Ontario Blues v Embra A
Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2014 6:51 pmBLUES TO FACE EDINBURGH RUGBY
Friday, October 10, 2014 - Submitted by Brock Smith - Rugby Ontario Communications
(TORONTO, ON) – Fresh off their fourth straight Canadian Rugby Championship title, the Ontario Blues are putting their celebrations on hold, announcing that their 2014 season has been extended to the end of October, with the team set to travel to Scotland to take on Pro12 club Edinburgh Rugby.
Ontario’s senior men’s provincial rugby team has accepted an invitation to face Edinburgh’s ‘A’ side - a side that will feature a mix of senior club players and elite developmental players – on Oct. 27 in the Scottish capital.
The late October fixture will mark the first occasion where a Canadian Rugby Championship team will face a professional opponent, a milestone that gives Blues players and staff a great source of pride.
“We couldn’t be more excited for this challenge,” said Blues manager Mark Winokur. “To be the first CRC team invited to take on a pro side is not only great honour, but also a great indication of how the Blues program has grown to become Canada’s flagship provincial men’s rugby program.”
“To be able to give our players a chance to play in a professional environment, and be seen by professional scouts, is unlike any opportunity we’ve had before,” added Winokur. “Coming off our fourth straight MacTier Cup, our players are champing at the bit to showcase Ontario’s brand of rugby on the international stage.”
Edinburgh’s ‘A’ side is well-primed for their meeting with the Blues, having already faced Glasgow Warriors ‘A’ and Sale Jets sides this season, and are looking forward to testing themselves against the reigning Canadian champions.
“The benefit of matches like these, especially for the Academy boys, is it’s the step up from the club game where they have been playing – which has been brilliant for them – to play with and against professional rugby players,” said Bryan Easson, BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy coach for Edinburgh. “It shows them the pace and the intensity of what’s required at professional level. You can only tell them at training days but now that they’re experiencing it, it’s moving them on a little bit quicker. It’s a huge benefit."
Match kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. GMT (1:30 p.m. EDT) at Meggetland Sports Complex in Edinburgh, the home ground of Scottish Premiership side Boroughmuir RFC.
The Blues will spend three days in Scotland (Oct. 25-28), and on top of their exhibition match against Edinburgh, the team will also train at Murrayfield, the home of the Scottish Rugby Union and the primary venue for Scotland’s home test matches.
The announcement of the Blues’ Scotland tour comes shortly after Canadian national team head coaches selected fifteen members of the 2014 MacTier Cup-winning Ontario Blues – 13 players and two staff from Ontario’s senior men’s provincial rugby program – to squads set to compete in international rugby events this month.
Eight Blues players and two staff members have been named to the Canadian national side set to compete in the IRB Americas Rugby Championship throughout October, while five have been selected to Canada’s national men’s sevens side competing in the IRB World Seven Series’ Gold Coast Sevens on Oct. 11-12.
Throughout their past four MacTier Cup-winning seasons, the Ontario Blues have a successful record of 18 wins and 3 losses in Canadian Rugby Championship play. The provincial side is also 19-1 in their past 20 matches in all competitions, which includes exhibition matches against top-tier American club sides.
Blues head coach Chris Silverthorn will name his travelling squad to face Edinburgh after the commencement of the Americas Rugby Championship on Oct. 19.