After seeing yet another packed house assemble to watch Canada B次元官网网址淎B次元官网网址� play international rugby at Westhills Stadium, Langford Coun. Lillian Szpak couldnB次元官网网址檛 say enough about the fans.
B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 gone very well. The crowds have been so excited and thereB次元官网网址檚 been a great energy,B次元官网网址� she said of the IRB Americas Rugby Championship, a four-team round robin that wrapped up Sunday.
Despite a second straight Canadian loss at the event B次元官网网址� 39-9 to the perennial tournament champion Argentina Jaguars B次元官网网址� that left the home team with the bronze medal, Szpak maintained her enthusiasm for Rugby Canada and LangfordB次元官网网址檚 hosting of the event.
B次元官网网址淗aving been a rugby mom (her husband, Bob, and son, Michael once played on the same team), to me this is very exciting. I donB次元官网网址檛 know a lot about the game, but I know enough to follow it,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淛ust to see that whole sense of pride that everyone has in the facility we have here, and for Rugby Canada and for having the (Rugby) Centre for Excellence, is just awe-inspiring for many people in Langford. And weB次元官网网址檙e very, very proud of the team.B次元官网网址�
More than 10,000 fans from around the Capital Region took in the tournament, which saw doubleheaders played Oct. 11, 15 and 19. That encouragement was not lost on the players.
B次元官网网址淗uge thanks for the support weB次元官网网址檝e had here,B次元官网网址� Team Canada captain Kyle Gilmour said after SundayB次元官网网址檚 match. B次元官网网址淚 know we underperformed a bit, but itB次元官网网址檚 great to see the big crowd out again. Huge thanks to Langford and Victoria and the people here.B次元官网网址�
Szpak said Langford has made itself a destination for sports tourism through building facilities such as Westhills Stadium.
B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 very significant when you look at a community like Langford, and that Rugby Canada has chosen to come here and we have actually made it possible for them to say B次元官网网址榶es, this is a really great place for [us] to hang [our] hat.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
While itB次元官网网址檚 home to the menB次元官网网址檚, womenB次元官网网址檚 and age-group national team programs, she said, local residents look at the various Team Canadas as B次元官网网址渙ur team(s).B次元官网网址�
The city has made various improvements to the stadium, such as adding more seating this year, and is working toward creating more parking to accommodate special events such as the ARC, Szpak said.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
