Williams Lake and Team Canada rugby star Kayla Moleschi couldn’t be more happy about the hometown support she received during the weekend when family and friends travelled to Langord, B.C., for the Canada Women’s Sevens.
The event is part of the 2016 Olympic-qualifying World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series and saw Moleschi’s squad move into second place in the overall standings.
“The support from Williams Lake really filled my heart with so much love,” Moleschi said following the tournament.
“It was incredible to have so many of my family and friends in one place at a world rugby event. For so many years our tournaments have been all over the globe and rather pricey to get to, but having a world series stop here in Langford was so perfect.
“Everyone who has been supporting me throughout my career and waking up at all hours of the night to watch the streaming sites were able to come and watch me live for the first time ever. I’m so grateful to have all of these wonderful people in my life, especially my parents and brother who were able to make it.”
She said the support was overwhelming and added it was an honour to play in front of her friends and family, despite losing to the U.S., 19-12, in the Plate Final to finish in sixth place.
“The finals was a tough game against the U.S.,” she said. “We played well but they were able to capitalize on our mistakes which made them come out with a win.”
On day one of the event Canada pounded Russia, 26-15, laid a 47-0 drubbing on Fiji, then beat the U.S., 19-15.
The following day Canada faced a tough English club, falling 12-5, before again, blanking Fiji, 45-0 to reach the Plate Final.
“All in all we had a great tournament with a few mistakes at some key moments where we needed to execute the most,” Moleschi said. “It was tough to finish sixth but this only makes us a stronger team and we know what we need to do and how we need to do it. It’s just about staying connected and on role the whole game through.”
The Canada Women’s Sevens was Rugby Canada’s first time hosting a Women’s Sevens Series event in history.
The announced attendance for the weekend’s event was 6,500, which included a sellout of 3,400 on day two.
The top four teams at the end of the season will automatically qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics where seven-a-side rugby will be played for the first time.
The weekend was a big one not only for Moleschi, but also for her former hometown high school club, the Lake City Falcons Girls seven-a-side team. The Falcons picked up a bronze medal, also in Langford, at the provincial seven-a-side championships.
Moleschi said she couldn’t watch the girls play due to her own tournament, but sent a special congratulatory note to her former (now combined) school.
“I was unable to watch the high school ladies kick butt, but I am so proud of them,” she told the Tribune.
“Congratulations to them on their tournament.”
For more on the Falcons’ bronze-medal win see next week’s Tribune/Weekend Advisor.