International rugby returns to Westhills Stadium next year with the Canadian players by then knowing if they will be vying to nick the final few roster spots to the 2019 World Cup in Japan, or be the candidates for the 2023 World Cup.

Canada will host Chile on Feb. 22 and Argentina XV on March 1 in the 2019 Americas Rugby Championship, both at the Langford facility.

article continues below

All will be known by then, from the last chance qualifier this month in Marseille, France, between Canada, Hong Kong, Germany and Kenya to decide the 20th and final berth into the 2019 World Cup.

Canada’s roster for the Americas Rugby Championship will likely be affected accordingly — as to just how many long-term development players there will be mixed in with capped veterans.

Canada opens the Americas tournament Feb. 2 in Montevideo versus Uruguay and plays Brazil in Sao Paulo on Feb. 9. Canada will close out March 8 against the U.S. in Seattle.

All games, except those featuring Argentina XV, are Test matches. Argentina is a top-tier rugby nation and does not send its full Pumas national side to the Americas tournament.

Westhills Stadium has been the Canadian host venue for the Americas tournament on several occasions.

“We are excited to bring international rugby back to Westhills Stadium,” said Allen Vansen, CEO of Rugby Canada.

“We have nearly 50 men’s players that train in Langford day-in, day-out, and know that the local crowd will get behind us as they have done over the past few years.”

Tickets for the games in Langford are in two-game packs for $49 and available Thursday at 10 a.m. through rugby.ca. Single game tickets, if available, will go on-sale later in the year.