Nanaimo's junior football team is looking forward to getting back on the field. The club is also launching a new website to engage with Raiders fans. (VI Raiders)

By Dan Marshall

Raiders Return

VI Raiders get back to the practice field

Mar 26, 2021 | 5:34 AM

NANAIMO – The VI Raiders are taking the first steps in their 2021 campaign.

Starting on March 29 the Raiders will be back on the practice field at NDSS for the first time this year.

General Manager Josh Williams said his players are eager to begin but their won’t be any contact at the start.

“We’ve got to figure out how to manage a practice with new COVID safety guidelines. There’s no sense for us racing into something and having a player get sick. We’ll be following all the rules and regulations.”

Normally the BCFC season for the Raiders starts near the end of July.

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It’s unknown how the 2021 campaign will take shape because of health restrictions but there won’t any shortage of eligible talent.

Williams explained the addition of an extra year of age eligibility from the BCFC plus back to back high school graduation classes in 2020 and 2021 has created a large talent pool.

“We’re adding extra players but we’re not adding any more teams. I can see the bar being raised a lot higher and the competition at our level definitely improving.”

As one of the elite junior football programs in Canada the Raiders recruiting spans the entire country.

However travel restrictions in 2020 and 2021 have put a larger focus on talent from Nanaimo and Vancouver Island.

VI had about 80 players last year and Willams confirmed he wants about that many players again.

“The talent is out there. Local guys just have to be given a shot sometimes. I think we’re going to see a pretty powerful growth year coming out of this COVID quarantine.”

It’s been a long time since the Raiders took to the field in a competitive game.

They haven’t played since the October 26, 2019 when they lost 17-7 to the Westshore Rebels in the Cullen Cup playoffs.

With a hope for a season sometime in 2021 the club is looking for ways to engage with it’s fans.

The Raiders have just unveiled a new look to their website viraiders.ca.

“It will have all our team information at your fingertips,” Williams said. “Whether you want to buy your tickets, know when the next game is or buy our merchandise.”

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dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @danmarshall77