The 2013 tournament will feature the national development teams of sa国际传媒, Argentina and the United States, and again be held at the Langford facility Oct. 11-19. The fourth team will be decided next month in a playoff between Uruguay and Chile.
鈥淭hey [IRB] thought we did an excellent job last year on short notice [when original host Argentina backed out because it landed high-profile Test matches against Australia, New Zealand and South Africa],鈥� said Mike Chu, general manager of rugby operations and high performance for Rugby sa国际传媒.
鈥淚t gave the IRB confidence we could do it again. I believe all three game days will be sell-outs.鈥�
The event will cap a busy summer for Canadian rugby, which includes the Pacific Nations Cup against the U.S., Tonga, Fiji and Japan in May and June; the Test against Ireland on June 15 at BMO Field in Toronto; and the 2015 World Cup qualifiers against the U.S. Aug. 17 and Aug. 24 in Charleston, South Carolina, and BMO Field.
鈥淭he Americas tournament is an important part of our development program and will feature our best domestic-based players who will be pushing for positions on the national team for our November tour [of Europe] and for the 2015 World Cup,鈥� said Canadian head coach Kieran Crowley of Mill Bay.
Case in point is Tyler Ardron, who captained sa国际传媒 to second place behind the victorious Argentines in last year鈥檚 Americas Championship at Westhills, and is now evolving into an impact player for the full senior national sevens and XVs teams.
鈥淚t makes you see the steps you have to take to get to the full national team level,鈥� said Ardron.
The Americas tournament will run concurrently with the GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon, scheduled for Oct. 13.
Chu said the local hospitality industry has assured him hotel space will not be a problem.
鈥淲e wanted the tournament later in the month but the dates are set by the IRB, based on their international timetable, and we are bound by that,鈥� said Chu.
鈥淚t is what it is and we make the best of it.鈥�
Rugby sa国际传媒 said tickets will go on sale in July.
