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The indomitable spirit of rugby and a slice of First Nations culture will be on display during the World Vintage Rugby Carnival later this month.

Selected as a Canada 150 event, the carnival comes to this country and region for the first time after previous tournaments in Ireland, South Africa, Argentina, Hawaii, New Zealand and Australia.

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Canada’s rugby carnival takes place at Twin Elm Rugby Park in North Gower from Aug. 20-27. Opening ceremonies are Aug. 20 and the first game action takes place Aug. 21 at 11:30 a.m. Admission is free throughout.

About 300 veteran rugby players forming 17 15-man teams from several nations are expected to participate. Australia is sending nine teams and there will be four Canadian sides. Two New Zealand teams and one each from the U.S. and the Bahamas round out the competition.

Many of the visitors will be part of a cultural exchange on the grounds of the Kitigan Zibi Reserve of Algonquin Nation on Aug. 24. There, they will watch a birch-bark canoe being made and perhaps venture out onto one of the local rivers in a war canoe.