Rugby Sevens is the new 鈥渋t鈥� sport and comes complete with a pounding Mardi Gras-like festive beat.
It will be on full display today and Saturday from 9聽a.m. to 9 p.m. as the Rugby sa国际传媒 national invitational university sevens championships take over Westhills Stadium and Goudy Field in Langford with 15 men鈥檚 and 10 women鈥檚 teams.
The tournament takes place just after Own the Podium announced major funding increases for the Canadians sevens program to prepare for its Olympic introduction at Rio 2016.
The University of Western Ontario Mustangs 鈥� led last year to victory by revelation player and now Canadian national-team regular Conor Trainor 鈥� comes in as the defending men鈥檚 university champion.
Also a big find last year was Tyler Ardron of McMaster, another emerging Canadian national team star for the future.
鈥淭he university tournament is turning into a really good tool for both the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 programs,鈥� noted Gareth Rees, manager of national team programs.
The University of Victoria Vikes men鈥檚 team is highly regarded and opens today against Humber College at 10:28 a.m. and follows with games against the McMaster Marauders at 12:18 p.m., Alberta Golden Bears at 1:51 p.m. and Regina Cougars at 7:09 p.m.
The Vikes are missing their three starry Canadian national team players 鈥� Phil Mack, Nathan Hirayama and Sean Duke 鈥� to injury. That leaves plenty of room for bright young Vikes such as Pat Kay, Fergus Hall, Beau Parker, James Pitblado, Kane Wyatt and Doug Fraser.
Guelph is the defending women鈥檚 trophy holder in the university sevens tournament. The Gryphons will be pushed by the UVic women, who open today against UBC-Okanagan at 9:22 a.m., Alberta at 10:50 a.m., McMaster at 4:30 p.m. and Guelph at 8:15 p.m.
The cross-over, playoff and medal games take place Saturday.
A day pass is $10 and tournament pass $15.
