VICTORIA - All four regional squads competing in the Canadian Rugby Championship will feature UVic Vikes as the B.C. Bears, Prairie WolfPack, Ontario Blues and Atlantic Rock battle for the 2010 national title.
The domestic competition runs through August and September and will act as a selection tool for the Americas Rugby Championship. The Americas portion will be hosted in Argentina through the month of October and will feature select squads from the home nation, the USA and Canada.
"It's great that some of our top players are being recognized in programs that are used as pathways to the national team," UVic Vikes men's rugby head coach Doug Tate said. "They've been playing all summer and this final stage before the Vikes are back in action is obviously great for preseason preparations for our fall competition."
Reigning national champs B.C. Bears will be captained by Vikes alumnus and Canadian national team Captain
Pat Riordan. The Burnaby native will have a number of familiar faces alongside him with no fewer than seven Vikes named to the Bears protected list.
Senior national players and reigning Rounsfell Cup champs
Sean Duke,
Ryan Hamilton and
Nathan Hirayama have been named to the B.C. squad for the second straight year. Canadian under-20 national players
Casey Cavers,
Liam Murray and
Keaton Styles who played in the Junior World Rugby Trophy in Russia were also named to the roster. Vernon, BC native and member of the 2010 Junior National Championship winning squad
Cam Pierce rounds out the Vikes contingent in the lineup.
The Prairie WolfPack's front row will benefit from Vikes veterans
Emil Christensen and
Andrew Tiedemann. Helping Canada's senior men's team to the Churchill Cup Final this past June, Tiedemann has quickly ascended the ranks as one of the nation's top props.
Former Canada Under-20 players
Jamie MacKenzie and
Brett Beukeboom will suit up for the Ontario Blues, a squad that edged the USA Selects in the 2009 Americas Rugby Championship third place playoff.
Further East,
Toni Wodzicki and
Phil Mack will be padding their air miles accounts as they suit up for the Atlantic Rock who are fresh off a two-game pre-season tour of South Wales.
The Canadian Rugby Championship kicks off on Saturday, August 7th with the Rock hosting the Ontario Blues at Swilers Rugby Complex. The B.C. Bears kick off their title defence on August 14th against the Prairie Wolf Pack at Calgary Rugby Park.
For current standings, schedules and updates visit the championship's
website.