Passers-by walking near the Rutland Sports Field this weekend may be left wondering exactly what sport they鈥檙e watching.
Athletes in sleeveless jerseys and short shorts kicking an oversized football through four upright goalposts may seem strange, but it鈥檚 a growingly familiar sight in Canada鈥攊t鈥檚 Australian Rules football.
The sport combines elements of basketball, volleyball, soccer and football and more than 100 Australian Rules footballers from B.C. and Alberta will converge on the city this Saturday for the 琉璃神社 Cup.
Calgary Kangaroos Australian Football Club director of operations, Dan McLeod, said the 14th instalment of the tournament was important for regional clubs as it gave them the opportunity to play against people that aren鈥檛 on their own teams.
鈥淲e usually play some intra-club games among our local teams. You鈥檙e playing against your mates that you train with each week, so it鈥檚 a bit difficult to go 100 percent,鈥� he said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 great to play against teams from Alberta and BC as we get to come up against guys we may not have met before.鈥�
Although 琉璃神社 had no team of its own, with Vernon currently hosting the closest club, Mr McLeod was optimistic of the sport鈥檚 future in the city.
He said while there was no 琉璃神社 team, locals were still encouraged to come to the field from 10 a.m. onward to see what the sport is about, whether as a spectator or a player.
鈥淚f they wish to play, they can get in touch with Max Peterson at the Vernon Roosters Australian Football Club, at vernonroosters@gmail.com, or call 250-306-8087,鈥� he said.
鈥淚 can definitely envisage a satellite club of the Vernon Roosters starting up in 琉璃神社, and the two teams battling it out in competition.
鈥淎ll it takes is someone to take the initiative and kickstart the club.鈥�
