BC Rugby – Grosvenor, Evo Car Share, Gilbert Rugby Canada, Library Square Public House and Vancouver’s 39 Canadian Brigade Group of the Canadian Army all contributing to the launch of the inaugural Vancouver Rugby Festival, which begins March 10th VANCOUVER – March 4th, 2016: With the Vancouver Rugby Festival now just one week away, BC Rugby is excited to announce a host of sponsors and supporters for the amateur rugby festival, the precursor to the HSBC Canada Sevens Tournament at BC Place.
 
With headliners such as the National Women’s Sevens Teams from Canada, France and Great Britian, Vancouver-based organizations have been keen to support this inaugural event.
 
Privately-owned international development and investment company, Grosvenor, has over 60 years of developing and investing in Vancouver. With a  strong record of supporting Rugby in British Columbia and Canada, Grosvenor has again shown that tangible support towards the Vancouver Rugby Festival.
 
“Contributing to our city’s vibrancy is what Grosvenor’s ‘Living cities’ philosophy is about – supporting sport and culture is big part of this. The Vancouver Rugby Festival will draw families and individuals from around the Lower Mainland and Grosvenor is delighted to be a part of the action,” Grosvenor Americas General Manager and SVP, Michael Ward said.
 
Providing all event staff with transport is Evo Car Share, created by BCAA. Vancouver’s only all-hybrid car share service with room for five people plus their gear, Evo will help Vancouver Rugby Festival event staff and officials move quickly and easily between the Festival’s venues. Event attendees are also encouraged to ride share and use car share services such as Evo, which has ample parking options both in the Vancouver-area Home Zone and at UBC. Details at evo.ca.
 
Also, providing some critical infrastructure to the event is Vancouver’s 39 Canadian Brigade Group of the Canadian Army in British Columbia. Rugby has played a large role in the lives of many members of the Armed Forces, and on behalf of the Vancouver Rugby Festival we would like express our sincere appreciation for the support of the 39 Canadian Brigade Group in providing the tents to shelter the athletes preparing for their matches. It is community partnerships such as this one that we have the Army Reserve in British Columbia that allows us to provide a world class event in the city of Vancouver.
 
The highlight of that partnership will be the Band of 15 Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery playing the National Anthems of the playing teams ahead of the Elite Men’s and Open Women’s Divisions Finals at Brockton Oval on Friday, March 11^th.
 
Adding to the athlete experience, players will be using the very best rugby balls, generously supplied by Gilbert Rugby Canada.
 
“Gilbert Rugby Canada is pleased to continue its history and heritage of quality Rugby products in the parallel programs of BC Rugby,” said Brian Mills National Sales and Marketing Manager.
 
The Vancouver Rugby Festival will culminate at the BC Rugby Fan Zone located at Donnelly Group’s Library Square Public House. The Fan Zone will feature interactive rugby games, giant outdoor TVs showing all the HSBC Canada Sevens action, along with DJs to keep the party rocking. With two huge tents set up so that the fun continues whatever the weather, it will be the best place all weekend to catch the games on TV and to celebrate before and after the matches.
 
The Fan Zone is being run in support of grassroots rugby in British Columbia with $1 from every beer sold being donated to BC Rugby youth programs. In addition, demos and games will get fans in the spirit to enjoy the world class rugby being played inside BC Place.
 
“It’s been tremendous to have gained this level of support from organizations that share our passion for Rugby,” said BC Rugby CEO, Annabel Kehoe. “We’re hopeful that the Vancouver Rugby Festival will bring strong, fun competition to BC as well as supporting the growth and development of our sport overall.”
 
The two-day Vancouver Rugby Festival gets underway officially on Thursday, March 10, and the schedule will be available at bcrugby.com/vanrugbyfest. All venues are open and free to spectators.

About the Vancouver Rugby Festival

Come join us this spring for a weekend of exciting rugby and great competition as BC Rugby hosts the inaugural Vancouver Rugby Festival!

Matches will take place just outside downtown Vancouver at Brockton Oval (Elite and Open divisions), University of British Columbia (U18 and U16 divisions) and Connaught Park (Men’s 40-plus division).

The tournament will take place ahead of the HSBC Canada Sevens Vancouver Tournament at BC Place – which will be a great way to culminate a fantastic two days of competition!

Dates: March 10-11, 2016
For more information, visit www.bcrugby.com/vanrugbyfest

More information about the HSBC Canada Sevens Vancouver

The HSBC Canada Sevens Vancouver will be a two-day indoor tournament held on March 12 and 13 at BC Place. The tournament is the sixth on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, and will feature 16 of the world’s top men’s rugby sevens teams.

More information about BC Rugby

The British Columbia Rugby Union, commonly known as BC Rugby, is the governing body for Rugby in British Columbia and is a Provincial Union of Rugby Canada, the national governing body. Representing over 7,500 individuals registered through around 60 Member Clubs and Associations across the Province, BC Rugby leads and manages the sport with the aim to grow participation and develop excellence in all games of Rugby and in all facets of the sport.
 
Web: bcrugby.com
Twitter: twitter.com/bcrugbyunion
Facebook: facebook.com/bcrugbyunion