Successful start just the beginning for Tait

John, you must be very pleased with the achievements of your 7s team this year?

Yes I am very pleased with the results. I was unsure of the level of competition we would be facing in Vegas and Hong Kong but the team has risen to each occasion and has been consistent in improving in each of their performances resulting in two titles.

What is the plan for the 7s programme for the rest of the year?

We have committed to competing at the Amsterdam 7s and also to taking two teams, an international and development squad, to Dubai later this year. We are also holding five Regional Talent Identification camps across the country through April and May to find more depth for our programme. Domestically we are initiating a National Sevens series to help develop and support competitions, coaches and athletes across the country.

And in the long term - do you believe you could win titles at the World cup and Olympics?

That is our goal and we are now getting the support from our Olympic Own the Podium program to help us win. This year is primarily about getting structures in place and finding the athletes to invest in to get us there.

What are your plans for the 15 aside programme this year?

In a post World Cup year there is always going to be a larger than normal turnover of athletes, so it has been necessary to begin fresh with a clean slate. My hope again is to identify and support as many athletes with the ability and ambition to win for Canada. Canada has a very large player base across the country and for us to compete for a World Cup we need to address our domestic competitions. We need to develop our pathway, supported by meaningful competitions, that prepare our athletes for Internationals. The approach in the past has been very focussed on a small core group and playing internationals here and there when possible to prepare. I believe we have the players to have meaningful and tough competitions provincially and regionally to prepare a larger group but as always funding or lack of remains a road block to change.

How are you enjoying the role so far?

I have been relishing the opportunity to lead a programme with athletes as dedicated as our women are to being the best. The administrative work can be cumbersome but is worth it when the results come our way.

What's the key difference coaching the national women's team to the men?

Professional rugby has created an immense gap between our men's programme and the Top Tier Nations and makes it always a daunting game of catch up just to be competitive. With the women there is a small gap between Canada and the top three countries and we can close it with some hard work in this next World Cup cycle.

Is it difficult to manage both a 7s and 15s programme?

It is demanding and constitutes a lot of things to cover but it also gives a massive opportunity to ensure both programmes support the growth and betterment of one another. I have an excellent programs manager in Kristy Martin-Hale who keeps me organized and everything running smoothly. A benefit, we have and the men don't, is that we do not operate under an IRB windows for international matches and have been able to organize our International calendar so our two programmes do not conflict and as a result it provides our athletes the opportunity to develop in both 7s and 15s throughout the year.

Do you think a succesful 7s programme would impact on the development of the 15aside game?

Definitely I do, the core skills of both are the same and players at this point will be using both 7s and 15s competitions as opportunities to develop and test themselves.

Anything else?Keep up the good work promoting the Women's game. Hopefully, the IRB and other leaders in rugby out there will appreciate even more that growing the Women's game and supporting it properly, with things like an International Seven's Series to mirror the men's, will only help the growth and quality of rugby world wide.