GAME DAY: URUGUAY VS. ARGENTINA, 5: 30 P.M. CANADA VS. USA, 7: 30 P.M.
It's a little-known bit of sporting trivia that the first-ever cricket Test match was between Canada and the U.S. in 1844. That began an international rivalry - the apex of which has been the men's hockey gold-medal games of the 2002 Salt Lake City and 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Recently adding to the lore was the women's soccer semifinal at the 2012 London Summer Games.
The border war continues tonight when Canada (1-0) and the U.S. (0-1) meet in the second round of the Americas Rugby Championship at 7: 30 p.m. at Westhills Stadium in Langford.
That is preceded by a South American border skirmish between world rugby power Argentina (1-0) and underdog Uruguay (0-1) at 5: 30 p.m.
"You throw a yearly schedule in front of a Canadian player and the first games circled will be the games against the U.S.," said Canadian team manager Mark Winokur.
"There's a little extra edge when it's Canada-U.S.A. and the players are well aware of that."
U.S. manager Tristan Lewis said all three of his side's games in this tournament - featuring the national 'B' teams of the four nations - are important but did admit: "The cross-border rivalry is pretty intense and puts an edge on this game."
Gareth Rees of Victoria, the manager of national team programs for Rugby Canada, is considered the greatest Canadian player of all-time and has suited up against the All Black and Springboks.
"But I always got up for the games against the U.S.," said Rees, who expects a large, jacked-up crowd tonight.
"On Friday [tournament opening night], I was floored as fans kept pouring through the entrance gates despite the rain. It was a fantastic night and we felt proud and privileged to get that kind of support in rainy conditions. Fans know this is high-level stuff. These are the guys you will be seeing in the Olympics and future World Cups."
U.S. manager Lewis concurred.
"This is part of our four-year cycle where we are identifying players for the 2015 World Cup," he said.
"We know our top-22. We don't yet know our next 25 to 40. That's what this is about, to identify our next group that is ready to break into our top-22."
Among those emerging American players here for the Americas tournament is winger Miles Craigwell, an NFL draft pick of Miami and former taxi squad player with the Dolphins. The transition began when Craigwell was eating at a diner in Boston two years ago when he caught a glimpse of a TV showing an NCAA rugby match. Rugby's inclusion into the Summer Olympics, starting at Rio in 2016, clinched it for the 26-yearold, who is also a member of the U.S. sevens team.
The real wild card in world rugby is if the Americans are able to tap into their rich vein of football. If they do, watch out.
"The sky's the limit," said Craigwell.
"If we can get more cross-over athletes coming to rugby, who knows? Maybe it will make the U.S. a contender down the line, but it's more of a long-term thing. We have the physicality and speed in our [American sports]. We just need the technical aspects of rugby."
The South American neighbours also geared up for their game today.
"These are our future Pumas and we are here to work very professionally," said Argentina manager Diego Tyslak.
Uruguay knows it is in tough tonight against a true world power.
"Argentina has highly developed rugby and shows us the way we have to work," said Uruguay manager Gonzalo Cortinas.
The tournament concludes Saturday with Canada playing Argentina and the U.S. taking on Uruguay.
