A Parksville resident wants to form a rugby team in District 69.
Cal Kingswell, who plays for the Port Alberni Black Sheep, is hoping to establish a club and is currently seeking anyone interested in being part of this initiative.
“I want to start a full functioning rugby club that would compete in the B.C. Rugby Union and Vancouver Island Rugby Union as well,” said Kingswell.
In the 1990s, the PQB area had its own rugby team called the Parksville Centurions Rugby Club, coached by former Parksville Coun. Jon Walters and competed in the Vancouver Island Rugby Union. Kingswell has decided to use the same name, Centurions, for the club he is forming.
“I need to build an executive to make sure that we’re successful and it’s not just me dealing with everything myself,” said Kingswell. “My idea is I am going to start with touch rugby to get all kinds of people out, start meeting people and working.”
Rugby was played at Ballenas Secondary where it was able to form seven-a-side and 15-a-side boys and girls teams. The sport was very popular among the girls as prior to COVID-19, in 2019, the Whalers held a tryout for the women’s team and it drew 60 players, allowing head coach Olivia Hill an opportunity to form two 15-a-side girls teams.
The interruption of the sport due to COVID has led to the demise of rugby as Ballenas no long formed a rugby team since then. Kingswell is hoping to revive that strong interest in the community.
Kingswell attended Springwood and Ballenas schools. He left Parksville and worked in Alberta for 17 years. He came back and started playing rugby in Port Alberni. Since coming back, he became very aware of the dramatic change in the demographics in the region and it inspired him to try and start rugby here in District 69.
“My decision was based on the Ballenas school program, since the two teachers that ran it have now retired,” said Kingswell. “Football has taken over which I respect and played for as well, but it’s not the same thing. I see a lot of people, young guys, young girls wearing rugby gear as well. There seems to be a desire for it.”
Kingswell said the Port Alberni Black Sheep will support the formation of a rugby team here in Parksville. They are willing to play a game here against another team from Vancouver Island to give Parksville Qualicum Beach residents a taste of rugby.
“The goal is to get people talking about it,” said Kingswell, who will also take advantage of his previous connection with Rugby Canada to achieve his goal.
Anybody interested in becoming part of this initiative text or call Kingswell at 780-880-1206.
Source link : https://www.pqbnews.com/local-news/player-aims-to-create-rugby-team-in-parksville-qualicum-beach-7447648
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Publish date : 2024-07-21 23:30:00
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