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Rubgy tourney planned

Oliver Glaser and the East Van Scribes RFC are planning the Boundary Bash Social 10s rugby tournament in a couple of weeks.
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Greenwood resident Oliver Glaser and the East Van Scribes RFC team are inviting teams from Canada and the United States to take part in the Boundary Bash Social 10s rugby tournament B.C. Day long weekend.

by Frank Moreland - Grand Forks Gazette

Oliver Glaser moved from the urban West Coast to the rural Boundary and is bringing his passion for rugby and all the rugby community-building activities that come with it.

Glaser is organizing the Boundary Bash Social 10s rugby tournament in Greenwood for the B.C. Day long weekend (Aug. 3 to 5). “I want to inspire and show people of all ages how inclusive, fun and social rugby is. A tough, hard hitting game where you leave it all on the pitch but one where good sportsmanship is prized,” Glaser explained.

Glaser moved to Greenwood over a year ago and was happy about the Boundary Wanderers Rugby team in Grand Forks; they have since folded but it has not deterred him.

While Glaser may be a new local championing Boundary regional rugby, he is not alone, as he has his old team supporting him. Glaser has a history of playing rugby since high school and as a member of the East Van Scribes RFC. The Scribes have the organizational capacity and are volunteering to host the Greenwood tournament with Glaser’s leadership.

Glaser met with the Greenwood city council in the winter, where a motion was passed to support the tournament and welcome the extra cash flow for local merchants.

The Scribes are inviting teams from B.C., Alberta and the U.S. to play and party in a 10s rugby tournament, where there are 10 players per side and there are 20-minute halves. This makes the games much shorter, instead of the 15 per side and 40-minute halves under Rugby Union rules.

The rugby team categories are for men, women and Old Boy’s. The tournament prizes are honour (bragging rights) awards according to 10s competitions.

Glaser also has pickup team opportunities available for local rugby players who want to play in the tournament.

“In rugby there is a place for everyone on the pitch; young, old, fat skinny, fast or slow,” he said.

The rugby tournament games are complemented with introduction to rugby skills activities and social activities.

On Saturday, the skills competitions will demonstrate kicking, precision throwing and long passes, (as well as the hilarious full contact walking rugby) while other social activities will include tug-of-wars and boat races. Sunday is full-on rugby all day and the evening has the Scribes’ house band, the Dropbears, perform live during the awards ceremony.

Monday will be a recovery day, although the concession will be open for breakfast.

“Out of all the sports I have played in my life, I feel that rugby is the most social,” Glaser said.

Each rugby team has a clubhouse said Glaser and there are rugby clubhouses all around the world that people can contact and be welcomed by new friends. Rugby teams hold social events and volunteer for other community events.

Glaser put it this way, “Drinking beer and rugby go hand in hand and it is an appeal for the sport that lasts through the generations.”

For more information go to the Scribes website.