Covering the Canucks for Daily Hive since 2019. Also co-host of the Locked On Canucks Podcast alongside Kyle Bhawan.

The BC Lions&#8217; season begins in 50 days.
And while Nathan Rourke still has his sights set on a Grey Cup, there&#8217;s another goal in mind.
The 27-year-old <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DVzmhcVj7Na/?igsh=MTY0d25kYmhkbW5naw%3D%3D" target="_blank">recently joined</a> the Vancity Vice of B.C. Adult Flag Football League to help with his ambitions of representing Canada in flag football at the 2028 Olympics.
Even though Rourke is the reigning Most Outstanding Player in the CFL, he isn&#8217;t taking the opportunity to play in the Olympics lightly.
&#8220;I think I would be ignorant to say that I could just go and play it right away,&#8221; Rourke <a href="https://3downnation.com/2025/11/14/its-a-different-sport-cfl-m-o-p-nathan-rourke-uncertain-hes-best-fit-to-quarterback-canadas-olympic-flag-football-team/" target="_blank">told 3 Down Nation back in November.</a>
&#8220;[Flag football] is a little bit different, and as much as I’d love to give my best shot, I think there are people that are more equipped for it at the moment than I am.&#8221;
Well, in order to get equipped for the potential of representing his country in two years, Rourke is starting to play rec league flag football this weekend.
The Vancity Vice begin their season on Sunday at Cloverdale Athletic Park in Surrey, with back-to-back matches against The Honey Badgers (12:20 p.m.) and Hammertime (1:35 p.m.).
Rourke may be able to suit up for the Vancity Vice throughout the regular season, which concludes on May 6. BC Lions training camp is scheduled to begin on May 10 in Kamloops.
It&#8217;s the beginning of helping Rourke realize a dream.
&#8220;In 20 years, to be able to say that I was on an Olympic team and we won gold against the U.S. on their soil, that would be pretty special,&#8221; Rourke <a href="https://theprovince.com/sports/football/cfl/bc-lions/bc-lions-nathan-rourke-representing-canada-los-angeles-2028-olympics-flag-football" target="_blank">recently told Postmedia&#8217;s Steve Ewen.</a>
If Rourke does go to the Olympics, he <a href="https://www.olympics.com/en/news/tom-brady-la-2028-olympics-participation-never-say-never" target="_blank">could face quarterbacks</a> like Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen for the United States.
Flag football will debut at the Olympics in 2028, with medals being awarded for both men&#8217;s and women&#8217;s teams.
While the concept of throwing is similar, it&#8217;s certainly a different sport from the CFL. For the Olympics, the flag football field is just 70 yards long and features five-on-five play between teams (one quarterback, one centre, and three running backs/wide receivers).
Flag football competition at the Los Angeles-hosted Olympics will take place between July 15 and 22 in 2028.
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Vancouver

While BC Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke still has his sights set on a Grey Cup, there's another goal in mind.