An official proclamation from the mayor rubber stamped May 27 as Rugby Day in Langford, to mark the 2017 HSBC Canada WomenB次元官网网址檚 Sevens tournament.
At a ceremony Thursday morning at City Hall, Mayor Stew Young drew a few laughs from an enthusiastic group that included members of the Canadian team, when he suggested that B次元官网网址淚nternational Rugby DayB次元官网网址� might be a more fitting declaration given the scope of the event, set for May 27 and 28 at Westhills Stadium.
B次元官网网址淲e are honoured to have Rugby Canada call Langford home and are so proud of the hard work, talent and dedication these elite women have shown,B次元官网网址� Young said. B次元官网网址淲e want to acknowledge their success and the support of the community, fans and volunteers who are looking forward to the (tournament).B次元官网网址�
Gareth Rees, director of of commercial and program relations for Rugby Canada, said declaring May 27 as Rugby Day is fitting, considering the local support shown for the menB次元官网网址檚 and womenB次元官网网址檚 national teams since they moved to Langford in 2012.
B次元官网网址淎s someone who grew up in (Greater Victoria), IB次元官网网址檓 so proud of the support the community has shown,B次元官网网址� Rees said. B次元官网网址淟angford has truly embraced us, and the international teams really love coming here to play. WeB次元官网网址檙e the only country this year to have won in both menB次元官网网址檚 and womenB次元官网网址檚 tournaments, and the support has been amazing. ThatB次元官网网址檚 why the world is coming here to Langford.B次元官网网址�
The Canadian women currently stand third in the HSBC World Rugby WomenB次元官网网址檚 Seven Series standings, following their recent silver-medal performance in Japan. The Langford tournament is the fifth stop in the six-event series, which features the top 12 teams from around the world.
Megan Lukan, a Barrie, Ont. native who plays fly half for CanadaB次元官网网址檚 team, said the team is primed for the upcoming games.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e excited about how the community has gotten behind us,B次元官网网址� said Lukan, who now lives on Bear Mountain. B次元官网网址淲e canB次元官网网址檛 wait to show people what we have been training for every day. What we did last year was phenomenal and we canB次元官网网址檛 wait for this yearB次元官网网址檚 tournament. Westhills Stadium is an amazing venue and has the best atmosphere anywhere.B次元官网网址�
Canada placed fifth in last yearB次元官网网址檚 tournament, despite only losing one match, 14-12 to France in the quarter-finals, the entire weekend.
Ticket demand is expected to be high considering that recent tournaments played to capacity crowds. Organizers suggest purchasing tickets as soon as possible at canadasevens.com.
reporter@goldstreamgazette.com
