Over the last two years, rugby has become a hot ticket in the Lower Mainland.
On Nov. 3, the lower bowl at B.C. Place is expected to be sold out as the stadium hosts its second-ever Rugby Fifteens match 鈥� this time between Team Canada and the legendary Maori All Blacks.
The event is the latest in a series that began in March of 2016, when the inaugural HSBC Canada Sevens set a Canadian attendance record for a rugby event by drawing more than 60,000 fans over two days. That number was eclipsed when nearly 40,000 fans per day came through the door at B.C. Place for the 2017 Sevens series 鈥� an increase of 26 percent.
In June of 2016, Rugby Canada presented its first fifteen-a-side event at B.C. Place, with a crowd of about 10,000 on hand to see the Canadians take on Japan. This weekend, that number should double 鈥� and set a record of its own.
With a sold-out (lower bowl) crowd expected next Friday at , will be the biggest fifteens crowd ever in Canada!
鈥� Rugby Canada (@RugbyCanada)
The Maori All Blacks are one of rugby鈥檚 most legendary squads. The club traces its roots back to the New Zealand Natives of the late 1880s. The New Zealand Maori club was given official team status in 1910 and was renamed the Maori All Blacks in 2012.
One of the most distinctive parts of the team鈥檚 culture is the haka, a traditional war cry and dance that has become an iconic ritual before the beginning of All Blacks matches.
Canadian rugby legend and World Rugby Hall of Famer Gareth Rees of Duncan, B.C. is launching Friday鈥檚 festivities as host of Rugby Canada鈥檚 Long Lunch at the downtown 麻豆传媒映画Shark Club. Former New Zealand All Blacks captain Wayne 鈥楤uck鈥� Shelford will take the microphone as the event鈥檚 guest speaker.
Preparations for both sides have been underway all week.听
Blue skies & crisp air. Beautiful autumn day for training here in as we prepare for on Friday at ! 鈽赌锔�
鈥� Rugby Canada (@RugbyCanada)
The Canadians have been working out under the leadership of newly appointed captain Philip Mack, while the Maori have made time to take in the local sights, including Monday鈥檚 麻豆传媒映画Canucks game against the Dallas Stars.
Loud and proud! We you !
鈥� 麻豆传媒映画Canucks (@Canucks)
All time, Canada is 0-5 against the New Zealand Maori/Maori All Blacks when playing full international sides. Friday鈥檚 match will come on the fourth anniversary of the squads鈥� last meeting, a 40-15 win for the Maori at BMO Field in Toronto.
Currently ranked 24th听in the world, the Canadian national team is in the midst of a re-tool. After a failed attempt at qualifying for the 2019 World Cup against the 17th听ranked United States last August, coach Mark Anscombe was replaced by former Wales captain Kingsley Jones in September. Friday鈥檚 match will mark Jones鈥� debut with his new team before Canada heads out on tour to play Georgia, Spain and Fiji.
In the new year, B.C. Place will also play host to the crucial first match of Canada鈥檚 next World Cup qualifier on Jan. 27, part of a two-leg playoff against Uruguay that will conclude in South America on Feb. 3.
The Rugby World Sevens Series returns for a third year on March 10-11, 2018.
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WOMEN鈥橲 SOCCER RETURNS TO B.C. PLACE
On Nov. 9, the Canadian and U.S. Women鈥檚 National Soccer Teams return to B.C. Place to reprise 2015鈥檚 wildly successful FIFA Women鈥檚 World Cup tournament.
More than 22,500 tickets have already been sold for the match, which should surpass the attendance of 22,508 that set a record for a women鈥檚 national team friendly in 麻豆传媒映画when Canada defeated Mexico 3-2 last February on the strength of a two-goal performance by Janine Beckie.
The Canadian and U.S. teams did not end up going head-to-head at B.C. Place in 2015 鈥� Team Canada bowed out at the quarter-final stage after a 2-1 loss to England while the United States went on to capture the gold medal.
After becoming the first-ever Canadian women鈥檚 soccer team to win back-to-back Olympic medals with bronzes in London in 2012 and Rio in 2016, the Canadian team currently sits fifth in the FIFA world rankings. Once again, the squad will be led by 34-year-old captain Christine Sinclair of Burnaby, who was named to the Order of Canada last June and whose 168 international goals rank her second all-time behind retired U.S. legend Abby Wambach.
The U.S. team continues to hold the top spot in the FIFA world rankings. Friday's roster will feature stars like Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and 2015 Women鈥檚 World Cup MVP Carli Lloyd.
Scary good.
鈥� U.S. Sccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt)
Roster details 禄 |
Sinclair鈥檚 now-retired Canadian teammates Brittany Timko Baxter, Chelsea Stewart and Kelly Parker from the 2012 London Olympic squad will be honoured at halftime on Nov. 9.
The match is part of a two-game series against the U.S. team that will conclude in San Jose, CA on Nov. 12.
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UPCOMING EVENTS AT B.C. PLACE
Men鈥檚 International Rugby:
Friday, Nov. 3, 7 p.m. - Canadian Men鈥檚 Fifteens vs. Maori All Blacks
Women鈥檚 International Soccer:
Thursday, Nov. 9, 7 p.m. 鈥� Canadian Women鈥檚 National Team vs. USA
鈥� Follow Carol Schram on Twitter听.
