VICTORIA, B.C. – This weekend will mark the first game of the University of Victoria Vikes men's rugby 2014-15 season, as they face off against Velox on Sept. 6 at Wallace Field. This match will be the first in the series for the prestigious Barnard Cup, which will later include games with James Bay and the Castaways as part of the Vancouver Island Rugby Union.
 
After a tough year that saw the team finish with a 6-7 record in the CDI Premier League regular season, the Vikes look to improve on their record without key players Clayton Thornber, Reid Tucker, Chris Linn and Nathan Yanagiya. All four departures had national team experience, meaning new players must rise to the Vikes level of play.
 
Doug Tate enters his 21^st year as the Vikes men's rugby head coach and he will be looking to add to his impressive record that includes the 2011 Barnard Cup title and the 2010 BC Rugby Premier Division championship.
 
Tate faces former Vikes Rugby assistant coach Winston Stanley, who has  recently taken over coaching for Velox.
 
"They will be a more disciplined team and they always play a physical game," says Tate. "We will be looking to push the pace of the game with a strong start and hopefully these games will be good preparation for our CDI premier games."
 
Third year eightman Luke Campbell and fourth year lock Shea Wakefield worked hard in the offseason, both playing key roles with the BC Bears this past summer. Outside half Pat Kay will return to the fold this season for his fourth year. The team Canada under-20 stand out bring a lot of experience after recent time with the 7s national team.
 
Guiseppe duToit will also be one to watch as the outside half from Maple Ridge . enters his second year but has already represented Canada at every level.  
 
While last season saw early wins, this year the men's rugby team is focused on long-term goals, including challenging for the Premier Men's championship and winning back the boot competition from UBC. They also look to play for the Barnard Cup title and become Vancouver Island's top men's team.
 
The Vikes rush the field against Velox on Sept. 6 at 2:45 p.m. on Wallace Field.
 
They play James Bay Athletic Association on Sept. 13 at MacDonald Park and the Castaway Wanderers Sept. 20 at home. Both games start at 2:45 p.m. and are part of the Barnard Cup series. For more information visit govikesgo.com/mrug.