Saturday is one of rugby madness for the University of Victoria Vikes.
The schoolB次元官网网址檚 menB次元官网网址檚 and womenB次元官网网址檚 rugby programs will field a total of six different teams.
Canadian Sevens player of the year Sean Duke will lead the VikesB次元官网网址� menB次元官网网址檚 sevens team into the second annual National University Rugby Sevens Championship in Langford, Friday (March 2) and Saturday.
Meanwhile back at UVic on Saturday, the Vikes host their regular fixtures in the B.C. Rugby UnionB次元官网网址檚 CDI Premier League against Oak BayB次元官网网址檚 Castaway Wanderers, Div. 1 at 1 p.m. and premier at 2:45 p.m. at Wallace Field.
The Vikes B次元官网网址�10 best players (suited to the sevens game)B次元官网网址� will try to defend the schoolB次元官网网址檚 University 7s championship from 2011. The sevens tourney is one of the first of many national-level rugby events that will take place in Langford thanks to Rugby CanadaB次元官网网址檚 home there.
The Vikes womenB次元官网网址檚 program is just as busy, if not busier, as itB次元官网网址檚 entering two sevens teams into the tourney and is also hosting United (Coquitlam) at Wallace Field in the WomenB次元官网网址檚 Adidas Premiership, 11:30 a.m. on Saturday.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l probably bring two sevens players from Langford on Saturday back to Wallace Field (UVic) to play against Castaway Wanderers, possibly Mike Fuailefau, to play against his home club, and someone to do the kicking, maybe (fly half) Patrick Kay,B次元官网网址� Vikes menB次元官网网址檚 coach Doug Tate said.
For the first time in years the Vikes are on the outside of the CDI Premier League playoffs, without much chance of getting in.
As well, the way it looks now the premier league is leaning towards a new format for the 2012-13 season. The current eight-team setup will carry on, starting right from September, with a relegation and promotion system swapping out the last place team or bottom two teams.
B次元官网网址淐ertainly if it goes that way, we want to stay in the premier league,B次元官网网址� Tate said. B次元官网网址淲e can use some wins. WeB次元官网网址檝e lost three on the last play of the game. We could be 4-3 (instead of 1-6). But weB次元官网网址檙e a young team, especially up front.B次元官网网址�
After four glorious seasons (including a provincial championship) as the home club for two-thirds of the Canadian national teamB次元官网网址檚 starting front row, Pat Riordan and Andrew Tiedemann, as well as Toby Peyton, all three have graduated the Vikes.
ItB次元官网网址檚 an irreplaceable trio that, for a club team, was among the better front rows in the world. Not too mention around 700 pounds of high-performance rugby.
B次元官网网址淭his weekend is an opportunity for (our 15s) guys who havenB次元官网网址檛 had a shot at the premier yet. WeB次元官网网址檝e had lots of guys knocking on the door and now they are finally getting that chance.
B次元官网网址淭he guys will be well motivated.B次元官网网址�
As for the Sevens, this year the tournament has added the womenB次元官网网址檚 bracket, with the University of British Columbia, the University of Guelph and UBC-Okanagan jumping in against the two Vikes teams.
Play begins at 10 a.m. Friday at Bear Mountain Stadium, part of the brand new Canadian Rugby Centre of Excellence. The tourneyB次元官网网址檚 medal rounds go Saturday afternoon, with the shield, bowl, plate and cup finals running from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
Saturday Kickoffs
CDI Premier League men: Vikes vs. Castaway Wanderers, 1 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. Wallace Field.
CDI Premier League men: James Bay Athletic Association vs. Capilano, 1 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. MacDonald Park.
WomenB次元官网网址檚 Adidas Premiership: Vikes vs. CoquitlamB次元官网网址檚 United, 11:30 a.m. Wallace Field.
sports@goldstreamgazette.com
