The B.C. Under-23 men’s rugby team scrummed down against Scottish touring side St. Andrew’s University at Brockton Oval on Wednesday evening, winning the contest 57-25.
It is the first time in more than 20 years that the province has fielded a U-23 side, and there were three members of the Abbotsford Rugby Football Club on the squad: Aaron Flagg, Chris Chalmers and Lucas De Beer.
This will be their first match of a two-game summer series, their second fixture currently scheduled for July 6 against Durham University.
“This will be a great way of keeping many of the players that graduated from provincial and regional age grade teams involved in our programming, especially since there is no program between Under-20 and senior men’s competitions,” said BC U23 head coach Dave Brown.
“It seemed appropriate that we should try and re-engage some of this group of players, and also provide an opportunity for other players to get involved with our programs.”
A number of the BC U23 reps have already played international rugby. Three players on the roster have already played for B.C.’s senior men’s provincial team during the 2011 Canadian Rugby Championship and have excelled in the Canadian Direct Insurance Premier League this past spring, including Abbotsford captain Chalmers.