A raucous hometown crowd popped as Erik Haas pushed his body past a pair of defenders, and collapsed beyond the try line in the dying seconds of the game to give his team a win over Nova Scotia.

The 19-year-old stayed on the ground as his teammates surrounded him, celebrating what was about to become their first win at the 2025 Canada Games. 

"I was huffing and puffing the whole way down the field," he said with a smile. "We were close to the try line, so I just tried to rumble over there, and I managed to get it."

Haas said impressing the hometown crowd is one of the biggest motivators in this tournament. But it's not the only one.

There's also an audience of scouts looking for the next hidden gems that could shine on the international stage.

Men's rugby hasn't been part of the Canada Games since 2009. Women's rugby sevens debuted in 2023, with the men's tournament making its return for 2025. 

Newfoundland and Labrador coach Darrell Devine — who also coaches with Rugby Canada — said the sport's return to the Canada Games is vital for the future of the national program.

"I think it's huge," he said. "We need this as a stepping stone to that next level. Our national team is doing the best we can, but if we can push these young boys through that system and get a clear pathway, I think it will do wonders for us."

Rugby sevens — a speedy variant of traditional rugby featuring seven players on each team — was introduced on the Olympic stage in 2016. Canada has won a pair of bronze medals on the women's side, but has failed to reach the podium on the men's side in three straight Olympics. 

Devine said the Canada Games can serve as the perfect venue for the best players from all over the country to show off their skills in one place. Rugby Canada staff will be building scouting reports and identifying players for future camps and tournaments. 

Jocelyn Barrieau, head coach of Canada's women's national team, said the impact of having rugby in the Canada Games could be monumental for the sport. 

"We are having best-on-best competition in a tournament style that will replicate the demands of a sevens tournament," she said in a Rugby Canada news release. "The pride with which each player represents their provinces will also trickle up and follow them as they remain proud to represent their country moving forward."

Rugby sevens kicked off Monday for the men's and women's programs, and will wrap up with medal matches on Wednesday.

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