Ian Kennedy
Special to the Record
With its winter season of league play behind it, the Comox Valley Kickers club swings into a fun-filled summer full of rugby-related activities that offers something for every age and gender.
Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. will see the return of Mixed Touch Rugby at the club鈥檚 Fallen Alder facility. Men and women, and youth of all ages, are welcome to come out and enjoy this terrific non-contact sport that provides a ton of activity and light-hearted competition.
No experience is necessary: all that鈥檚 required is a pair of shorts, T-shirt, pair of runners, a willingness to get a bit of exercise and to learn some new skills, and to meet some new people. As with all rugby-related events refreshments will follow each evening鈥檚 sport. For more information contact Aimee Burely: 250-339-4520, aimeeburley@hotmail.com.
May 31 sees the start of Rascals Rugby a program for children aged 6-12 years old, which begins at 5:30 p.m. and runs until 6:30 p.m on Tuesday and Thursday. It runs until July 28.
This mini rugby program has proven a huge success since it began last year, with as many as 30 children running around learning the basic skills of rugby in a non-competitive atmosphere. Contact: Colin Chappell: 250-207-1125 or chappell.cd@gmail.com for further information.
Boys and girls aged Under-14, Under-16 and Under-18 will meet on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m., following Rascal Rugby, to learn the rudiments of Junior Sevens Rugby.
With Sevens rugby (played between teams of seven players instead of 15 and in seven-minute halves) to be included in the 2016 Olympics, there is a huge push internationally and nationally to improve the quality of Sevens play both nationally and locally, and the Kickers club is leading the way here in the Comox Valley.
Already the Valley can boast Thyssen de Goede, a graduate of G.P. Vanier Secondary, as a current member of Canada鈥檚 Sevens team, and there may well be other undiscovered talents such as de Goede to be found here in Courtenay.
Girls are welcome too. Canada鈥檚 Women鈥檚 Sevens team is currently ranked No. 1 in the world after winning an international tournament in Amsterdam last weekend. Could you be a future Olympian? Contact Colin Chappell at the numbers listed above.
Come out and be part of these great summer activities and enjoy the many social events planned for kicking back in the summer sunshine at the Kickers' Fallen Alders facility on the Royston/Cumberland Road.
