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While the athletes involved with last weekend's Sevens Rugby World Cup in Dubai are still trying to get their sleep patterns back to normal - the players for the Canadian team going to next leg of the IRB Sevens Series in Hong Kong have been revealed.

Canada enjoyed what many would term a successful World Cup campaign last weekend - beating Scotland and Japan in the pool rounds, just missing a Cup quarterfinal spot, before falling to Portugal in a close Plate quarter-final encounter. While Canada won't have the services of European based pro players James Pritchard of Bedford and Justin Mensah-Coker of Plymouth Albion, a talented group will be on hand for the storied Hong Kong tournament, that like the World Cup, will feature twenty-four teams instead of the normal sixteen.

Receiving his first call-up to Sevens duty is twenty-two year old John Moonlight. The cousin of the Canadian sevens try scoring record holder Dave Moonlight, John, a student and member of the UVic Vikes, will inject some size and pace into the forwards. Thompson is keen to see how the six-foot-two inch, 230 lb Ontario native will do in his debut.

"(John) brings some size and a physical presence that we seemed to be missing in recent tournaments," revealed Thompson.  "Plus he tested very well at the trial in January where he had one of the better beep scores and sprint scores. He has a ways to go but definitley has the physical capabilities to play sevens at the international level.

"As we all know there is a learning curve for new players coming into the sevens program and we will just have to se how he adjusts to the difference's the sevens game has to offer."

Series regulars Ciaran Hearn, Adam Kleeberger, Tony La Carte, Phil Mack and Bry Keys will also welcome along Gordie Sawers, who has impressed in limited action this year. Also marking his second tour of the year is DTH van der Merwe, who tore up the World Cup pitch with four tries in the round robin - including three against Japan. His injury is well behind him, evidenced by some huge runs and physical play by the former Saskatchewan resident, who now calls Victoria home.

Mack, in particular, has been a driving force behind the team this year on the circuit - with sixty points to his name from six tries and fifteen conversions through the World Cup.

Nanayak Dala will be going to his third event of 2009, having participated in the Wellington and San Diego tournaments. His pace and nose for making things happen at the breakdown will no doubt net some gifts for teammates to grab up and turn into five points.

Also in for some more seasoning is 20 year old Sean White - who also made the US and New Zealand tours. The young scrum-half seems well suited to the shortened version of the game, as the wiry James Bay rugby club product can take a tackle and still get the key passes away.

The Hong Kong tournament - one of the most favoured by players and fans alike - takes place March 27-29. Canada takes on Samoa to open the tournament on Friday night - with Saturday matches against Fiji and Chinese Taipei before moving to the play-off rounds. Over 40,000 fans crowd into the stadium – with costumes and wild themes making this anything but a normal sporting event.

Canada Selection to Hong Kong

Nanyak Dala (Castaway Wanderers/Saskatoon, Saskatchewan)
Ciaran Hearn (Castaway Wanderers/Conception Bay, NFLD)
Bryn Keys (Velox Vallhallians/Abbotsford, BC)
Adam Kleeberger (UVic Vikes/Victoria, BC)
Jordan Kozina (UVic Vikes/Brantford, ON)
Tony La Carte (Bayside Sharks, White Rock, BC)
Phil Mack (James Bay, Victoria, BC)
Neil Meechan (UVic Vikes/Victoria, BC)
John Moonlight (UVic Vikes/Pickering, ON)
Gordie Sawers (U Vic Vikes/Vancouver, BC)
DTH van der Merwe (James Bay, Regina, Saskatchewan)
Sean White (James Bay, Victoria, BC)

Shane Thompson – Coach
Kieran Crowley – Manager
Timberly George – Athletic Therapist