`Rugby has come a long way in Langford.
City Centre Park was once but a twinkle in Mayor Stu YoungB次元官网网址檚 eyes. Now itB次元官网网址檚 the home of the an incubator developing the countryB次元官网网址檚 top players.
The progression continues tomorrow (Sept. 15) as City Centre ParkB次元官网网址檚 main field, Westhills Stadium, will host the Pacific Tyee against the Ontario Blues.
ItB次元官网网址檚 the TyeeB次元官网网址檚 final match of the Canadian Rugby Championship, the annual regional contest between the Tyee (Team B.C.), Blues, Prairie WolfPack and Atlantic Rock.
And itB次元官网网址檚 happening on the same grounds as the international AmericaB次元官网网址檚 Rugby Championship will take place between Canada, Argentina, U.S.A. and Uruguay, Oct. 12 to 20.
B次元官网网址�(The Tyee) have been at it for three months now and weB次元官网网址檝e tried to put together an inclusive program for the players and various coaches whoB次元官网网址檝e helped out,B次元官网网址� said Tyee head coach John MacMillan.
A core of Oak Bay High graduates lead the Tyee, Phil Mack at scrum half, Sean White in the backs, Luke Campbell in the second row, and captain Callum Morrison at No. 8. White, a James Bay player, is out for this weekend due to injury. Assuming White recovers in time for the ARC, he and Mack (UVic Vikes) will be unavailable anyways, as theyB次元官网网址檒l be in Australia with CanadaB次元官网网址檚 national sevens team. Same goes for UVic Vikes Nathan Hirayama and Sean Duke.
Despite all the national team talent, most of it in the TyeeB次元官网网址檚 backfield, it hasnB次元官网网址檛 been the rosiest of CRC competitions. But in 2012, the Tyee have just one win in four matches. WouldnB次元官网网址檛 you know, the only win was against Ontario on Sept. 1.
B次元官网网址淥utside of the results on the field itB次元官网网址檚 been a satisfactory result all around,B次元官网网址� MacMillan said. B次元官网网址淭he win against Ontario means a lot for our old rivalry with Ontario.B次元官网网址�
Moreover, Saturday is the final opportunity for players to catch the attention of the ARC selectors, national team head coach Kieran Crowley in particular. ItB次元官网网址檚 why the CRC was developed in the first place, to give the countryB次元官网网址檚 top 100-plus elite a chance to face each other on a regular basis. Professionals, of which Canada has less than a dozen, are not released for the CRC and ARC tournaments.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e chasing a quality performance against Ontario,B次元官网网址� MacMillan said.
In the previous win scrum half Mack scored three tries and Conor Trainor another.
B次元官网网址淥f those four tries, we constructed one,B次元官网网址� MacMillan said.
The rest were individual efforts, the likes of which even the best teams can not count on getting every game, he said.
Moving on up
One Tyee player who has come through the under-20 national team ranks is centre Michael Fuailefau. The 20-year-old is 6-foot-1, 220 lbs., and has represented Canada at the past two under-20 Junior World Cup Trophy tournaments, a product of the St. Michaels University School rugby program.
B次元官网网址淎RC selection is something everyone involved here is hoping for,B次元官网网址� said Fuailefau, who trains daily with a senior national teamB次元官网网址檚 long list.
B次元官网网址淔uailefau will be in and among some pretty good company, and if he excels within that group itB次元官网网址檒l be a positive indicator for him.B次元官网网址� MacMillan said.
FuailefauB次元官网网址檚 first taste of the CRC came as a winger against the Atlantic Rock in August, in which he played a steady 80 minutes, MacMillan added.
Against Ontario, Fuailefau will start as a centre. ItB次元官网网址檚 his ideal position, where heB次元官网网址檚 played for Canada U20, the UVic Vikes premier men and will likely suit up for the Castaway Wanderers this year.
From the scrum
The Pacific Tyee, formerly known as the B.C. Bears, won the CRC in the competitionB次元官网网址檚 inaugural year of 2009. The teamB次元官网网址檚 rebranding is part of the teamB次元官网网址檚 change in management, as it was previously run by the B.C. Rugby Union, and is now under the thumb of Rugby Canada.
The WolfPack lead the CRC with three wins.
Tyee vs. Blues
Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Westhills Stadium. For tickets call 250-391-1738, or visit Eagle Ridge Arena, 1089 Langford Parkway.
