Powell River Otago Rugby Club’s Old Boys will be taking on Burnaby Twilighters in an exhibition match.
The game is scheduled for a 1 pm kickoff at Cranberry Field on Saturday, August 19.
“This will be the sixth or seventh time that Burnaby has come,” said coach Jack Beardmore. “They love coming but obviously, we haven’t had them here in quite some time.”
Beardmore said there have been rule changes, so old boys rugby can now feature players who are over 35.
“We have some of our old guys returning, like Rob Kimball and Blair Hunter, and some of the old guys who haven’t played in years,” said Beardmore. “I just know it’s going to be a great day.”
Beardmore said the Twilighters will be bringing a full side to Powell River and Otago is also able to field a full side.
“We’ve actually got about four spares,” said Beardmore. “It’s strictly a fun day. It’s not going to be overly serious rugby by any stretch. I think they have a 70-year-old showing up.”
In order to ensure the older old boys are not decimated on the pitch, players wear colour-coded shorts. A 70-year-old wears yellow shorts and over 60s are wearing red shorts.
Beardmore said for those players, it’s just tag, rather than tackle, unless it is a red-shorts player tackling another red shorts player. For yellow shorts players, there’s no hitting whatsoever.
As a lead-up to the rugby game, there will be a golf tournament for all the players on Friday and a little social at the clubhouse that evening to get everyone ready for the game on Saturday.
“We’ll all talk about how great we are and be proven liars when we get on the field,” said Beardmore.
He said he is hoping lots of people will come out to support rugby. In the past, the Twilighters couldn’t believe how many people came out to watch an old boys game here.
“It’s going to be a fun day and we’re going to have a great time at the clubhouse after the game,” said Beardmore.
As well as the on-field activities, Beardmore said the club is putting 100 pounds of pork roast on the barbecue after the game.
Otago will be playing in Victoria the following week for a match against the Oak Bay Castaway Wanderers, a team that came here for an exhibition match earlier this year.
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