Halifax rugby player gears up for hometown-hosted international game
When Cooper Coats first stepped foot on the rugby field in grade 12, he had little idea he would eventually lace up his cleats to represent Canada.
What started as an activity with his Citadel High School friends quickly formed into a rooted lifestyle for Coats.
"Couple buddies were trying out the sport, so I figured I'd come out and join and ended up falling in love with it, started taking it pretty seriously," said Coats.
After high school, he joined the Acadia University rugby team, and was later selected to train at the Sevens program in Victoria B.C.
Now, the athlete is a member on the Canadian team and is gearing up to play Belgium in the Men's Rugby 15s in the city's downtown core.
"Right now, for me, it just sounds so surreal because I'm able to play test match for Canada at home in Halifax downtown. You know, I went to Citadel High School and the school is right there," he said.
He holds Halifax close to his heart, honouring those who have supported his rugby career.
"I can't thank those people enough because those are the people that eventually got me that spotlight to eventually get selected for Canada," he said.
Playing on the field across from his little league soccer stomping grounds allows Coats to appreciate his unforeseen journey, and he adds he is looking forward to having his family at the game.
"I've been trying to take a couple moments during training sessions, this is the field I grew up playing soccer on ever since I was a little kid and just seeing the guys explore Halifax, you know the city that I've grown up in and became the person that I am today, it is pretty incredible to have everyone here," said Coats.
The national team consists of athletes from different backgrounds, which Coats says can make for a strong dynamic throughout the season.
"It's great to see, you know, a collaborative environment with all these different leagues and set ups so it should be a very good team moving forward," he said.
The game will be held at the Wanderers Grounds in Halifax on Saturday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
RCMP not investigating possible foreign interference cases related to Chiu, Dong: Duheme
Canada's federal police force is not investigating any possible instances of foreign interference in the cases of former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu and Liberal-turned-Independent MP Han Dong, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme says.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Air France flight from Paris to Seattle lands in Iqaluit after heat smell in cabin
A plane travelling from Paris to Seattle was forced to make an emergency landing in Iqaluit after there was a heat smell in the cabin during the flight.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca