Canadian sevens team hope to end losing skid with return of Mack, Jones
11-game winless streak on circuit dates back to April 10
Canadian coach Liam Middleton has added Phil Mack and Harry Jones to his lineup for the final HSBC Sevens Series tournament of the season this weekend in London.
Mack (knee) and Jones (shoulder) have been out with injury. Both are influential players on a Canadian squad currently ranked 13th in the overall standings after a disappointing season. Canada has lost its last 11 matches on the circuit, with its last win coming April 10 in Hong Kong.
The Canadian men will be without playmaker Nathan Hirayama, who was injured along with Luke McCloskey last weekend in Paris. The two have returned to Victoria.
Middleton says both injuries are short-term, which is good news with an Olympic qualifying tournament looming in June in Monaco.
"We want to play well and play positive sevens in every game that we take the field for," Middleton said in a statement. "Whilst there are some important games ahead in the next month or so we can't get caught up looking further than the game that is in front of us. I'm backing the players to perform in some big games this weekend."
Canada has drawn a tough pool in London with No. 2 South Africa, No. 6 U.S. and No. 8 Samoa.