GUADALAJARA, Mexico, (Reuters) – Two interception tries from Conor Trainor spurred Canada to a 26-24 upset victory over Argentina in the gold medal match in the inaugural rugby sevens tournament at the Pan-American Games on Sunday.
The two-point winning margin ultimately derived from Nathan Hirayama’s fine conversion kick from the left touchline after Canada’s first try but it was Trainor’s successful forays into the Argentina backline that kept his team in the match.
“This time last year he was on the fringe of going to the World Cup and he’s just come back from the World Cup (where he) scored two tries against New Zealand. Now he’s got a gold medal here,” Canada coach Geraint John said of Trainor after the medal ceremony.
“He’s a very instinctive player … Sometimes as a coach we tell them not to do it because it can put us out of our structure, but it worked,” John added.
The curly-haired, 21-year-old Trainor said: “I’m sure the coaches were pretty unhappy while I was running but I’m sure their hearts lifted when they saw me catch the ball and go in.”
Rugby, which has also been played at the Commonwealth Games, will return to the Olympic Games in the sevens format at Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
The United States, last winners of the Olympic gold medal in rugby in Paris in 1924, were third at the Pan-American Games after beating Uruguay 21-17 for the bronze medal.
