Acadia University to host national and international youth rugby matches

Rugby Canada 09/04/2018

Rugby 15s U20 Women

Wolfville, Nova Scotia (April 4, 2018) – Sports & Entertainment Atlantic (S|E|A), in partnership with Destination Acadia, Rugby Canada, Rugby Nova Scotia, and the Province of Nova Scotia, today announced that Acadia University will host two major youth rugby events during the summer of 2018.

The Canadian National Women’s U20 team will use Acadia as their training base for 10 days this August as they play a three match International series against the English Women’s National U20 team. These matches will be played on August 10th, August 14th and August 18th.

In association with this event, Acadia University and Rugby Nova Scotia will also host the Eastern Canadian Rugby Championships from August 12-19 which will see over 35 teams from Ontario, Quebec, PEI, NFLD and Nova Scotia compete in the male and female U18 and U16 divisions. During the seven days of competition, over 1,000 players and visitors are expected to swell Wolfville’s seasonal tourist numbers.

Leo Glavine, Nova Scotia Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage

“I am looking forward to watching the growth of our national women’s under 20 team against some of the best international competition. Acadia will be the perfect host for both the international series and the Eastern Canada Rugby Championship. We are working with our partners we continue to support Nova Scotia’s strong and robust culture and sports sectors that provide social and economic benefits to our communities.”

Meaghan Howat, Rugby Canada Director of Rugby Sevens and Women’s Rugby

"We're delighted to be bringing international rugby to Halifax as part of our Under-20 Women's Series against England this summer.

"These fixtures are important for Canada's Women's Rugby Program to assess and develop the next generation of athletes as we continue building towards the next Women's Rugby World Cup in 2021 and we welcome the challenge that England will bring in this three-match series."

Kevin Dickie, Executive Director of Destination Acadia

“Acadia, the beautiful Town of Wolfville, and spectacular Kings County, together are ideal hosts for national sporting events. We’re excited to be hosting the youth rugby events this summer, followed by the U Sports National Women’s Rugby Championship tournament this fall. Destination Acadia is fortunate to have a tremendous and continued partnership with Sport Entertainment Atlantic, national sport organizations like Rugby Canada, and the support of wonderful people like our Honorary Chairs, Arthur and Sandra Irving.

“We know that Acadia Athletics are the big game in town and over the next few months we will have a couple of unique opportunities to s‎how off our wonderful campus and community to visitors from across the country. Our mission is for everyone associated to have an incredible experience that creates lifelong memories,” said Dickie.

Derek Martin, President of Sports & Entertainment Atlantic:

“As part of a long term strategy to attract international and national events to our region, S|E|A has worked with our partners at Destination Acadia and Rugby Nova Scotia to bring both to Wolfville this summer! Rugby is a global sport that reaches millions of fans all over the world and we are very pleased to help our partners at Destination Acadia showcase what makes Wolfville such an attractive sports tourism destination for both International and National events”

Geno Carew, President of Rugby Nova Scotia

“Rugby Nova Scotia is delighted to play a role in bringing these two events to Wolfville. The International Series will showcase future national team stars and aligning those matches with the Eastern Canadian Championship, will give our younger athletes a live look at rugby at the international level.”

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ABOUT DESTINATION ACADIA

Destination Acadia is the gateway to campus for organizations, groups, and individuals who want to experience the beautiful campus facilities and surroundings of Wolfville’s Acadia University. Destination Acadia’s staff are ready to help you arrange your meeting or event on campus and to help you choose where you’d like to stay on campus and how you’d like to enjoy your meals prepared by our award winning food service partner. Ideally suited for competitive sporting events, Acadia can house groups of 1,000 or more, or individuals who just want to stay overnight in modest, low-cost accommodations. Destination Acadia places you in the heart of Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley and opens up a world of possibilities.

ABOUT SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT ATLANTIC

Sports & Entertainment Atlantic imagines and produces memorable experiences that connect and inspire our community through sport. S|E|A has produced a number of large-scale, public event experiences such as FIVB World Beach Volleyball Championship, FIBA World Cup Qualifier and the U SPORTS University Cup Men’s Hockey Championship and Final 8. S|E|A also assists clients with event creation and management, sponsorship sales, consulting and activation services.

ABOUT RUGBY CANADA

Rugby Canada is the national governing body of the sport of rugby union in Canada. Rugby Union has a long history in Canada dating back to its initial appearances in the 1860s. Since 1974, Rugby Canada has been a permanent fixture on the global rugby scene, including trips to each of the eight Rugby World Cup tournaments and seven Women’s Rugby World Cup tournaments. As a regular on the men’s and women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, Canada continues to climb the world rankings and challenge the dominant rugby nations in both versions of the game.

To support the growth of rugby at the grass-roots level and to ensure there are elite programs prospering young rugby players to become involved, Rugby Canada has put an emphasis on developing its junior programs. Our goal is the develop and train competitive teams for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Japan, 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens in USA and 2019 Men’s Rugby World Cup in Japan and beyond.