French Barbarians Name World Class Line up for Rugby Canada Challenge

Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada June 19, 2008: This week the French Barbarians announced the player line up for their match against Canada to be played as the feature game during Victoria’s Rugby Canada Challenge June 27 and 28 at Bullen Park in Esquimalt. With a roster of players with established international careers as well as players from Rugby World Cup games in 2007, organizers are expecting to attract a big crowd.

 “The calibre of the Barbarian team is very high, featuring internationally recognized players. These guys are the very best players in the world and are household names in rugby playing nations,” says Tom Woods, Rugby Canada Challenge organizer. “This line up would draw 100,000 in London, Paris, Auckland or Sydney so we have a major coup for sports fans in Victoria who are totally starved for this level of play.”

 “Their half back pairing of Andrew Mehrtens (New Zealand All-Blacks, 70 Caps 994 test points for NZ) and Agustin Pichot (Argentina Pumas, 71 Caps, 22 as Captain including 2007 World Cup and 60 points) is unbelievable,” Woods stated further. “A good comparison in basketball would be having your starting guards listed as Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant. These guys practice in front of 3000 people and seeing them play in Esquimalt at Bullen Park will be like watching the Oilers and the Canucks at Archie Browning Sports Centre.”

Other key players announced today include Kees Meeuws (NZ All Blacks, 45 Caps, Anton Oliver (NZ All Blacks, 59 Caps) David Auradou (France, 45 Caps) and French Internationals Julien Pierre, Vincent Debaty, Abrahim Diarra, Marc Raynaud, Julien Peyrelongue, Ludovic Valbon, Jean-Francois Coux. Eric Champ will be Tour Director.

 The French Barbarians are known in the sport for their flamboyant, open and entertaining style of play. Players are selected to this elite roster by invitation only and it is a true rugby honour to be called. The Canadian National team will need to bring its best game on June 28, which promises to be action packed.

 “As a National team athlete, these are the guys you live to play against,” says Team Canada hooker Pat Riordan and UVic Vikes standout. “They are truly the best players in the world over the past decade and this could well be the best Rugby team to play on North American soil since New Zealand was here in 1989.”

 “This is a great example of what sport tourism in action. All teams will be travelling to Victoria and all are staying in hotels downtown. We have team members and spectators travelling on the Victoria Clipper, flying direct from San Francisco on the new United Airlines flight and even jumping on the Helijet from Vancouver. It shows what a draw international sports can be for Greater Victoria,” says Woods.

 Also during Rugby Canada Challenge two U.S. Classics Eagles teams will face off against the Canadian Classics Rugby team in what are anticipated to be highly physical and competitive games. Many Classics players are veterans from the 2007 World Cup campaign and are currently under professional contracts and/or playing test level rugby.

 Rugby Schedule

All games held at Bullen Park behind the Archie Browning Centre, 1151 Esquimalt Road

 Friday, June 27

5:30 pm KO Canadian Classics versus US Eagle Classics (game one - featuring less capped players)

7:00 pm KO Vancouver Island High School All Star XV versus Lower Mainland High School All Star XV

 Saturday June 28th

1:00 pm KO Crimson Tide versus Fraser Valley Under 20 game

2:45 pm KO Canadian Classics (game two - featuring multi-capped players) versus US Eagles

4:15 pm KO Canada versus the French Barbarians

  Tickets are available at Ticketmaster www.ticketmaster.ca (http://www.ticketmaster.ca/venue/139522) or Archie Browning Sport Centre

 Tickets for Friday evening games are $10 and tickets for Saturday admission to see any or all games is $20.

 For Event Info or Volunteering Call 250.598.4421

Sponsors of the Rugby Canada Challenge include Lighthouse Brewery, City of Victoria and the Township of Esquimalt, Westshore Parks and Recreation, the Tudor House Hotel and the Esquimalt Fire Department. Media Sponsors include Time Colonist, CFAX 1070 and KOOL FM.

 For Rugby Canada Challenge Sponsorship package and VIP ticket package inquires contact: 250.382.4332

 For Barbarian Squad Player Profiles, click here.