VICTORIA - The University of Victoria Vikes men's rugby team will open their 2012 CDI Premiership league play with a game against the Castaway Wanderers at 2:45 p.m. at Windsor Park in Oak Bay on Saturday, Jan. 28.
The Vikes held a 2-0 record over the Wanderers in games in the 2011 Vancouver Island season, winning both contests last fall by a narrow margin, 23-19 and 28-27. Challenging the reigning CDI Premiership Champions will allow the Vikes a chance to assert themselves as a force in the CDI Premiership league (2011 Fall Results).
With the Canadian Sevens team leaving for Wellington this weekend, both UVic and Castaways will be missing a few key players. The Vikes will have to do without backs Nathan Hirayama and Sean Duke. Scrumhalf Phil Mack will also be missing from action this half as he recovers from an injury.
Without these key players, the Vikes will turn to veterans Tony LaCarte and Brett Beukeboom to help guide the young squad.
"Tony will be consistently on the field this weekend. He was one of the most valuable players for us in the first half," said head coach #Doug Tate#.
Along with the LaCarte and Beukeboom, the Vikes welcome the return of back-three player Keaton Styles. First-year Vernon native Callum Busfield is also expected to make his debut for the Vikes this weekend in the front-row.
The Wanderers boast a crop of highly experienced players, including former Vikes Toby Peyton and Andrew Tiedemann. Tiedemann will be joined in the front-row by fellow national team member Hubert Buydens. Along with the other members of the Wanderers forward pack, this trio is guaranteed to be first-rate opposition for the Vikes.
"I think it will be a good game; they are a very strong team," said Tate. "We're going to be playing against guys that have played here, which is always a bit of a challenge but I'm looking forward to it. We've had some good practices to get the guys ready and have been working hard since early January."
The Vikes will travel to Burnaby Feb. 4 to take on the Burnaby Lake Rugby Club. (Full Schedule)
