The Victoria International Sevens runs Friday and Saturday at the University of Victoria featuring senior men's, women's, U14 boys and U18 men's competitions.
With seven-a-side rugby set to debut at the 2016 Olympics, preparations are underway to ensure Canada retains its status as an elite rugby nation on the world stage. A number of Olympic hopefuls – including Comox Valley's Jordan De Graaf and Gavin Mclean – will scrum down this weekend in the Men's U18 division.
The BC U18s have gone undefeated in 2012 competition already winning the Las Vegas Youth Invitational Sevens this past February and the Hong Kong International Youth Sevens in March.
Meanwhile, Vancouver Island talent was on display at the British Columbia Rugby Union's 2012 B2GOLD Provincial Regional Championships at UBC last weekend.
The three-day regional age grade competition featured over 400 players from 21 teams across the province. The tournament is a pivotal step in the player pathway for athletes to put their hands up for selection to B.C. provincial teams competing at this year's National Festival in Quebec.
Here's a recap:
U18 Women
Fraser Valley were convincing repeat winners in Sunday's U18 women's provincial final as they recorded three tries to blank the Vancouver Island Tsunami 20-0.
Final rankings: 1. Fraser Valley, 2. Vancouver Island, 3. Vancouver, 4. Fraser Valley Development, 5. Thompson Okanagan.
U18 Men
A star-studded Vancouver lineup went undefeated in the round-robin competition, edging out second place Vancouver Island South Tide by just two points in the final standings.
Final rankings: 1. Vancouver (5-0-1) 27 pts. 2. Vancouver Island South Tide (5-1) 25 pts. 3. Fraser Valley West (4-1-1) 23 pts. 4. Fraser Valley East (3-3) 14 pts. 5. Vancouver Island North (2-4) 10 pts. 6. Fraser Valley Central (1-5) 6 pts. 7. Cariboo (0-6) 1 pt.
U16 Men
Vancouver North stormed through the 2012 competition posting a 6-0 record with a whopping 211 points scored.
Final rankings: 1. Vancouver North (6-0) 28 pts. 2. Fraser Valley West (5-1) 24 pts. 3. Vancouver West (4-2) 21 pts. 4. Fraser Valley East (4-2) 20 pts. 5. Vancouver Island North (3-3) 19 pts. 6. Fraser Valley Central (2-4) 11 pts. 7. Thompson Okanagan (2-4) 9 pts. 8. Vancouver Island South Tide (1-4) 5 pts. 9. Vancouver East (0-6) 0 pts.