It’s a rare opportunity to play on home turf this weekend for Canada Sevens rugby standout Nathan Hirayama.
The 27-year-old Richmond native will be front and centre in red and white colours for the HSBC Canada Sevens at B.C. Place Stadium — marking the first time the World Series has ever stopped in Vancouver. The hosts will have three 22-minute round-robin games on Saturday — Wales (12:04 p.m.), Australia (3:30 p.m.) and Russia (7:28 p.m.). The playoffs commence Sunday morning, leading up to the Cup Final at 6 p.m. Sixteen countries are competing. The entire lower bowl is sold out with limited upper deck seating available.
Last weekend at the World Series stop in Las Vegas, Canada advanced to the Shield final before falling 24-12 to Samoa.
Hirayama has been a mainstay with the Canadian program since making his series debut soon after graduating from McRoberts Secondary School when he was 18.
The fly-half has developed a reputation as one of top playmakers in the game. In 2012-13, he was third overall in World Series scoring with 241 points and topped all scorers at the 2013 Rugby World Sevens in Moscow.
After an injured plagued 2014-15 season limited his availability, he is back up to full speed and seeing double duty with the national 15s team as well.
His first taste of competitive rugby was in his Grade 8 year at McRoberts. He would go on to enjoy a standout career with the Strikers, playing for his father Gary Hirayama, a longtime teacher and coach at the school before recently retiring. Gary is a former Canadian international player himself.
Nathan also came through the junior ranks of the Richmond Rugby Club.
