Rugby has a new youthful spirit in Powell River since experiencing its most popular years locally in the 1980s.
The recent resurgence took place at Brooks Secondary School, which started a grade eight rugby sevens team this year.
“Grade eight rugby is played in a seven-a-side format, as played in the Olympics, as opposed to the traditional 15-a-side,” said Brooks rugby coach Jason Krowitz.
Bill Broughton and Jack Beardmore also help coach the team.
“Despite the Brooks players having having no rugby experience they have done exceedingly well, demonstrating an excellent grasp of ruck and run rugby,” said Krowitz.
The team played a short season in four tournaments against George P. Vanier Secondary School (Comox), École Phoenix Middle School (Campbell River) and Cumberland Community School, with each school hosting one event.
The final meeting of the four teams took place in Powell River on May 26. Brooks Thunderbirds beat Cumberland 35-10 and downed Vanier 20-5, but lost to the stronger Phoenix side.
“After our sevens matches we combined with Vanier, and Phoenix joined with Cumberland, to play some 15-a-side as an introduction to what we’ll play next year in juniors,” said Krowitz.
After the 15-a-side action, the teams went to Powell River Otago Rugby Club’s clubhouse for a barbecue.
“Teams socializing and mixing after matches is a great part of the rugby tradition all over the world and something we wanted our kids to be a part of,” said Krowitz.
Krowitz, Broughton and Beardmore, who all played for Otago, hope the sport catches on at Brooks to include junior and senior girls and boys teams.
Otago began in 1977 and, at its peak, was running two senior men’s and junior teams, according to Krowitz.
Between 1985 and 1988, Otago regularly made BC rugby’s Vancouver Island championships but has not fielded a team for the last three years.
