Two Comox Valley rugby players are taking their talent to the international stage.
Foster Dewitt and Braydon Williams are on the Canadian U18 team that is heading to Romania with the men's national team. They will play three test matches with Romania's U18 team.
"We will be travelling, training and rooming with the men's team. It will give us a chance to see what professional rugby is like," said Foster.
The U18s leave for Romania on Nov. 13 and return Nov. 23. Their first match in Nov. 16.
Dewitt and Williams are G.P. Vanier grads and have been rugby teammates since Grade 10. They were with the B.C. U18 team that won gold in the Tier 1 division at the 2014 Rugby Canada National Festival Championships in Calgary in August.
Dewitt (hooker) and Williams (loose end prop) began the selection program for the Canadian U18 team at a provincial tournament in July at UBC, where both are in their first year with the Thunderbirds.
Next was a national camp in Calgary in August, and Dewitt says he was notified he had made the team in mid September.
He said he is looking forward to the upcoming trip and adds both he and Williams are fundraising for the tour. Those wishing to help out can do so at:
https://donate.rugbycanada.ca/e/fdewitt and
https://donate.rugbycanada.ca/e/braydonW.
On his fundraising page, Dewitt notes the U18 Age Grade is an integral part of the player pathway leading to Rugby Canada Senior Men's teams both in 7s and 15s for Olympic Games and Rugby World Cups.
"Successful players from this group will follow the pathway to a Canada U20 team with guidance from National Team Rugby and Strength and Conditioning Coaches and Regional Academy Staff.
"Your financial support goes towards the U18 Men's program to help the athletes and offset program costs for their training and things like participating in the tour. We greatly appreciate your support of this program."
LINE OUTS As part of the tour, the Canadian national team is slated to play a friendly against the Romanian national team, who they will compete against in the same pool for the Rugby World Cup in 2015 ...