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Photo by Rich Lam / UBC Athletics

UBC head coach Maria Gallo called the news “fantastic.”

“It just adds to our program, it solidifies our recruiting,” she said. “This is a great avenue for the late bloomer.”

Gallo’s had her squad entered in a handful of 7s events in each of the past few seasons, but getting a formalized circuit means she can point directly at a way towards the national team. Plus it suits the style of play she wants to play at XVs anyway.

“We’re not a big team,” she said. “Playing sevens reinforces the idea of a wide game.”

“You’re starting to see an athlete that’s really focused on sevens,” but she also stressed her players still will be expected to be involved all season, in both forms of the game.

“At the end of the day, you still have to pass, catch and tackle,” she said.

Photo by Dan Kinvig / UFV Athletics

Fraser Valley U building from scratch

The sixth team in the new circuit, which launches in Edmonton in January, followed by February tournaments at UBC and Victoria.

The Abbotsford-based Cascades launching a program was a “no brainer,” said FVU athletic director Steve Tuckwood. “The most exciting part is the Fraser Valley has some strong athletes,” he said. “It’s good to know players won’t have to leave to play high quality rugby.”

FVU has signed on longtime Abbotsf0rd-based coach Jen Ross, a former player and coach at club, school, provincial and national levels.

“The biggest challenge is we’re the only school without an established program,” she said, with a note of defiance. “I have played with and coach many of the players we’ve identified.”

“My philosophy since the start has been to provide opportunity.

“Now we can say ‘you don’t have to go away’ if you want to stay in the valley and play university rugby.”

Ross has already identified 18 players who are eligible to play for the Cascades, a number of whom she’s coached before. They know sevens, they know what’s possible.

And given the talent in the squad, Ross insisted her team will be an unconventional underdog: “about a third have represented B.C. before.”

pjohnston@postmedia.com

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