Ian Kennedy
Special to the Record
When the national team coach comes up to you after a trial match, puts his arm round your shoulder and congratulates you on your fine play, there鈥檚 a better than even chance you鈥檒l be selected to the team.
Canada鈥檚 national team coach Jim Delaney did exactly that to Comox Valley Kickers' centre Connor Willis last month, and just the other day Connor received word that he has been selected to the Canada U-17 team to tour England this Easter.
Willis is a fantastic rugby talent who has risen through the ranks of the Investors Group Comox Valley Kickers Juniors, the Lake Trail School XV, the Vanier School XV, the Vancouver Island Tsunami, the British Columbia and the Canada U-17 鈥淏鈥� squads to reach the pinnacle he has now attained.
Willis is consistently the star of any team he plays for 鈥� scoring tries, defending assuredly and kicking points with his boot 鈥� and it is his awareness of space and his ability to read the field that makes him such a promising player for even higher honours in the future. To top it all he is an Honour Roll student as well as a very capable athlete, which should see him win athletic scholarships down the road.
Last year when he was 16, Willis played for the Canada鈥檚 U-17 鈥淏鈥� domestic squad on a three-game tour around B.C.. This year he won elevation to the Canada 鈥淎鈥� squad that made a two-game Christmas tour to California during which Willis scored a try against the U.S. All- Americans in the team鈥檚 final game.
鈥淚t was an awesome trip and it just made me want to get onto this England Tour so badly,鈥� says the quiet-spoken Willis. A few weeks ago he travelled to Shawnigan Lake School where he captained the Vancouver Island team in beating the Canada 鈥淏鈥� team 17-14, and it was after that fine performance that national coach Delaney congratulated him so warmly.
To go on the tour Willis must come up with over $3,000, and to help him realize his Canadian dream the Kickers and the local high schools have launched a Penny Drive to help raise the necessary funds. All rugby-minded folk are asked to empty their piggy banks and coin jars to help this fine young athlete make this trip.
Donations can be made to Colin Chappell at Central Builders Rentals or to any member of the Kickers. For further information or to have someone come and pick up donations, call 250-334-1882 or visit the Kickers' website at www.kickersrugby.ca.
