VICTORIA - The University of Victoria Vikes men's rugby team will compete for the inaugural National Invitational University Rugby Sevens Championship in Vancouver at University of British Columbia's Thunderbird Stadium March 11-12, in a tournament featuring the top male and female rugby talents.
Rugby fans in Vancouver will be treated to the high-speed and exhilarating spectacle of the Sevens game as men's and women's teams battle it out for the inaugural trophy. The sport has taken the world by storm and Sevens tournaments in countries such as New Zealand, America, England and Hong Kong have welcomed hundreds of thousands of fans through the turnstiles. The growth and popularity of the game has been recognized internationally and it will feature as a medals event in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.
UVic is in Pool A along with McMaster, Calgary and UBC Okanagan. UBC, Western Ontario, Alberta and Mount Royal are in Pool B.
The Vikes begin play on March 11 facing McMaster at 11 a.m., then play UBC Okanagan at approximately 2:45 p.m. They wrap up play Friday with a 5:45 p.m. showdown with Calgary.
The top team in each pool will play the fourth place team in the opposite pool in quarter-finals Saturday morning beginning at 9:30 a.m. with semifinals going at 12:45 and 1 p.m. The championship will be played at 3:30 p.m.
Vikes competing include
Bryn Keys, Tony La Carte,
Liam Murray,
Tommy Hartlin, Adam Timler,
Phil Mack,
Keaton Styles,
Nathan Hirayama,
Willem duPlessis,
Sean Duke,
Beau Parker and
Michael Fuailefau.
Vikes head coach Doug Tate said this is a great step for rugby approaching its debut at the Olympics in 2016.
"With the Americans hosting a collegiate 7s championship, this is a natural step and it's a positive step for rugby in Canada," Tate said, noting his squad prepared with scrimmages against the national team this week in preparation for the games. "There's going to be some good competition there and this is a great showcase for rugby."
Games are 14 minutes in length and will be entertaining for fans.
"This is something we've working toward in Canada at the university level and it's nice to see it get off the ground and it will be an exciting event," Tate added.
UBC head coach Spence McTavish said these said the championship will reward teams that are pacy, fearless and quick-thinking. He said he believes it is important for the future success of the event, and for the Sevens game in the country, to have the best universities competing.
“One of the most important things is to make sure a competitive tournament is staged and that people enjoy it and come back next year," McTavish said, noting the newly installed, and International Rugby Board approved, artificial-turf at the Thunderbird Stadium will encourage a fast and free-flowing style of play. “Sevens rugby can throw up a lot of surprises. Some universities may not have great packs or front rows but could possess 10 really good players suited to the Sevens game,” McTavish said. “I'm expecting the biggest challenge to come from the University of Victoria as they have a lot of players that feature for the national side. I might have to wear a few crosses around my neck and rely on a little it of magic to beat them.”
Event organizer Rugby Canada is confident the championship will work to provide an ideal platform at which selectors can assess and select talented athletes from across the country to train and compete at both the national and international levels.
The championship will follow standard IRB rules for Sevens and Rugby Canada's National Selectors will be in attendance at UBC to evaluate the players on show. National Sevens Coach, Geraint John says he is looking forward to witnessing the best players that the universities have to offer.
“Strengthening the domestic game and the introduction of a University Sevens competition is ideal for identifying and developing players for the national team,” John said.
There is a sense of optimism that the championship will increase the talent pool of Sevens players for the men's and women's national sides. The long-term goal of the coaches and selectors is to move Canada into a position of strength in the world game and challenging for medals at the Olympics.
Getting tournament and big-game experience for the players is vital," John said. "Those who take part will be far more confident and will know what is expected of them if pressure situations and big moments arise.”
Training sessions will take place at Wolfson Fields on the UBC campus on Thursday, March 10th, with the two-day tournament commencing on Friday March 11.
A tournament pass, covering both days of competition, is $20 for adults and $10 for students and youths. An end of tournament banquet is being hosted at the Coast Plaza Hotel and Suites in Vancouver on the evening of Saturday, March 12.
