August 9, 2010
Still lots of activity going on at the Rugby Club this mid-summer so a report is in order.TRAINING
Training for Men and Women has commenced and we need to get the numbers up. So be there Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7pm for pre-season sessions. Women start at 6:30pm.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The big Johnny Reid outdoor concert is set for this Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the new Cowichan Exhibition grounds. We are looking for volunteers for Thursday, Friday and Saturday night between about 3pm and midnight. The jobs will be like in the past, serving and security. Friday is the big night where we need 8 servers and 8 security (16 bodies). Saturday we also need bodies. Thursday is an unknown as it's the opening night with local acts. Friday, we know they have sold 6000 tickets, so the beer garden, which we are running will be busy! Please contact myself at fireguy627@hotmail.com or cell phone 709-5137 if interested. Or be at the club on Thursday night to speak with someone regarding your intentions. THIS IS THE CLUB'S BIGGEST FUNDRAISER SO YOUR HELP IS ESSENTIAL!
2010 FALL SCHEDULE
Cowichan RFC will begin the fall schedule with a big home date on September 11th. The club will host three big games on the day starting with the 1st Div. Women hosting the Nanaimo Hurricanes, the 1st Div. Men hosting the Nanaimo Hornets and the feature game of the day will see arch rivals, Castaway Wanderers visiting Cowichan to take on the Piggie Elites.
As VIRU VP Game, I have been tasked with developing the fall VIRU schedule. A draft went out to the clubs a while ago and it is anticipated the final schedule will be made available this week.
This fall will see some changes from past fall scheduling. The first thing we wanted to do was increase the number of games in the 1st. Division Men's side from 7 to 10. This was done with some difficulty and the schedule will include 2 rounds. Round 1 will be a 7 game home and away series, a mirror reverse of the 2009 Fall schedule. Round 2 will see the 8 teams divided into two separate Divisions and each Division will compete for their respective Cup and Bowl. The top division will include the top four teams from Round 1 and they will compete for the Times Cup. The bottom 4 teams will form the second division and they will compete for the Cowichan Cup, last awarded 1954 to the Oak Bay Wanderers (I think Gudy was on that team). The Cowichan Cup is actually the Silvered Rugby Ball presented to the VIRU in 1922 by Cowichan RFC. None the less, each Division will play each team with the division once and the top two teams at the end of the 3 game sets will play in the final.
The Elite schedule will be the usual 8 game home and away series involving the 5 Elite Clubs.
We were able incorporate the Women's 1st Division into the Men's scheduling for the first time so we will see a lot of clubs traveling and playing together throughout the fall.
The 3rd Division will include 9 teams including an new club on the Island (or resurrection of an old one).
SPONSORSHIP NEWS
Great news on the sponsorship front. The club has developed a sponsorship team, put together a professional looking sales pitch and so far we have seen some success.
For the first time ever, Cowichan will have teams sponsored by local businesses!
Dodd's Lumber has agreed to a major sponsorship our Premier Men's team. This will see the new Kukri jerseys coming in emblazoned with the Dodd's Lumber logo on the front of each shirt. Dodd's has also expressed further interest in a banner sponsorship so look for this coming up.
Craig Street Brew Pub will be sponsoring our 1st Division Men's team with a major sponsorship as well. The 2nd XV Men's side will have their 22 jerseys sporting the Brew Pub's logo on the fronts.
Duncan Auto Parts has also committed to a major banner sponsorship deal that will see them up on the front of the clubhouse.
Other sponsors that have committed to Banners are:
- Debbie Meiner Real Estate
- Shawnigan Lake School
- Johns Southward Glazier Walton & Margetts Law Firm
- Heritage House Trophies
It is very exciting to see local business having such an interest in the club.
NEW RUGBY CLUB
There is a new rugby club on the Island, or at least a resurrection of an old one. Peninsula RFC has established themselves out in Sidney and to date have indicated they have one Men's team and one Women's team. They are very organized, have some good coaching in place and have the backing of some well known local rugby types. Look for a Peninsula team playing in the Men's 3rd Div. this fall and a Women's team entering on an exhibition basis in the 1st Div. Women's league. Exciting news for sure. Welcome back Peninsula!
BC SUMMER GAMES
Concluded last week and the Crimson Tide Boys and Girls had a strong contingent of green and black mixed in on each team. Unfortunately both the Girls U-17 and Boys U-14 teams went down in the Championship Finals in their respective competitions to teams from the same club and by the same score. Fraser Valley, with a strong Abbotsford flavor defeated the Island Boys and Girls by identical 20-7 scores. Thank Bruce Barton, Brad and Alana Skene who coached both teams.
COWICHAN BOYS HELP NEWFOUNDLAND ROCK WIN CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Tye Hamblin and Casey Cavers, unable to suit up for the Crimson Tide U-20's this year due to hard travel from South Nanaimo to training sessions etc. in Victoria, were asked to play for the Newfoundland Rock U-20 team. Both boys scooped up the opportunity and were flown out east by a philanthropist from the Rock and were able to help the Rock defeat the Vancouver Wave in the Canadian Final. Great opportunity for local boys to play some good rugby this summer.
COWICHAN PLAYERS ON ONTARIO BLUES
The Ontario Blues were upset by the Newfoundland Rock this past weekend 33-0 at Swilers Rugby Complex in St. John's. This was a surprise since the Blues have played very well in their three exhibition games to date with 3 wins. Cowichan players suiting up for Ontario were Doug Wooldridge at Prop, Adam Shouten at Scrum Half, Steve "Chunk" Young came off the bench at prop, Brett Beuakeboom, once a Junior for the club, started at lock.
I see a few players on the Prairie Wolfpack also have some Green and Black blood in them with Brett Kelly and Jake Robinson.
The BC Bears will see Casey Cavers and Ty Hamblin suiting up for the reigning ARC Champions.
GROUNDS PROJECT
Is continuing to move forward. The parking lot is done as is the drainage upgrade for the west side of the clubhouse. The finishing touches are now in the works with the fence across the property being installed this month, the new goal posts being installed later this month, the new fields being laid out later this month and the playground re-set on the west side of the clubhouse later this month. The new practice pitch has now been seeded and we would ask that everyone stay off this sand area. It will be ready for next year. There will be some final touches regarding landscaping, a proper club entrance sign and other small issues that will get rectified as soon as more people step up to help.
JJ
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