By Dan Marshall

Nanaimo Hornets Rugby team off to a 5-0 start to the season

Oct 28, 2016 | 8:42 AM

NANAIMO — Sports teams like the Nanaimo Clippers and VI Raiders get the bulk of local sports coverage but the the 5-0 start for the Nanaimo Hornets Rugby Club is due some media recognition.

There are seven teams in Island Division 1 play and the Hornets are two wins up on their second place rivals from Port Alberni in a league that wraps up in mid November.

Head Coach Clive Stocks says they’ve had to use alot of players to get to 5-0.

“We’ve had a couple close games,” said Stocks. “We’ve been practicing hard since August. Our first game was right after Labour Day weekend and it’s been fairly successful so far.  

We’ve probably had about 30 different guys playing for us in and out because of work commitments and injuries. It’s been tough on the coaches selecting the right 15 for each game because we’ve got lots of guys pushing hard to make the team.”

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Stocks says the Hornets are one of Nanaimo’s oldest teams with a history that dates back 125 years, although their have been a couple stretches when the team did take a hiatus.

Currently there’s the Division 1 men’s team, a team that plays under the VIU banner, an over 40 masters squad, a womens team and the minis program for kids.

The Division 1 Hornets have players between the ages of 18 and 40 and Stocks says they’re looking to get back to the BC Final for the first time since 1993.

The first step is to win the island championship – the Times Cup.  

Rugby is getting more exposure in the main stream lately which Stocks says helps to boost the numbers for all of the Nanaimo teams.

“We’re getting a few more out. A lot of if goes with the economy, rugby is a relatively inexpensive sport to play. You don’t need any fancy gear, a pair of rugby boots and away you go. When times are tough we seem to get a few more players out. The tournament at the Olympics put rugby on the map, and the fact that TSN is now running rugby broadcasts also helps,”  said Stocks.

On Saturday the Hornets will play an exhibition game against the Comox Kickers in honour of former Nanaimo coach Frank Baulcomb, who passed away earlier this year.

It’s a 1 p.m. start at May Bennett Park, and it’s part of a full day of rugby there.

The women’s team plays a friendly against Comox at 11:30 a.m., and the VIU Storm will battle the University of Washington at 2:30 p.m.

The Hornets Division 1 squad gets back to league action on November 5th when they visit Port Alberni.

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Weekend Scoreboard

BCHL

Clippers vs West Kelowna – Friday 7 p.m. Frank Crane Arena
Clippers vs Powell River – Sunday 2 p.m. Frank Crane Arena

VIJHL

Buccaneers @ Campbell River – Friday 7:30 p.m. Rod Brind’Amour Arena

BCMML

Silvertips @ Okanagan Rockets – Saturday 3 p.m. Capital News Centre

Silvertips @ Okanagan Rockets – Sunday 10 a.m. Capital News Centre

PACWEST Soccer Provincials

Womens Mariners #2 vs Langara #3 – Friday 12:30 p.m. Burnaby Lakes Sports Complex

Mens Mariners #2 vs Douglas #3 – Friday 3 p.m. Burnaby Lakes Sports Complex

VIU Mariners

Womens Volleyball vs University of the Fraser Valley – Friday 6 p.m. VIU Gymnasium

Mens Volleyball vs University of the Fraser Valley – Friday 8 p.m. VIU Gymnasium

Womens Volleyball vs University of the Fraser Valley – Saturday 1 p.m. VIU Gymnasium

Mens Volleyball vs University of the Fraser Valley – Saturday 3 p.m. VIU Gymnasium

Womens Basketball vs Camosun – Saturday 6 p.m. VIU Gymnasium

Mens Basketball vs Camosun – Saturday 8 p.m. VIU Gymnasium

VISL

Nanaimo United FC @ Gorge FC – Friday 7:30 p.m. Hampton Park