News

The top-performing TORA team in 2018 was the U16 Mens team, coached by Leana Marton and Scott Stewart. They went undefeated in the pool round and took home the U16 Mens Silver Medal. 12 TORA U16 players have been invited to try out for the BC U16 side that will compete in the Western Canada Championships on July 26 – 29.

Coach Leana describes this weekend’s rugby as her “best-ever coaching experience”. After two back-to-back high-level rugby games on Saturday, the team came out on top of Pool A. They defeated Van West (10-7) and the tough Van South team (17-0), who Leana says played a “beat-‘em-up style of game with several man-children.”

The U14 TORA team captured the Bronze Medal at the 2017 PRCs. Many of those same athletes were now a year older and elected to compete in the U15 PRC competition. Unfortunately, only one other region could muster a U15 team, and they were a combined northern and southern Vancouver Island side. The two-team competition meant the same two strong sides played each other three times. Although the all-star VIRU team won all three games, the TORA U15’s side was competitive in every match.

The TORA U14 Women played in a 10-a-side tournament with only 10 healthy players and no subs from the first to last game. Although they lost all four games against more experienced teams, they were competitive and showed strong improvement as each game was played.

Coach John Good said, “Our 1st U14 Women's TORA Team had the privilege to compete at an elite level this weekend. We came in as a green 10-a-side team and left as a much more experienced squad. Our girls got the chance to improve, learn, and connect with their fellow teammates throughout the weekend.” He added, “As each game was played you could see our girls improving exponentially as a team - communicating, running plays, hitting the rucks, passing, and tackling. It was great to watch.”

The Killer Bunnies have something to prove. Every year, they make it to the Dai Dobbs trophy final. Every year they have to fake smile for the team that narrowly defeated them. If the first week of play is any indicator, they have no intention of letting that happen in 2018.

First up in the Bunnies' league hopper was Riskey Wicks, a team that is a high-skilled composite of two Competitive teams from last year. The result - the Bunnies burnt the Wicks 7 - 4. Next up? The 2017 Dai Dobbs trophy champions - The Scarecrows - the very Scarecrows that shut the KB's out 3 - 0 in the prior year's final. No problem for the on-a-mission Bunnies on this day - they took the stuffing out of the Scarecrows, sending a 10 - 4 message that spelled out their intent for the season. Hell hath no 'furry' like a bunny scorned.

At his grad ceremony on Friday night, Storm Fisher was presented with the Courtney Walls Scholarship, a $1,000 contribution to the costs of his post-secondary interests. Only two other local athletes, Sam Overton (OKM) and Joel Henseleit (KSS), have received the award since its introduction to the Okanagan eight years ago. To qualify, the athlete must exemplify three aspects of Courtney's character - (a) a good student, (b) a leader respected by his teammates and coaches, and (c) a quality rugby player.

After 20 minutes of regulation time, the AME Timberwolves and the Helen Gorman Cougars were tied 1 - 1 in a highly competitive elementary touch rugby final. The winners would take home the Ken Boe Cup, emblematic of elementary touch rugby supremacy in the Central Okanagan. After 22 minutes of overtime, Jacob Boyd got loose around the outside to score the try that earned his AME team the Ken Boe Cup.

In Attendance: Guest: Cam Pierce, Clare Cassan, George Curran, Barry Ebl, Chris Haynes, Doug Manning, Chris Ward, Derek Worrall

The meeting started at 7:33 PM.

Minutes

'80 Minutes' Fund-Raiser - Cam Pierce spoke of his mother's excellent treatment at the Sindi Hawkins Cancer Centre on Royal Avenue. A fund-raising event that would bring the whole rugby community together to raise funds for this center was proposed and discussed.

223 players on 15 teams have registered for the Summer Touch Rugby League for 2018. This is the largest number of players and teams ever, surpassing the record of 191 players on 13 teams in 2017. 36% of registered players are female, also the highest percentage since the league started in 2011.

The Summer Touch Rugby League is now accepting teams for its 2018 season.  Last year's league featured 13 teams - 7 Competitive League teams and 6 in the Recreational League.  200+ players enjoyed the summer nights of fitness and fun.  In 2018, we hope that 16 teams festoon our competition.

The Rugby Shop, an online provider of rugby kit and other rugby resources, will sponsor the Center of Gravity Sevens this summer. They will be the only rugby-related sponsor at the Center of Gravity event being held in Kelowna on July 28 and 29. The Center of Gravity Sevens will be the first stop on the BC Rugby Summer Sevens Series, being offered ...