For a group of young men and women living on the West Shore, breakfast is a scrum at Goudy field, and lunch is a workout in the Eagle Ridge gym.

CanadaB次元官网网址檚 top rugby athletes have settled into their routine of training on the turf fields at City Centre Park, now the epicentre for high-performance rugby in Canada.

Players in the male U20 program say in the past, CanadaB次元官网网址檚 international team would be mashed together with guys from either end of the country B次元官网网址� a practice that didnB次元官网网址檛 make for a cohesive team. With one place to live, work and train, the nation is upping its international rugby profile.

B次元官网网址淭here is no other place that just focuses on training, conditioning and rugby skills,B次元官网网址� said Jacob Rumball, 19. B次元官网网址淭raining five or six times per week, we are going to have better rugby skills, better endurance. There is no other facility like this in Canada.B次元官网网址�

Luc Pearson, a 19-year-old from Ontario who played for the national U17 squad, said in the past heB次元官网网址檇 meet teammates selected from the West perhaps once before heading overseas. B次元官网网址淲e didnB次元官网网址檛 play as a team,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淣ow having B.C. guys and us together will make a huge difference. I canB次元官网网址檛 wait to see the results.B次元官网网址�

The Rugby Canada administration and training office fired up the neon signs and officially opened in January, next to Bear Mountain Stadium.

Two turf fields at City Centre Park have been approved by the International Rugby Board, a rare asset in Canada.

Langford built the facility for Rugby Canada, which also includes a medical centre and gym in Eagle Ridge arena, for about $1.1 million, taken from a parks improvement reserve account.

Langford clerk administrator Jim Bowden said Rugby Canada is repaying the City for the administration building and training facility through a long-term lease agreement.

About 12 Rugby Canada administrators and high-performance coaches will staff the office full time. Male and female players will rotate through year-round for intensive training before travelling overseas for games.

For the 45 or so high-performance athletes, a typical day involves skills training and weight training in the morning, and homework and online university courses in the afternoon.

B次元官网网址淭he fact that players are here working together is exciting. Canada is definitely taking a step forward for success on the international stage,B次元官网网址� remarked player Stephen Seccareccia, 19. B次元官网网址淭his is a great experience. IB次元官网网址檝e got to thank Langford for providing this centre of excellence.B次元官网网址�

Rugby Canada chair Rick Bourne expects Langford to play host to a number of international U20 test matches against Russia, Georgia and the U.S. this year.

B次元官网网址淟angford is such a welcoming community,B次元官网网址� Bourne said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 built a field, a stadium, a medical centre and a gym. We are so fortunate Langford has  a vision for the future, to look after young Canadian athletes.B次元官网网址�

Rugby Canada has recruited outside talent to run the centre, including Mike Chu, who work for nine years with New ZealandB次元官网网址檚 national rugby program.

Chu, now the general manager of rugby operations in Langford, said Rugby CanadaB次元官网网址檚 vision of creating a dedicated, long-term system to develop elite rugby athletes drew him and his family to Canada.

B次元官网网址淭he leadership is developing the culture and systems for success,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hey want to create not a centre of excellence, but a sustained centre of excellence.B次元官网网址�

Citing CanadaB次元官网网址檚 rugby women sevens recent victory in Dubai and the menB次元官网网址檚 sevens gold medal at the Pan Am Games in Mexico, Chu said Canada certainly isnB次元官网网址檛 starting from scratch as a rugby nation.

B次元官网网址淐anada is an emerging nation, but is going up in a very short time,B次元官网网址� Chu said. (Rugby Canada) really wants to achieve. They want to get gold in the Olympics.B次元官网网址�

sports@goldstreamgazette.com