‘Glad for Winnipeg fans to get a taste’

The last time Winnipeg hosted an international rugby match, Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You topped the music charts and Harrison Ford ruled the box office in The Fugitive.

The Canadian men’s national team was also a pesky squad that punched well above its weight on the pitch, finding ways to contend with European powerhouses like Wales and England.

Gareth Rees remembers those days fondly. The former fullback helped make up the backbone of that Canadian team, which also took it to the United States at Maple Grove Rugby Park in 1993.

The Americans were dominated 20-9 that day.

“It’s scary that it was 33 years ago,” Rees, a Duncan, B.C. native who captained Team Canada for parts of his 15 years with the squad, told the Free Press.

“I distinctly remember it, because we weren’t fully pro then, so we weren’t making a lot of dough. But we got to town, and everyone wanted to have us here — lots of support, lots of fun. So we got a really good reception, and then we beat the Americans pretty well. So it was a pretty great week when we were here.”

More than three decades later, the Canadian men’s team returns to Winnipeg to face world-ranked No. 24 Zimbabwe at Princess Auto Stadium on July 18. It will be the second match of a double-header that will see Tonga face Portugal earlier in the day.

Both matches will be pivotal for all four programs, which are competing in the inaugural Nations Cup, which includes the 12 unions that qualified for next year’s Rugby World Cup.

“I think it’s great for this generation of guys to get the same opportunity, but in a way more different environment, and more fans and a lot more people know what they’re doing out there on the field,” said Rees, who is tackling the growth of the sport as the director of strategic partnerships with Rugby Canada these days.

Winnipeg is the final stop of the national team’s Canadian-hosted matches, and the final contest in the July swing of the Nations Cup, which will resume in November. Canada is also in Edmonton for a pair of contests against Spain and Portugal on July 4 and 11, respectively.

The Bombers will be in Ottawa for a tilt with the Redblacks on July 19, giving Winnipeggers a full weekend of action to watch.

“I think it’s an incredible opportunity to see this game played at the highest level. It’s been 33 years since we’ve hosted an international, and in that time, the game has become professionalized and has grown and evolved quite a bit,” said Rugby Manitoba president Christian Taylor.

“One of the things for non-rugby people that I often hear from them is that they wouldn’t necessarily go out of their way to watch it, but when it’s on — the Women’s World Cup final in the fall — they are captivated by it. It’s fast, it’s physical, it’s skilled. And so I think those are things that people really enjoy about the game.”

Rees said Zimbabwe is a team the Canadians have targeted as an opponent that presents a strong chance to win in July. He also expects those in attendance to get a true feel for the international qualities that rugby offers.

One example will be the Tongans, who execute a war dance before every match that they call Sipi Tau. It’s similar to the famous haka performed by the New Zealand All Blacks, and only adds to the entertainment value.

“We have four different continents playing rugby in Winnipeg. That kind of sums up rugby,” said Rees.

“There’s so many elements to rugby, it’s not just about what goes on, on the field, and that’s what I’m really glad for Winnipeg fans to get a taste of and get to see.”

All contests will be broadcast on TSN. Tickets for both matches are available at Ticketmaster.

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