Taylor de Souza (L) and Tom Larder (R) are two of four Nanaimo Hornets selected to the BC Bears rugby team (Nanaimo Hornets)

By Dan Marshall

Hornets Become Bears

Nanaimo Hornets earn roster spots on BC Bears rugby team

Jul 11, 2019 | 2:05 PM

NANAIMO – Four players from the Nanaimo Hornets rugby team have been selected to represent the BC Bears.

The Bears would normally compete as Team BC in the Canadian Rugby Championship, but because of September’s Rugby World Cup in Japan that competition won’t happen this year.

Instead Taylor de Souza, Tom Larder, Cathal Long, and Zephyr Melnyk are playing the Prairie Wolfpack in a two-legged tie called the Best of the West.

They dropped the first match 38-6, despite being a close 10-6 contest at the half.

“Decision making, accuracy and work rate is whats going to win us the next game,” said de Souza who took positives from the outing. “The boys are disappointed in the last games results, but I think we are ready to step it up in the next coming match.”

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Tom Larder, 25, has represented England at the U20 level but making the Bears squad was his first time on a provincial select team in Canada.

“It’s a huge honour for me to have the opportunity to represent the BC Bears and also to represent the Hornets at the provincial level,” said Larder. “It’s always good to meet and play alongside players you have gone head to head against as opposition all season at club level.”

It’s been a long time since any Hornets player had the privilege of playing for a BC team, let alone four. The last Hornet to play on a provincial team was Wayne Peace in 1997.

Nanaimo Hornets Director of Rugby Simon Fitzgerald is an assistant coach for the BC Bears and he wants all 60 players on the squad to participate in a positive training environment.

“Our aim is to deliver a program that is obviously a step above club competition but also an experience that the players enjoy,” said Fitzgerald.

It’s been two seasons since the Hornets made the jump from being a Division 1 side to a Premier team and that move has paid off in getting some recognition for their players.

Fellow Nanaimo Hornets team mate Jared Stephens had an opportunity to train with the Canadian National Team earlier this summer because of his strong campaign this season. Stephens is currently fighting fires in Northern BC so he wasn’t available to play for the BC Bears.

The talent of player in the Hornets program is at a level where several other members of the squad could earn their own national opportunities in the future, something that will only boost the profile of the program according to Fitzgerald.

The final leg of the Best of the West will be played at the Apple Bowl in Kelowna on July 27. That match will close the BC Bears’ schedule for 2019.

dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On twitter: @danmarshall77