The big year continues for Lockie Kratz.
In the past six months Kratz has graduated from Oak Bay High Barbarians, played for Rugby Canada at the World Rugby Under 20 Trophy in Romania, started as the UVic Vikes outside centre (No. 13) as a first-year and is now set to face the Ontario university champion QueenB次元官网网址檚 Gaels as the Vikes host the Canadian MenB次元官网网址檚 University Rugby Championships, Nov. 21 to 24.
The tourney starts Wednesday with the defending 2017 national champion UBC Thunderbirds facing Concordia at noon and the Gaels facing University of New Brunswick Ironmen.
鈦︹仼 menB次元官网网址檚 rugby backs in a joint training session with 鈦︹仼 sevens team ahead of the 鈦︹仼 menB次元官网网址檚 nationals at UVic Wed to Sat.
B次元官网网址� Saanich B次元官网网址 (@saanichnews)
B次元官网网址淨ueenB次元官网网址檚 are going to be a good first test,B次元官网网址� Kratz said, noting theyB次元官网网址檙e now the back-to-back Ontario division champions.
In one of their final training sessions ahead of nationals the VikesB次元官网网址� backs and forwards split, with the backs training in a sevens format against Rugby CanadaB次元官网网址檚 menB次元官网网址檚 sevens team. The visit was prompted by Rugby Canada, as theyB次元官网网址檙e flying to Dubai for next weekB次元官网网址檚 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series on Saturday. That meant Kratz was running against CanadaB次元官网网址檚 veterans on the international scene, former Philadelphia Eagles tight end Adam Zaruba, and veteran Nathan Hirayama, among others.
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B次元官网网址淲ith [Rugby Canada] itB次元官网网址檚 fast, itB次元官网网址檚 tiring, you switch on for training,B次元官网网址� Kratz said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 physically demanding but [rugby is] what I want to do.B次元官网网址�
Kratz is one of two Oak Bay grads whoB次元官网网址檒l likely start against QueenB次元官网网址檚 on Thursday and then against UNB on Friday. Scrum half , a 2013 Barbarian grad, is in his fourth year and will be relied on heavily to lead a fast-paced Vikes attack.
B次元官网网址淭he goal is definitely to make it back into the final,B次元官网网址� said Stewart, whoB次元官网网址檚 also played for James Bay and the Canada Maple Leafs sevens development team.
The Vikes will need to win both matches to advance to the gold medal game which is 1 p.m. on Sunday.
(Inset: 2017 national final UVic vs. UBC in Guelph, Ont.)
Last year the Vikes did advance to the final but lost to the UBC Thunderbirds during a snowy final in Guelph, Ont. This time around, they hope to change that.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the only time we get to play against the eastern schools, so itB次元官网网址檚 pretty fun,B次元官网网址� Stewart said. B次元官网网址淲e want to win.B次元官网网址�
ItB次元官网网址檚 also not lost on the student athletes that theyB次元官网网址檙e able to study from home this week and arenB次元官网网址檛 living out of a hotel, missing classes.
B次元官网网址淩ight before final exams, and I had mid terms last week, but schoolB次元官网网址檚 kind of on the wind down,B次元官网网址� Kratz said.
B次元官网网址淚 still have lab reports and assignments due,B次元官网网址� said Stewart, whoB次元官网网址檚 hoping to finish his bachelor in chemistry in 2019.
The Vikes menB次元官网网址檚 rugby team have a 3-4 record in the BC Premier League. TheyB次元官网网址檙e coming off a win in dramatic fashion this past weekend against Westshore. Victoria was down 22-5 at half time but came back to win by scoring five tries in the second half for a 32-29 victory.
U Sports 2018 MenB次元官网网址檚 Rugby Nationals schedule at UVic
Wednesday, Nov. 21
12 p.m. UBC vs. Concordia @ Wallace Field
2 p.m. QueenB次元官网网址檚 vs. UNB @ Wallace Field
Thursday, Nov. 22
12 p.m. UBC vs. Guelph @ Wallace Field
2 p.m. QueenB次元官网网址檚 vs. Victoria @ Wallace Field
Friday, Nov. 23
4 p.m. Guelph vs. Concordia @ Centennial Stadium
6 p.m. Victoria vs. UNB @ Centennial Stadium
Saturday, Nov. 24
2 p.m. 5th Place Final @ Wallace Field
Sunday, Nov. 25
11 a.m. Bronze Medal Game @ Centennial Stadium
1 p.m. Gold Medal Game @ Centennial Stadium
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