April 6, 2017

Riders’ Campbell suiting up for Canada Rugby Sevens

Arthur Ward/CFL.ca

TORONTO — Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive back and Scaborough, Ont. native Tevaughn Campbell is taking his talents from the football field to the rugby pitch.

The 23-year-old, entering his third CFL season after being picked 22nd overall by the Calgary Stampeders in the 2015 CFL Draft, will dress for Canada at the Hong Kong Sevens this coming weekend.

“The culture you experience in rugby is outstanding,” said Campbell. “You travel to 10 different countries and spend weeks on hand in these countries experiencing the cultures they have to offer, then get to play in front of the world.”

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Tevaughn Campbell is taking his electrifying speed to the rugby pitch this weekend (Rugby Canada)

Campbell will be the 13th man on the roster, meaning he’ll dress but won’t necessarily play.

A gifted multi-sport athlete with a background in track, Campbell continues to hold the all-time mark in the electronic 40-yard dash at the CFL Combine, setting a mark of 4.36 in 2015. With that said, Campbell says the transition to rugby has come naturally.

“I think rugby and football are so synonymous, adapting to the sport has been smooth,” said Campbell. “They both possess similar attributes when it comes to atmosphere; the only difference is one is on a worldwide scale with 40 thousand fans in the stands (rugby) and one is on a national scale with 40 thousand fans in the stand (Riders).”

The game of rugby sevens involves seven players on each side for a total of seven minutes each way with a one-minute halftime break. A try is worth five points while an additional two points are available via the conversion. Penalties and drop goals are worth three points, while all conversions must be taken within 40 seconds of the try being scored.

The three-day tournament, which originated at the Hong Kong Football Club in 1976, is the world’s premier event for seven-on-seven rugby, spanning three days and involving 28 teams in front of more than 120,000 spectators.

Canada opens its schedule vs. Kenya on April 7 at 8:18 a.m. ET, followed by two games on Saturday against France and South Africa at 1:34 a.m. and 5:56 a.m. respectively. Playoff matchups could follow.