It was announced late last week that Canada’s Men’s Fifteens Team will host newly crowned winners of the Pro12 Championship, Glasgow Warriors in Halifax on August 29, on the road to the Rugby World Cup 2015. The press release from Bryan Kelly, Manager, Communications and Media Relations at Rugby Canada was a welcome surprise for Canadian Rugby fans, especially those on the East Coast, where rugby in Canada continues to grow and flourish. His announcement follows:
BATTLE OF NEW SCOTLAND: Rugby Canada vs Glasgow Warriors
HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA – Sports & Entertainment Atlantic (SEA), in partnership with Rugby Canada, Rugby Nova Scotia and the Province of Nova Scotia, is pleased to announce that international men’s rugby will be coming to the Maritimes when Canada’s National Men’s team will play an international fixture against the Glasgow Warriors on Saturday August 29th at the historic Wanderers Grounds in downtown Halifax. Temporary seating will be brought in to the Wanderers Grounds, allowing close to 5,000 fans to experience the event first hand.
SEA, Rugby Nova Scotia and the Province of Nova Scotia made the announcement today at the launch of Nova Scotia House in downtown Glasgow. The event coincided with the inaugural WestJet flight between Glasgow and Halifax that will provide seasonal, direct, daily service between these two great cities and will allow Warriors fans the opportunity to cheer on their team while exploring the beauty of Nova Scotia.
Nova Scotia Premier, Stephen McNeil:
“The Province of Nova Scotia is pleased to see Halifax host this international sporting event that renews the historic and cultural links between Nova Scotia and Scotland through world-class rugby.”After having twice hosted the FIVB Junior World Beach Volleyball Championships in Halifax, SEA identified International Rugby as a sports property that would also succeed in our region and has worked diligently with Rugby Canada, Rugby Nova Scotia and the Glasgow Warriors to make this event a reality for Maritime sport fans.
Derek Martin, President of Sports & Entertainment Atlantic:
“Rugby is a global sport that reaches millions of fans all over the world. Halifax is an international city that will welcome these two premier clubs and their fans with open arms. Canada vs Scotland at the Wanderers Grounds is a match centuries in the making and we can’t wait to kick it off!”Dr. John Gillis, Director Men’s Rugby, Rugby Nova Scotia, Team Canada Medical Team:
“Rugby has been played in Halifax since the 1870’s and across the Maritimes we are enjoying a strong resurgence in the sport among men and women, boys and girls. The Battle for New Scotland will provide sports fans a chance to see Rugby at the highest level and will hopefully inspire many more young people to try our sport for fun and fitness, and to aspire to reach the highest level of the sport”Graham Brown, Chief Executive Officer for Rugby Canada:
“We are excited to welcome the Glasgow Warriors to Halifax for an exhibition game on August 29th as we continue on our Road to the World Cup. Glasgow is a club full of rich tradition and we have watched the team, and DTH Van Der Merwe, closely in recent years.This is the last game on Canadian soil before the team heads to England for the World Cup as we complete our coast-to-coast tour of Canada and we look forward to playing in front of our fans in Halifax and the Maritimes. We also wish the Warriors the best of luck in today’s Pro12 Final.”
Tickets will go on sale in the coming weeks and all other information will be available at www.battlefornewscotland.ca!
As for me, it’s times like these I wish this vast country were just a little smaller, so I could make the trip. In the meantime, those of us in central or western Canada will just hope that they find a way to televise this immense event! If it’s anything like Canada vs Scotland last year at BMO field, 5000 seats won’t be enough and the atmosphere in the stadium will be brilliant. All who go, enjoy, whether you’re #BackingBlue or #RedNation!
