World Rugby Carnival stops in Ottawa for the first time

About 300 players to gather for social and competitive matches, cultural exchange

The indomitable spirit of rugby and a slice of First Nations culture will be on display during the World Vintage Rugby Carnival later this month.

Selected as a Canada 150 event, the carnival comes to this country and region for the first time after previous tournaments in Ireland, South Africa, Argentina, Hawaii, New Zealand and Australia.

Canada’s rugby carnival takes place at Twin Elm Rugby Park in North Gower from Aug. 20-27. Opening ceremonies are Aug. 20 and the first game action takes place Aug. 21 at 11:30 a.m. Admission is free throughout. About 300 veteran rugby players forming 17 15-man teams from several nations are expected to participate. Australia is sending nine teams and there will be four Canadian sides. Two New Zealand teams and one each from the U.S. and the Bahamas round out the competition.

Many of the visitors will be part of a cultural exchange on the grounds of the Kitigan Zibi Reserve of Algonquin Nation on Aug. 24. There, they will watch a birchbark canoe being made and perhaps venture out onto one of the local rivers in a war canoe.

Lee Powell, chairman of the local organizing committee, is hopeful there will be Māori rugby players on the trip who can meet with Algonquin elders at the reserve.

A lunch of traditional Indigenous food is expected to have moose, beaver, muskrat or fish on the menu, depending on availability, plus Bannock bread with local maple syrup.

Visitors will join with Algonquin natives in constructing a teepee, which they will autograph in hand paint and bring to the rugby park at Twin Elm, where it will be on display for the final days of the tournament.

An elder will bless the carnival at the opening ceremonies Aug. 20.

The host club is Ottawa’s Bytown Blues.

There will be a competitive and “social” level of rugby at the carnival and Powell promises “it will demonstrate the long-standing tradition of rugby camaraderie.”

Powell, who has been to six of the previous seven vintage rugby carnivals, has played in and organized rugby events for decades. Last October, he visited Cuba for some friendly competition, where he wound up on an Australian team.

“It’s a lifelong involvement in sport,” Powell said.