Ilona Maher of the United States, centre, lines up with her teammates during the opening ceremony before the start of a group A match at the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup against England in Sunderland, England on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025.

There’s a backstory to Canada’s rugby sevens silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, dating to the Rugby Americas North Sevens two years earlier in the Bahamas.

The Canadian women were staying at the all-inclusive Breezes Resort Bahamas during the tournament. Unfortunately it was during was American spring break, hardly conducive for elite athletes during a competition.

Breeze became a code word for the Canadian women.

“The stay became a lesson in ’Control the controllables,’” recalled then-Canada coach Jack Hanratty. “Like we can’t move hotels, so what’

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