Soon It Will Be Here

The BC Summer Rugby Sevens is soon to be upon us!!!
The Vancouver Rowing Club Invitational Sevens kicks off the BC Summer Sevens series this Saturday, June 20th at Brocton Oval in Stanley Park.
There field is not as big as one would expect, but it will not dampen the spirit of those who have committed to participate in it.
There are six teams to kick off this season and have been split into two pools of three:
Pool RED - Pacific Islanders, Scribes, Youngbucks
Pool WHITE - Burnaby Lake Lighthouse, Wizards, Lionheart Selects
At the Burnaby Lake practice this week, a new word was added to their cheer, as they psyche themselves for the tourney: KAUKAUWA!!
In English, it means POWER or one's strength!!
It started as a joke by their Ontario import and Club President, Jeff McKay, after he had asked one of his Fijian teammates what the Fijian word for 'power'is.
Practice had been good leading up to their first tournament this year and they hope to do well - and maybe even win it. They were presented with their Tee Shirts after practice Thursday. Saturday cannot come soon enough.
Pacific Islanders, I hear, are also preparing well and are looking forward to Saturday as well. Lionheart Selects will be missing the services of one of their wingers this weekend after deciding to play in a sevens tournament in the middle of the night. It may have even been played in the dark and on astroturf, which added to the risk. Poor Furlong, he'll have to watch from the sideline.
Scribes, I hear have some good talent and experience on their side, so we will have to keep an eye on them.
Other than that it's a couple more sleeps.
KAUKAUWA!!

Fijian Rugby in Canada

The Rugby loving Fijian Community in British columbia was treated to a Fijian flair of Sevens on the weekend, with two Fijian dominated Clubs playing a 'tune-up' game as they prepared for the upcoming Summer Sevens tournaments.

The two teams - Bayside Islanders and Burnaby Lake Lighthouse are made up mostly of Fijians living in the Lower Mainland, sprinkled with a touch of homegrown players who like to play Sevens Rugby.

The game was delayed by about 45 minutes as the Bayside Islanders, in true and typical 'Fiji Time' fashion, arrived at 11.45am instead of 11.00am.
It was agreed that we play 'wrap tackle' instead of the full contact, but as soon as the game started, that went out the window as adrenaline flowed freely and it was a typical full on Fijian sevens game. It was not long before the Burnaby boys, laced with speedy gonzales and an Ausie we call Gregan, touched down.......and the floodgates opened up. There were too many tires to count in the two games played and it was a very entertaining game for the die-hard fans who showed up to cheer on their team. Burnaby Lighthouse won with a cricket score!!!
The Burnaby boys and their Fijian teammates gelled well and were able to quickly find the gaps in the Bayside defence, which allowed them instant access to the tryline, which they crossed repeatedly.
Both teams now look forward to the Rowers Sevens on June 20th. They will both need to tighten up the loose ends and hope to put on a good show at the Rowers.