The Rugby Canada University Sevens championship tournament will be held this weekend ( Mar 22-24 ) at Royal Military College in Kingston.
Twenty-eight of the best teams from across the country will compete in the three-day event, with men competing Friday and Saturday, followed by women on Saturday and Sunday.
“Some of the best athletes in the country will be here,” said RMC’s head coach Sean McDonaugh.
The 48-year old Montreal native has been in charge of the men’s program since 2006. What he looks forward to showcasing, he says, is what his team and the college has to offer this weekend.
“We believe we deserve to be here,” said McDonaugh.
“We have depth, speed and ferocity. We’ll surprise a few teams with our play. This dome is a great facility, allowing us to work on our fitness and basic skills. Our conditioning should definitely help in the late stages of a game.”
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One of the players to watch this weekend is RMC’s Josh Andrews, who represented Canada last year at the World Under-18 championships in New Zealand.
“This tournament will be a great experience for our team and the college,” said Andrews, a Kingston native.
The graduate of Regiopolis-Notre Dame looks forward to playing for a U-Sport title.
“If we stick to our systems, we should be able to contend for a medal,” Andrews continued.
“Like our coach said, we’ve got depth, speed and a will to win. We train extremely hard and plan to surprise some teams this weekend. Hosting this event is a big deal for the Paladins and RMC. It’s a chance to showcase what the school has to offer to other athletes from around the country.”
The Paladins open up on Friday night with three games against the Waterloo Warriors, Quebec Selects and the Saskatchewan Huskies.
The team’s first game is scheduled for 5:30.