Maybe Ben Gollings will play. Maybe Phil Mack will play.
A potential showdown between two of the world’s top rugby sevens players is brewing for the Victoria International Sevens rugby tournament at UVic’s Wallace Field on Saturday (Sept. 7).
Whether or not Gollings, England’s sevens rugby superstar, graces the pitch on Saturday, he will be available to local youths for Friday afternoon’s Serevi rugby camp, from 4 to 7 p.m. Gollings is one of the most decorated try scorers from rugby union’s sevens game.
Mack, meanwhile, was made unavailable to the B.C. Bears last week because his heavy playing schedule this summer with the 15s and 7s.
Canada is, however, entering two senior men’s squads, a more veteran roster coached by James Bay’s Morgan Williams, and a younger team led by former Canadian sevens star Shane Thompson.
There will also be more than 20 UVic Vikes, current and former, playing in the tournament, either on the Canadian teams or the University Selects team.
“This is a tournament that is great for players 18, 19 and 20 years old who aren’t ready to play internationally but need that experience,” said tournament director Doug Tate, coach of the UVic Vikes men’s rugby team.
The tourney starts at 10 a.m. and runs all day with two exhibition matches, a women’s game at 2 p.m. and an under-16 boys match at 4 p.m. All round robin games are 10 minutes with 10 minute shield, bowl, plate and cup finals starting at 4:20 p.m. (approximately).
Beer garden and food available on site.
