A talented trio of local rugby players are preparing to compete in the national championships.
Dana Beirnes, Molly Florian and Lizzie Adams are on the B.C. Women’s U18 rugby team. After playing on the Island Tsunami team at the provincial regionals on July 8-10 where they placed an impressive second, the three were among eight Tsunami players invited to try out for the provincial team.
They attended an extensive tryout during the week of July 11-15 and were contacted shortly afterward to say they had made the B.C. team. They arrived in Vancouver on Aug. 1 for five days of practice and then will be off to Sherbrooke, Que. for the Aug. 6-12 Rugby Canada National Championship Festival.
Beirnes and Florian graduated from G.P Vanier this year and Adams is from Shawnigan but lives with her family in the Valley.
The National Championship Festival is an annual showcase of athletes from the U16 Men’s, U18 Men’s and U18 Women’s categories in Canada, with more than 650 athletes competing.
The teams go head-to-head over the week-long event until one team is crowned the national champion for their division. National Age Grade Selectors from Rugby Canada utilize the National Championship Festival as a platform for identifying the country’s most talented up and coming athletes.
Fans can follow the B.C. team at the nationals by logging on to rugbycanada.ca.
