Thunder Rugby, an Indigenous program focused on introducing rugby to Indigenous youth, was in Campbell River for a half-day promotional camp.

"We are focused on Indigenous youth, but we are open to all," says John Lyall, director of Thunder Rugby. "In the summertime, we like to do development promotional camps... We try to promote the game, and on the other end of it, we participate as a team focusing on Indigenous youth. Sometimes at these camps, we're here to just promote, or we are here looking to identify some athletes to join us."

The We Wai Kai Fields was Thunder Rugby's second stop on July 11 in a week-long tour, with stops in Saanich (July 10), Abbotsford (July 12), and Prince George (July 13). The Campbell River Rugby Club and the Wei Wa Kai First Nation invited Thunder Rugby. Members of the Comox Valley Rapids program were also in attendance. Thunder Rugby is a partner of Grassroots Rugby, which supplied two coaches to help and teach attendees the basics of the game. 

Thunder Rugby, founded by former Canadian player Phil Mack, started around 2014 to promote the sport to the Indigenous Communities around the Island.

"Rugby is still, like many sports, but particularly in the Indigenous community, a fringe sport," says Lyall, who started playing the sport in junior high. '"I have been fortunate enough to continue in rugby most of my life, and it's a fantastic sport for friendship and all the skills that come along with rugby. Primarily, it's a very positive community. It's a group that always takes care of each other, and that's what I really enjoy about it. It's an international game, so it's been something I've had the opportunity to travel with teams and by myself to play. It's a sport, I think with our youth and particularly our Indigenous community would have a great opportunity to play in."

The Thunder team last year went to New Zealand for a two-three week tour.