How go the careers of the players on display tonight at 7 at Centennial Stadium, so goes the future of Canadian rugby.
The Canadian men鈥檚 Under-20 team, preparing for the 2013 Junior World Cup this spring in Chile, will take on the University of Victoria Vikes in an exhibition game.
鈥淭his is a chance to see future stars,鈥� said Gareth Rees, director of national team programs for Rugby sa国际传媒.
Admission is by donation, with all proceeds going to the U-20 program.
鈥淎ll these athletes have costs and UVic is kindly donating the gate to the junior players,鈥� Rees said.
The U-20 camp opened last weekend at Shawnigan Lake School under senior national team head coach Kieran Crowley of Mill Bay and junior national coach Mike Shelley.
Players from Island clubs in camp include Mike Dalsin, James Pitblado, Nathan Yanagiya, Pat Kay, Haydn Evans, Lucas Hammond, Sawyer Herron and Lukas Balkovec.
鈥淲e started out with 60 players identified, have cut down to 34, and will take 26 to Chile,鈥� Rees said.
sa国际传媒 is in Pool B in the Junior World Cup and opens May 28 against Tonga with the other pool games June 1 against Japan and June 5 versus Uruguay.
The Vikes have contributed Pitblado, Yanagiya, Balkovec, Herron and Evans to the national team U-20 roster. Pitblado and Yanagiya will suit up in their blue and gold UVic club colours tonight to even up the sides, while Balkovec, Herron and Evans will don the national team red, white and black.
UVic is coming into the game after winning the Canadian university sevens championship over the weekend at Westhills Stadium in Langford, and ahead of a sa国际传媒 Premier League fixture Saturday afternoon at Windsor Park in Oak Bay against the Castaway Wanderers.
The Vikes senior national team trio of Phil Mack, Nathan Hirayama and Sean Duke will sit out the game as they rest up for the famed Hong Kong Sevens later this month.
