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Rugby players weather sweltering temperatures during OFSAA Championship in Kitchener

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It’s known as a game of blood, sweat and tears and there was no shortage of sweat during the OFSAA’s Girls’ AAA Rugby Championship in Kitchener-Waterloo on Tuesday.

Temperatures reached 30 degrees Celsius, as Waterloo region and much of southern Ontario continued to weather the first heat event of the season. With the humidex it felt closer to 36.

Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate Institute (KCI) teacher and rugby coach Dave Thompson was on hand for the girls’ tournament Tuesday as KCI battled Brantford Collegiate.

Thompson said the players were preparing by drinking “lots of water, of course.”

Kitchener Collegiate Institute rugby coach Dave Thompson appears during an interview with CTV News on May 31, 2022. (CTV Kitchener)

“We were here all day yesterday and that was a hot day and back in the heat today,” said Thompson. “We’ve had Gatorade, water out here for them so they should be good to go.”

By noon on Tuesday, Kitchener sat at 28 degrees, feeling more like 33 with the humidity according to Environment Canada.

However, the athletes didn’t seem to mind the heat after a two-year hiatus thanks to the pandemic.

“The heat, it was exhausting but really I am glad to be back on the field,” one player told CTV News.

“I am in Grade 10, so I waited just one year to play and this is my first year playing and its lots of fun to be back on the field,” another said.

“It is amazing,” OFSAA girls’ rugby convenor, Jennifer Armatage said, “We are so happy to be back and I think we are feeding off the kids’ energy at being happy to be back.”

Teams brought branded tents with them to keep cool in the shade and athletes were given water breaks every five to 10 minutes.

'INCHING OUR WAY BACK'

Bluevale Collegiate in Waterloo and Eastwood Collegiate in Kitchener are co-hosting this year’s OFSAA Girls’ Rugby Championships, which haven't been held since 2019.

Armatage explained this year’s tournament included 12 teams from across the province instead of the typical 16.

“We are edging and inching our way back,” Armatage added.

The final games, including the gold medal game are set for Wednesday and are expected to be played under much cooler conditions.

Officials say they will once again be keeping an eye on the weather due to rain and potential thunderstorms in the forecast.

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