RUGBY: CW 7s Series schedule released
Three-tournament series returns for third season in January
EDMONTON – Canada West Rugby 7s action returns next month, as the conference announced the schedule for the upcoming CW Women's Rugby 7s Series Friday.
For the third consecutive season, three conference events will be hosted as part of the Series, with the University of Alberta (Jan. 19-20), University of the Fraser Valley (Feb. 2-3), and the University of British Columbia (March 2-3) playing host to eight-team tournaments.
Highlights:
- The Canada West Women's Rugby 7s Series returns in the New Year with three tournaments.
- Alberta is set to host the first event Jan. 19-20 in Edmonton, with subsequent tournaments in Abbotsford (hosted by UFV Feb. 2-3) and Vancouver (hosted by UBC March 2-3).
- Regina and UBC Okanagan will make their CW rugby debuts this season
This season marks the final of a three-year pilot partnership between B2ten, Rugby Canada, and Canada West to bring university rugby 7s competition to Western Canada.
B2ten and Rugby Canada's partnership with Canada West is part of their ongoing commitment to producing the next generation of Olympians by growing the game at Western Canadian universities that share their collective goal of developing high performance rugby programs here in Canada.
Thanks to B2ten and Rugby Canada's support, competing student-athletes will have access to scholarships, as they pursue their athletic careers, including an opportunity to progress to the national team.
The conference's original six rugby 7s programs (Alberta Pandas, UBC Thunderbirds, Calgary Dinos, Fraser Valley Cascades, Lethbridge Pronghorns, Victoria Vikes) will be joined by the Thompson Rivers WolfPack, who competed at two tournaments in 2018, at all three events this season.
Two CW rugby newcomers will enter the fold this season, as the Regina Cougars will make their debut by competing in Edmonton Jan. 19-20, while the Kelowna's UBC Okanagan Heat will take part in both B.C. events (Feb. 2-3 in Abbotsford, and March 2-3 in Vancouver).
The 2019 CW Women's Rugby 7s Series champion will be based on cumulative series points, with the champions officially crowned March 3rd in Vancouver. Last year, the Victoria Vikes claimed the conference banner, topping the series standings with 30 points.
Canada West teams will go on to compete at the Rugby Canada University 7s National Championship in late March in Kingston, Ont.
TOURNAMENT DETAILS
Tournament 1: January 19-20
- VENUE: Foote Field Dome
- LOCATION: Edmonton, Alta.
- HOST: University of Alberta Pandas
- COMPETING TEAMS (8): Alberta Pandas, UBC Thunderbirds, Calgary Dinos, Fraser Valley Cascades, Lethbridge Pronghorns, Regina Cougars, Thompson Rivers WolfPack, Victoria Vikes
Tournament 2: February 2-3
- VENUE: MRC Sports Complex
- LOCATION: Abbotsford, B.C.
- HOST: University of the Fraser Valley Cascades
- COMPETING TEAMS (8): Alberta Pandas, UBC Thunderbirds, UBC Okanagan Heat, Calgary Dinos, Fraser Valley Cascades, Lethbridge Pronghorns, Thompson Rivers WolfPack, Victoria Vikes
Tournament 3: March 2-3
- VENUE: Thunderbird Park
- LOCATION: Vancouver, B.C.
- HOST: University of British Columbia Thunderbirds
- COMPETING TEAMS (8): Alberta Pandas, UBC Thunderbirds, UBC Okanagan Heat, Calgary Dinos, Fraser Valley Cascades, Lethbridge Pronghorns, Thompson Rivers WolfPack, Victoria Vikes
NOTE: Specific tournament draws will be released early the week of each event.