For all the rugby in Greater Victoria, Sean White is a rarity.

The Oak Bay High grad will play for the BC Bears Saturday, representing his home club, the James Bay Athletic Association.

White is among only three players born and raised in Victoria to be part of the Americas Rugby Championship Canadian semifinal at MacDonald Park between the BC Bears and Ontario Blues.

“I think having the game in Victoria will be a huge advantage for us,” White said. “It’s a great opportunity for this city to show its pride and spirit. Honestly, I was a little disappointed with the Vancouver turnout and I bet Victoria can beat that as far as attendance goes.”

The country was split into four teams for the tournament: the Bears, the Prairie Wolf Pack, Ontario and The Rock (Maritimes). Along with White, David Spicer and Francis Yoon will represent the south Island on the Bears.

White grew up playing rugby at Oak Bay High and then with James Bay, which hosts the International Rugby Board sanctioned ARC semifinal at MacDonald Park.

A keystone of the B.C. Bears adept backline, White is also a carded member of Canada’s national senior men’s team. At 21, he has yet to receive a 15s cap but has made appearances for the Canadian Sevens squad on four tours.

A natural athlete who also excels at lacrosse (his Victoria-Esquimalt Eagles won the Jr. B provincials this summer), the wiry back spent time on the Bears backline this season as a fullback, wing and scrumhalf.

White says the level of rugby is comparable to what he has experienced with the national sevens side.

“The matches are definitely on the edge of the quality of rugby I”ve played. The thing is, I don’t think we’re playing the best rugby we can yet. In the first two games against (Ontario) and (Martimes) we were still sorting things out. There were good things, but last weekend’s match against the Prairies was a lot better, and we can still improve.”

The Bears are hoping to continue that ascent and end up in the ARC Final.

B.C. and Ontario faced off earlier in the ARC competition, with the Bears earning a 29–24 victory. But, with about 20 minutes left in that match, the Bears let up a little allowing Ontario to make a game of it.

“(Saturday’s semi-final) is going to be scrappy. It will be forward-oriented again but our forwards will match up well with theirs. Our forwards have been playing well and doing a lot of work on set piece. It sounds like the weather is going to be nice on Saturday, so it won’t be a factor. We should out-match them in the backline.”

The winner will face the winner of the other semifinal, happening simultaneously between USA “A” and the Argentina Jaguars in Colorado. The ARC Finals will be held at Fletcher’s Fields in Markham, Ont., on Oct. 17.

The BC Bears kick off against the Ontario Blues at 3.30 p.m. at MacDonald Park in James Bay on Saturday, Oct. 10. Tickets can be purchased for $15 online at bcrugby.com or at the gate for $20.

Two premiership club sides, James Bay and Velox, will play a regular season match at 12 p.m. as the curtain raiser.

sports@goldstreamgazette.com