Vancouver professional rugby team to host international matches

B.C. rugby fans are in for a treat this summer as Canada’s only professional rugby team — the Vancouver Highlanders — is set to play host to five international matches.

“We are committed to delivering an exciting brand of rugby with a very excellent group of people, guys who have putting their life on hold for years just for an opportunity like this,” said team co-founder Curry Hitchborn.

The Highlanders will be kicking off the series Friday in a double-header match against the Canada Selects and the Barbados national team.

Both matches will be completely free to the public.

The Highlanders have a full roster of players who have been striving to turn their passion for the sport into professional careers.

“Like to make the joke, we didn’t really have a choice. Rugby was always the career we would go into, but there weren’t many opportunities,” player Jake Thiel told CityNews.

“But something like this is really special because it shows kids something to aspire to and showing that if you stick with rugby, there is a professional channel you can go to.”

The Highlanders will also play host to the national sides from Germany and Brazil. Matches will be held at the Burnaby Lake Rugby Club.