The Olympics are a time where nothing can be predicted. There are wins, losses and stories that grow from the least likely places.
Who might have predicted that one of the forces from Canada’s women’s rugby sevens would emerge from Vulcan, Alta. A small town one hour and twenty minutes south of Calgary. From that small town comes one of the leaders and heroes of Canada’s rugby program.
Keyara Wardley, now 24, was one of the youngest players on the squad in Tokyo, and now finds herself as one of the vets on this well-seasoned team. The journey has not been seamless but it has come with learnings on how to lead, how to move and how to inspire.
After defeating France during the quarterfinals in front of a sold-out crowd at Stade de France in Paris on Monday, Canada’s rugby sevens team is moving forward and will play for a medal Tuesday morning. The team has a history of being deeply connected, gritty and passionate.
Connecting as a team in rugby is not unlike any other team except that they are so close (literally piled on top of each other at times) and physically using their bodies to shield each other and pass in a manner that helps their player get ahead and score a try.
The movements have to happen in a certain way at a certain time. Earlier this year, the senior rugby sevens beat New Zealand, a country with storied accomplishments in the sport. Looking forward to Paris 2024, the team of 12 women and one alternate, have again proven that a demanding schedule is no match for a cohesive unit.
In fact, they present such a strong group that a game as rough as rugby becomes a symphony of movements like a group of dancers. The pitch becomes a veritable stage where they are moving with a rhythm, passing with intention and choreographing their plays with precision.
‘You need to toughen up a bit’
I spoke with Wardley last week ahead of the tournament. She told me that her start in rugby did not begin in the usual fashion. Wardley played volleyball, basketball and ran track — but was a dancer. Before she fell in love with rugby, she danced for 14 years. Wardley was trained in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, lyrical, and hip hop.
Initially, she didn’t care for the sport of rugby. It was her older brother, Evan, who played and insisted she try.
“My brother was like: ‘Well, I want you to play sports. You need to play sports. Like, you need to toughen up a bit’. And so I was like, ‘Okay, like, I’ll play volleyball. That’s about it, maybe track and field, but like, [I] cannot play rugby’. And then it was rugby season. And my brother is like you’re playing rugby. So I played rugby.”
Much like dance, rugby takes practice and hours of dedication and developing leadership as a senior player. Having a team so tightly connected for three years has been one of the reasons for their success, Wardley says.
They have trained together for three years and have built up foundations that are so strong and inspiring for the next generation of players coming up. Predicting their teammates moves and having a strong game has helped this team build its trust in each other.
Leader on, off the field
While Wardley is the only player not currently affiliated with a Canadian Rugby Union team, her dedication is evident. As she worked her way back from an ACL tear, she was with the team at almost every match and in Victoria rebuilding her own skills and supporting the team even from the sidelines.
It takes a focus to remain dedicated to a team while recovering physically and those are signs of a strong leader. Although Wardley missed Monday’s quarterfinal win over France with the injury, she is available for Tuesday’s semifinal match against Australia.
Wardley says leaders stand their ground but also loosen up and have fun, yet know when to dial it in and guide their team. Having that balance is important to Wardley. Much like dancing, leadership in rugby requires mixing toughness with grace and being able to achieve something while in constant motion.
WATCH | Women’s rugby 7s continue medal hunt, plus more to watch on Day 4:
On Day 3, judoka Christa Deguchi secured Canada’s first gold medal of Paris 2024, and a few hours later Summer McIntosh added another. Day 4 will see Ellie Black and the women’s artistic gymnastic squad in the team final, and women’s rugby 7s will play for a medal, but will it be gold or bronze?
But that motion is where Wardley finds her freedom of expression and unleashes her creativity as she speeds down the sideline to score. It’s not just the athleticism or her speed that connects her, however. It’s the power of seeing what women can do.
“I don’t think I’d be here if team culture wasn’t a big factor of that as well. And also just how powerful women are, like watching a sevens game for women or even with teens. It’s just amazing to see how much power women can have,” she said.
Balance is key with this team. Levelling trust and respecting team culture or balancing strength and poise. Beauty and force coupled with the right amount of creativity and speed are all part of Canada ruby sevens leadership on and off the pitch.
Wardley revels in how it all comes together for her team.
“It’s such a beautiful thing to see if you can be so strong and powerful, and have the freedom to play and it be accepted in this kind of environment.”
Wardley says this team is looking forward to making Canada proud. She and the team want to grow the game in Canada for young girls and show them they can try something different and express their own kind of freedom and strength with rugby.