The Nanaimo Hornets senior men's team will begin exhibition play against the Port Alberni Black Sheep on Sept. 25 at Pioneer Park. (Nanaimo Hornets)

By Dan Marshall

Rugby Buzz

Hornets plan for busy fall at Nanaimo Rugby Club

Sep 6, 2021 | 6:08 AM

NANAIMO — Hornets rugby is returning to Nanaimo with fall programs for all ages.

Practices for the fall season begin Sept. 7 for the men’s team and Sept. 9 for the women.

Hornets rugby president Nick Scott said games will be played against Vancouver Island teams only.

“For all teams there’s a slight alteration for the fall season. It’s going going to be strictly exhibition for the first half of the season which is early October until December. We’re just waiting on the schedule from the BC Rugby Union in early September.”

A major focus of the club is their youth program with plans for a fall house league involving six to ten local schools.

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“We’re going to be using all of our resources towards athlete development. To teach fundamental movement skills not just with rugby but to build our future athletes.”

The COVID-19 pandemic shut down the 2020 season but players have return playing weekly touch rugby at May Bennett Pioneer Park on Thursday nights.

Those sessions allowed up to 50 athletes to work on their skills and also get a chance to enjoy the social aspect of the sport.

The Hornets plan to host a day of high level exhibition matches on Sept. 25 to kick off the season.

Admission will be free when the Nanaimo senior men’s team hosts the Port Alberni Black Sheep at 1 p.m.

It will be the debut for Brad Marshall and Sam Fowler as co-coaches.

The pair are players on the team as well and were appointed to their new coaching roles in late August.

Immediately following, the B.C. high performance league squad, Pacific Pride, is slated to play Vancouver East.

Several players with Pacific Pride are on the radar as potential international rugby players for Canada.

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