IRB America’s Rugby Championship to take place in Canada in October

from USA Rugby:

• Canada set to host exciting tournament for second year in a row
• Games to be streamed online for fans

The IRB has announced that Canada will host this year’s America’s Rugby Championship from October 11-19, 2013.

Tournament competitors include representative teams from Canada, Argentina, USA and one other South American team which will be determined based on rankings from the South American Championships which take place later this month in Uruguay.

All games will be played at the Westhill Stadium, which is home to the Canadian Rugby Centre of Excellence in Langford, British Columbia.

Canada is preparing for a strong tournament performance, following a loss to Argentina in last year’s tournament final.

“Hosting international Rugby at the Canadian Rugby Centre of Excellence is always an exciting opportunity. Local community support for the ARC is incredible. This year, we hope to make the tournament an even better experience for fans in attendance and those watching our live stream online, “ said Graham Brown, CEO of Rugby Canada.

Like in previous years, the tournament is a round robin event with six matches being played over three days. Four points are awarded for a win, with two points for a draw. One bonus point is available for scoring four or more tries in a match with an additional bonus point for losing a match by seven points or less.

“We know this tournament is going to be a great success for Canadian rugby and for the local community. Canada faces stiff competition, but we’re certain to compete hard and are looking to secure a championship on home soil,” said Kieran Crowley, Head Coach of Canada’s National Senior Men’s Team.

The Tournament is significantly supported by the International Rugby Board, which sees it as a key strategic development opportunity for Rugby in the region.

“The Americas Rugby Championship represents a great opportunity for the Game across North and South America, providing a competition format that will generate exciting and competitive matches. It will also allow the participating Unions to take a closer look at the development of their elite players as we look towards Rugby World Cup 2015,” said IRB Head of Development and Performance Mark Egan.

Tickets for all ARC matches as well as full tournament passes will go on sale in July.

About USA Rugby
Established in 1975, USA Rugby is the governing body for the sport of rugby in America and a Full Sport Member of the United States Olympic Committee. Currently headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, USA Rugby is charged with developing the game on all levels and has over 115,000 active members. USA Rugby oversees four national teams, multiple collegiate and high school All-American sides, and an emerging Olympic development pathway for elite athletes. It also hosts over 30 national playoff and championship events every year as a service to its members. In October 2009, the International Olympic Committee announced that Rugby Sevens (the seven-a-side version of the game) will appear in the 2016 Olympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro. Visit www.usarugby.org for more information.