While having a game of this calibre is a bonus for Port Alberni, the game isn’t just a friendly: a full Vancouver Island team will be selected from this match to play against a Mainland team for the McKechnie Cup on May 26.

Past players from this match have won national rugby titles, and both Nakai Penny and Camp Polson play professionally with the Seattle Seawolves, an affiliate of Major League Rugby with home games played at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila, WA.

A8RlWAtjKTĭukelow teaches math at Shawnigan Lake School now. Players in this competition play informally for “Duke’s Boot”-named for Gary Dukelow, who played for the Cowichan Piggies, University of Victoria and was a member of the Canadian Senior Men’s National Rugby team.Ī highlight of his international career, according to the UVic Vikes’ Sports Hall of Fame website, was helping Canada advance to the 1991 World Cup quarterfinals.įorwards coach Gary Dukelow, Captain Kelly Russell & after tonight's Captain's Run in #Paris. Purewal is hoping four or five Black Sheep players will make the Tsunami’s roster for Saturday’s match. Last year’s rosters included several national level players as well as a pair of professional athletes. This is the third year for this game: in 2016, the Tsunami edged the Tide 41–38, and in 2017 the Tide won decisively with a 46–19 victory over the Tsunami. “There’s lots of great youth programs coming out of the North Island.” Players who can compete in the Victoria area get more exposure, Purewal said. There are high-calibre players who live north of the Malahat but are unable to play on South Island teams due to work, school or family commitments. “We have a great venue.”įour years ago discussions among some of the Vancouver Island Rugby Union (VIRU) teams started on how to grow rugby in the North Island. “It’s the highest calibre game we’ve hosted at the senior men’s level,” Port Alberni Black Sheep head coach Jas Purewal said.

The BC Rugby Union finals may have concluded without the Port Alberni Black Sheep’s presence this year, but some high-end rugby is still coming to the Port Alberni pitch this Saturday, May 12 as the Tsunami face the Tide in the annual Duke’s Boot match.

When does high calibre come out