NATHAN HIRAYAMA

Born and raised in Richmond, BC, Nathan Hirayama remains one of Canada’s all-time greatest Rugby Sevens players. At the time of his retirement in 2021, he ranked as the third-highest scorer in the history of World Rugby Sevens play with 1859 career points. At the same time, he ranked 15th all- time in World Rugby Sevens with 147 tries scored. All-time leader in both match appearances (363) and scoring among Canadian men’s rugby sevens players during 15 years on Canadian men’s national team (2006-21). Winner of World Rugby Sevens Series overall scoring title for the 2018 season. Named Player of the Final leading Canada to its first and only World Rugby Sevens Series Cup Final victory in Singapore in 2017. Won two Pan American Games gold (2011, 2015) and one silver medal (2019). Accumulated 23 international caps with Canada’s men’s XV team from 2008-15, scoring 47 points in that time and representing Canada at the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Selected as Canadian Olympic team Opening Ceremony flagbearer for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. There, as co-captain of the Canadian men’s rugby sevens team, he led Canada to the quarterfinals while scoring 19 points.

MERALOMA CLUB

Founded in the summer of 1923 initially as a swimming club by a group of 12 friends at Vancouver’s Kitsilano Beach, the Meraloma Club has thrived for over a century as one of BC’s longest standing and largest multi-sport clubs.Originally named the ‘Mermaids,’ soon after forming the club changed its name to ‘Meralomas,’ which was later interpreted to stand for the club’s motto: ‘Once a Meraloma, always a Meraloma.’ Over the next 100+ years the club has fielded teams in rugby, cricket, soccer, field hockey, fastpitch softball, basketball, cycling, and football. Nearly a hundred Meraloma athletes have gone on to represent Canada internationally in their sports and nearly another fifty have played their sport professionally. Other club individuals have served in key roles on various provincial, national, and international sports organizations, many building hall of fame careers. With over 1100 active senior and junior athletes on nearly 40 teams currently—and many thousands more over the previous century, plus countless coaches, administrators, referees, and volunteers—the club’s legacy in the community and around the world is immeasurable. Founding Members: Howard Calvert, Clarence Code, Art Dawe, Bill Edwards, Jim Edwards, Morley Maxwell, Murray Mowatt, Bill Pitt, Charles Rabb, Dave Scott, Garnet Tupper, Percy Wright.