven versus seven rugby, with a 12-person roster.

On paper, P.E.I.'s roster may look like that of other teams. However, the players on this team said the fact that they have been playing with each other for years makes them stand out. 

"We got a lot of fight compared to some other provinces. I think we don't really roll over and lose easily compared to some other provinces," said winger Colby Munro. 

Munro said that team camaraderie gives them an edge, a sentiment that is shared among the team. 

Head coach Darryl Boudreau said this team is aiming to be the top Maritime team, a goal he believes to be attainable.

"This group is unique. It's a group that has a lot of grit, it's a group that has a lot of skill, physicality, play-making abilities — and like I say, it is fun," said Boudreau. 

One of the team's biggest challenges is P.E.I.'s small talent pool compared to more-populated provinces. But Camden Hutchinson, who plays hook, said that the fact that province is so small has meant that they all know each other's game very well.

They have grown up playing on the same high school, university and provincial teams, he said. 

"We're not just a randomly selected group of guys. We've all played together for years. So when I see a guy going in, I know what he's gonna do. I've played with him," Hutchinson said. 

"I know how each one of my teammates plays. I think that's the difference." 

Centre Campbell Wadman said one of the main challenges that the team has been working to overcome is adapting to playing with only seven players on the field. Many of the players are used to playing with 15 pairs of cleats on each team. 

But Wadman said the bond among the players makes up for that difference. 

"It's a family," he said. "Especially this team — like, we've all known each other for years. We've all played together before... It's awesome culture.

"We're all brothers, pretty well."

This will be the first time many of the players have competed at this level. Coach Boudreau he said is thankful to have been able to help bring the team along. 

"It's an opportunity for us to play on the national stage, represent your province, wear your colours and… do the best that you can during the competitions themselves," he said. "Sport is a crazy thing, so you never know what can happen at the end of the game."