Brazil coming to town for rugby Test match next month
The national men’s rugby team is hoping for a resounding reception on its home field when it meets Brazil in a Test match announced for Feb. 17 at Westhills Stadium in Langford.
Canadian fans will know by then whether Canada has qualified for the 2019 World Cup in Japan through the two-game, total-point Americas qualifier against Uruguay on Jan. 27 at B.C. Place and Feb. 3 in Montevideo.
You don’t even have to ask how sweet that moment would be for the Canuck players. Rugby Canada has priced tickets at $10 because they want as many fans as possible at Westhills for what it hopes will be a triumphant homecoming from Montevideo.
The Brazil Test is part of the separate Americas Rugby Championship and not related to World Cup qualifying. But first things first. The back-door Americas World Cup qualifier, the first time Canada has had to go through it after losing to the U.S. last summer in the direct North American qualifier, is being described as the most important event in a generation for Canadian rugby.
“Right now, I know Uruguay and I know Uruguay only,” said Canadian backfield star Phil Mack of Victoria, emphasizing the importance of the two-game qualifying set.
The 25 non-pro Canadian players based at Westhills break camp today and head for England for a week-long training camp.
Why not Florida or Southern California? Why trade soggy Vancouver Island winter weather for similar weather in England?
It’s because it allows the players based in Langford to practise with the 10 Canadians players who are playing in Europe and who have been released by their pro clubs for the World Cup qualifier.
“Those are huge extra hours we will have together as a full team and you can’t replace those,” Mack said. “It’s super important.” The expense of that camp shows the emphasis Rugby Canada has placed on beating Uruguay and advancing to the 2019 World Cup.
Included are scrimmage sessions against the Oxford Blues and English pro club Harlequins.
“Just being together as a whole national team to prepare is key,” said Canadian forward and former Castaway Wanderers stalwart Ray Barkwill.
“We’re used to the English weather because it’s much like Victoria, and we’re also used to playing in it during the annual November Test window.”
Canadian coach Kingsley Jones put his locally based players through their final paces Thursday at Westhills Stadium before departing today for England.
“It is critical to get our pros involved and integrated and playing as one,” Jones said.
All 35 Canadian players will return from England to the Island for a few days before heading to Vancouver.
“I’ve told the boys it’s down to four quarters: two at B.C. Place and two in Montevideo,” Jones said.
“We want to be in a dominant position after our home game as we head down to South America the following week.”
And then followed by what he hopes will be a rapturous welcome back to Westhills on Feb. 17 as a World Cup-qualified team.
“That will be a great event on our home ground here,” Jones said.
Tickets go on sale Monday on the Rugby Canada website.