Rourke is slated to play in the B.C. Adult Flag Football League this season to help prep for the opportunity to play in the Olympics<\/p>\n
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Published Mar 18, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 5 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke has a side hustle. He\u2019s trying to be an Olympian.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. 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Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Account<\/p>\n or<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The 27-year-old pivot is keen on representing Canada in five-on-five football at the Los Angeles 2028 Games and is set to play in the B.C. Adult Flag Football League<\/a> this season to help put him into a position to do so.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Rourke\u2019s on the roster of the Vancity Vice, and they open their season Sunday at Cloverdale Athletic Park, facing the Honey Badgers and then Hammertime in back-to-back games, beginning at 12:40 p.m.<\/p>\n The Olympics have permitted local organizers to add sports popular in their region over the past few years. L.A. 2028 brass are bringing on flag football, along with six-on-six field lacrosse. They\u2019re also bringing back softball and baseball, which returned to the schedule after a two-Olympics absence for Tokyo 2020, but weren\u2019t included at Paris 2024.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a tremendous opportunity. When I was a young kid and dreaming about playing professional football, I would have never thought the chance to play in the Olympics would have presented itself,\u201d said Rourke, who was born in Victoria and raised in Oakville, Ont. \u201cI would love to be able to do it. But flag, and especially five-on-five, is a different game with a lot of nuances to it. There are players in this country who have been playing specifically that version of football for awhile. I certainly feel like I have to learn that game to give myself a chance to be considered for the Olympic team in 2028.<\/p>\n \u201cI owe it to the people who have been playing longer than I have, as well as the people who are making the roster to make sure that I\u2019m prepared and going through the process.\u201d<\/p>\n Canucks Report<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Five-on-five flag football is played with a QB, a centre and three receivers\/running backs. It\u2019s on a smaller field \u2014 70-yards long and 25-yards wide, with 10-yard end zones at L.A. 2028<\/a> \u2014 so it\u2019s about quick reads and mobility for quarterbacks, and that\u2019s a sweet spot for Rourke\u2019s skill set.<\/p>\n Another plus for the reigning CFL Most Outstanding Player and Outstanding Canadian<\/a> is that former Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice is Canada\u2019s bench boss for L.A. 2028<\/a>. B.C. head coach Buck Pierce was a Winnipeg QB under LaPolice and they later worked together with the Bombers when LaPolice returned as offensive coordinator and Pierce was quarterbacks coach.<\/p>\n Rourke and Pierce have been meeting virtually for several weeks to go over the Lions\u2019 upcoming season. In the midst of that, Rourke has been sharing flag video that LaPolice has sent him and both Rourke and Pierce have honed in on how similar the offence B.C. wants to run lines up with what LaPolice is planning.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cBuck and I have been geeking out a little bit,\u201d Rourke said. \u201cWe\u2019re both like, \u2018This is this concept,\u2019 and, \u2018This is this concept.\u2019 It\u2019s been cool to watch how our offence translates to the flag team.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The CFL announced in November 2025 that the league\u2019s board of governors unanimously approved participation in the event<\/a>. Logistics still need to be worked out, since flag football\u2019s slated for July 15 to 22 for L.A. 2028, and that\u2019s in the middle of the CFL season.<\/p>\n The NFL voted in May 2025 to do the same. It will be worth watching if the likes of Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard<\/a> and Cincinnati Bengals RB Chase Brown<\/a> end up in the mix.<\/p>\n Depending on the preparation time, the CFL could lose its players for two or three weeks. The league could opt for a hiatus. They could schedule bye weeks for the particular teams most affected. They could just continue on and have teams use second-stringers.<\/p>\n The International exposure for the league and particular teams would be massive of course. It\u2019s advertising the CFL could never afford. Imagine if a team with Rourke and other CFL standouts goes to L.A. 2028 and shows well?<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cObviously Grey Cups are what I\u2019m going after, but in a career retrospect in 20 years to be able say that I was on an Olympic team and we won gold against the U.S. on their soil? That would be pretty special, considering the journey that I\u2019ve had and my time in the United States,\u201d said Rourke, referencing him bouncing between the practice rosters of four NFL teams without ever getting a legitimate crack at playing time before coming back to the Leos in 2024.\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s led me to being a really proud Canadian based off my time in the States.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt (Olympic success) would mean a lot to me. I never pictured it would be an option. That\u2019s why I want to make sure I\u2019m doing my due diligence here.\u201d<\/p>\n Rourke says that the Lions\u2019 strong finish to last season \u2014 they won seven straight games before losing 24-21 to the Saskatchewan Roughriders<\/a> in the Western Final \u2014 has bolstered the team and he\u2019s been impressed by how many players opted to stay in the Lower Mainland in the off-season to train.<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The regular season for B.C. kicks off June 13 with a visit to the \u2018Riders<\/a> and the Lions\u2019 home-opener is June 27 when the Calgary Stampeders come to the Apple Bowl in Kelowna to face B.C.<\/p>\n The Lions will be based out of Kelowna for the first few weeks of the season due to the World Cup taking over B.C. Place<\/a>. The Leos\u2019 first game at the downtown dome is July 25, when the Toronto Argonauts come to town.<\/p>\n \u201cTouchdown Pacific in 2024 was a really cool experience for us,\u201d said Rourke, pointing to a game against the Ottawa Redblacks that the Lions hosted at Victoria\u2019s Royal Athletic Park. \u201cWe were in the community that week. Practices were well-attended. We did a fan fest downtown. The game had a college-bowl game environment.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re expecting Kelowna to be similar. We\u2019re in the community. We\u2019re getting closer as a team. Overall, I think it\u2019s really great that our owner (Amar Roman) has committed to playing in B.C. rather than the alternative (playing just road games). We\u2019re excited about it.\u201d<\/p>\n SEwen@postmedia.com<\/a><\/p>\n x.com\/@SteveEwen<\/a><\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n B.C. Lions kicker Sean Whyte insists his 19th CFL season could be among his best ever<\/p>\n![\"bc](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/png1104nlions-04_289681310.jpg\")
B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO \/PNGArticle content<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.8.1\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-vp.svg\"){kind=logo}
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