Canada’s Admir Cejvanovic is one of the less familiar names on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, but his story is inspirational.

Heading into the HSBC Canada Sevens, Cejvanovic will be playing on home soil for the first time having made his debut in Dubai last season where he became the first-ever Bosnian-born sevens international.

But Cejvanovic's story goes back further than that, having been born in Bosnia during the Yugoslavian War in 1990 and spending time in a refugee camp in Croatia before eventually being sponsored by a church and moving to Burnaby, outside Vancouver, in 1994.

"Me and my mum came to Canada in 1994. In 1992 we went to Croatia and seeked refuge there until my mum was able to get papers to come to Canada," said Cejvanovic. "We had the option of USA or Canada but my mum decided Vancouver would be the right place to start a new life.

"That was the hardest part - do we sit there and wait for the war to be over, or do we take the opportunity to pack our bags and go? And if you ask my mum now she would 100 per cent say she made the right decision. In Canada we work to enjoy ourselves and do what you please. Back home you don't have that option, you need to work to put food on the table and my mum gave me the opportunity of a lifetime.

"She didn't know any English, and had a four-year-old, so times were a bit tough the first couple of years as we had to get on our feet. She had to work out what she could do in this new country, we moved around a lot while we sorted it out, but finally we settled down in Burnaby BC, which is the main place I call home.

"Like most refugees my mum started cleaning houses, took night courses, learnt English, went back to school and became an LPN. She was my inspiration to be the best I could be by the way she accomplished all she did through the tough times."

RUGBY SEVENS TOOK OFF

Upon arrival the Canadian had the choice between playing soccer, which "rules the world in Bosnia", or rugby. Although having grown up playing and loving soccer, rugby was the sport of choice.

"At that time when I walked onto a rugby field I was able to pick up what is a complicated sport quickly, and was very comfortable," added the Pan American Games gold medal winner from Toronto 2015. "I started playing club rugby and never looked back. I was gunning for it in the men's league as an 18-year-old against all these professionals and then sevens came about.

"I never thought I would be a sevens player, but remember one of my coaches saying I should give it a go. I thought he was crazy, I was a number eight and ran around smashing into people, I don't have that finesse. But I got invited to a camp and it took off."

Cejvanovic is the first to acknowledge how Canada, and rugby, helped him through his difficulties and made him the man he is today. The values of the sport, and the determination, respect and inspirational character of his mum are motivations for a man who has taken his opportunity and capitalised upon it.

"You never know who you are letting into your country, but for me I was fortunate to pick up rugby, found something I was good at and kept going. There are millions of kids out there that have hidden talents that we will never see because of the life they live. In Syria, peoples' lives are being changed and they are begging for a way out.

"For me Canada letting my mum and me in was life-changing, we were able to start a decent life and live happily, and I travel round the world now playing rugby. From where I was to where I am now, I know I will look back on that when I'm older with huge gratitude. Rugby was key and kept my eye on the prize, it kept me working.

"What happened makes me more stubborn, and that comes from what my mum had to go through. If she was a pushover we wouldn't have gone very far, and if she wasn't as resilient I wouldn't be who I am today.

"I have that respect, and take that into everything I do here. I don't take anything for granted because I know things don't come easy. I had to work hard for rugby, and push for it, and things like growing up in a refugee camp, it reminds me that I had my second opportunuty which most people don't get. So if I don't go out and give it everything I don't deserve it. Millions would die for that opportunity and that is my motivation to be the best rugby player and the best person I can be."