LANGLEY, B.C. – Trinity Western's men's rugby team will travel to play UBC on Saturday in the Spartans first game of the inaugural season of the
Coastal Cup. Kick-off is at 2:30 p.m. (PT) at the Gerald McGavin UBC Rugby Centre.
Entering the newly founded seven-team high-performance competition, Saturday's contest marks a return to competitive rugby for the Spartans, who haven't played a 15s match since Feb. 14, 2019. The season-opener is also the first-ever contest between the Spartans and the Thunderbirds on a rugby field.
This weekend's game is also significant, as games between UBC, TWU and UVIC within the Coastal Cup competition act as the qualifying path for this year's Canadian University Men's Rugby Championship. The top two teams will advance to the national tournament, which will be held Nov. 24-28 in Kingston, Ont.
The Spartans front row will see veteran leader
Scott Bowers (New Westminster, B.C.) slot in at hooker while fellow veteran
Josh Halladay (White Rock, B.C.) will join him in the front row along with
Ben Tindall (Sylvan Lake, Alta.), who is set to make his competitive debut with TWU.
Erik Niebuhr (Surrey, B.C.), who is in his third year studying at TWU, will be joined by first-year
Tinashe Chirara (Harare, Zimbabwe) in the second row, while the back row features captain
Caleb Gerth (Langley) at No. 8, with veteran Nate Schoreder (West Kelowna, B.C.) on the open side and
Caleb van Til (Tsawwassen, B.C.) playing in his first game with TWU at blind side.
Jan Lourens (Smoky Lake, Alta.) starts at scrumhalf, as he gets in his first game with TWU after coming the Spartans last year, while
Keegan Marengo (Johannesburg, South Africa) is back at flyhalf. On the wings, both
Tamilore Awonusi (Dublin, Ireland) and
Lynden Duggan (Burnaby, B.C.) will play their first games with TWU, having waited a year to make their debuts.
At centre, the Spartans will be well taken care of, with veteran
Sam Wegert (Langley) being joined by Canadian international
Guiseppe du Toit (Maple Ridge, B.C.), who is swapping his coaching whistle for his playing boots this fall, as he works towards his Masters degree in Leadership. Professionally, Du Toit is signed with the Toronto Arrows, which compete in the spring.
Rounding out the TWU backs is debutant
Matthew Willemse (Pietermaritzburg, South Africa), who slots in at fullback.
TWU Spartans – Match Day Roster | Sept. 25
1.
Ben Tindall, Sylvan Lake, AB, Red Deer Titans
2.
Scott Bowers, New Westminster, BC, United Rugby Club
3.
Josh Halladay, White Rock, BC
4.
Erik Niebuhr, Surrey, BC, Bayside Sharks
5.
Tinashe Chirara, Harare, Zimbabwe, Old Georgians RFC
6. Caleb Van Til, Tsawwassen, BC
7.
Nate Schroeder, West Kelowna, BC
8.
Caleb Gerth, Langley, BC, Surrey Beavers / Langley Rugby Club
9.
Jan Lourens, Smoky Lake, AB, Clansmen RFC
10.
Keegan Marengo, Johannesburg, South Africa, Xerox Golden Lions
11.
Tamilore Awonusi, Dublin, Ireland, Clontarf RFC
12.
Guiseppe du Toit, Maple Ridge, BC, Toronto Arrows
13.
Sam Wegert, Langley, BC, UBC
14.
Lynden Duggan, Burnaby, BC, Burnaby Lake Rugby Club
15.
Matthew Willemse, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Langley Rugby Club
16.
Seth Klassen, Surrey, BC, Bayside Sharks
17.
Favour Olaniyan, Gibsons, BC, Capilano Rugby Club
18.
Grayson Hardie, Chilliwack, BC
19.
Kyle Morfitt, Langley, BC, Langley Rugby Club
20. Wikus Kreil, Beaumont, AB, Nor'Wester Rugby Club
21.
Fynn Murphy, White Rock, BC, Bayside Sharks
22. Isaiah de Peiza, Edmonton, AB, Nor'Wester Rugby Club
23.
Collin Lagat, Dallas, TX, Dallas Reds RFC
About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 13 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, cross country and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes as an independent team in men's rugby. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 12 U SPORTS team championships and 29 Canada West team championships.
-TW-
