White Rock rugger set to cheer on Team Canada for HSBC Vancouver Sevens

Published 2:30 pm Monday, March 2, 2026

A White Rock rugby star won’t be playing at the HSBC Vancouver Sevens this weekend, but he’ll be there to cheer on both the men’s and women’s rugby squads at BC Place.

Takoda McMullin, who often plays with his identical twin brother, Talon, said unfortunately, both of the Earl Marriott Secondary grads are currently out with injuries, but he’s optimistic for more play time in the future, when both are healed and healthy.

A recent University of British Columbia graduate with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, McMullin hopes to focus on rugby for awhile before deciding what to do with his degree, or perhaps, return to school for more schooling or even a master’s degree.

“I’m taking the next few months just to relax from school and all of that, and try to just focus on some rugby,” McMullin said last week.

McMullin has balanced rigorous academics with elite sport since graduating from EMS and attending UBC, playing rugby for UBC Athletics and Team Canada alongside his brother.

He and his brother have both earned caps for Canada in both 15s and Sevens, along with another EMS alum, Kyle Tremblay.

McMullin noted that within Rugby Canada, they have a “One Squad” philosophy between the Sevens and 15s teams, where identified athletes compete on both teams, and said he and his brother as well as Tremblay are all involved in the One Squad mentality.

“I’m definitely going to be there cheering on all my teammates,” he said.

While rugby has enabled him to travel all over the world, McMullin’s most recent international play took place in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, in January, where Team Canada beat Belgium in the men’s Cup Final 28-10 at the Dubai 7s 2026 HSBC SVNS 3 tournament; both teams qualified to SVNS 2.

This weekend, coming off their recent success as HSBC SVNS 3 Dubai Champions, Rugby Canada’s men’s Sevens team will compete in the Teck Tri-Nations Challenge against formidable opponents Japan and Chile. The competition will also serve as vital preparation for the team as they head into the final two events of the HSBC SVNS 2 Series later in March.

“Looking ahead to Vancouver, the players are always incredibly excited to play in front of a home crowd,” said men’s head coach Christiaan Esterhuizen. “It’s a world-class event, and there’s no doubt the excitement is already building within the group.”

McMullin noted this summer, Team Canada will hopefully build steps towards next year’s Rugby World Cup in Australia, followed by the 2028 Olympics in L.A.

“If it all goes according to plan, (Team Canada will play) in the 2027 Rugby World Cup, and then the 2028 Olympics,” he said.

While the men’s roster for the upcoming Sevens events had not been released at press time, the Team Canada women’s Sevens roster had been released, with another White Rock rugger set to play at BC Place this weekend: No. 25, Shoshanah Seumanutafa, who was also on the roster for the women’s 2025 Rugby World Cup team.

McMullin said he will definitely be cheering on the Team Canada women’s squad as well.

“I think it’s really cool that our women have been so successful over the years … anytime they’re in a tournament like this, it’s hard not to watch them.”

Team Canada women’s Sevens team start with pool play on Saturday, March 7 vs. Team USA at 1:09 p.m., followed by Team Australia at 5:19 p.m., and then Fiji at 8:46 p.m.

The playoff round starts Sunday (March 8), with Cup semifinals starting at 12:33 p.m., third-place playoffs at 4:20 p.m., and the Cup Final set to start at 5:34 p.m.

Canada’s men’s Sevens team will play Team Japan on Saturday (March 7) at 2:18 p.m., followed by Team Chile at 6:07 p.m.

On Sunday, they’ll play Chile again on Sunday (March 8) starting at 2:06 p.m., and Japan at 4:59 p.m.

All games can also be watched on TSN1, TSN2, TSN4 and TSN+.

Tickets are available at vansevens.com