The Kamloops Rugby Club (KRC) provides access to the game to youth from all over the Interior of B.C. In November, Kamloops Rugby Club Junior boys director and U18 coach, Andrew Coriale said, “Three years ago we made connections with a group of boys from the North Thompson region during a high school grade eight and nine season where the Spartans won the zone championship and since then the sport has gained traction in the North Thompson with many new players trying out rugby with the Spartans and leading to more rugby opportunities with the Kamloops Rugby Club as well as the Thompson Okanagan Rugby Alliance (TORA).”
Coriale is impressed with the dedication and passion of this group of boys from the Interior, who have travelled to train twice a week from the North Thompson during the fall season and elsewhere in the Interior when the regional team was training in the spring and summer.
“Their miles add up and they even show up in Kamloops to attend all of our volunteer events, fundraisers, and functions. Our club motto is, ‘One in - all in’ and this group of athletes definitely represent our region and club well, on and off the field.
The club has set a goal of travelling to Argentina in the spring of 2025 on a ‘rugby tour’, an idea sparked by the KRC Juniors Manager, Alejandra (Ale) Carroll.
“These trips are the experience of a lifetime where youth get the chance to see the game in a different country, learn about the culture, make new connections, and perform in very competitive games. We will be billeted in most cities we travel to, visit as many rugby clubs as we can and experience how their rugby culture creates success. It’s inspiring and will be a very memorable trip for all,” said Carroll.
Barriere-based rugby mom, Michelle Johnson, is excited for her son Cayden and his teammates from both Barriere and Clearwater, saying, “We are all hoping to help these young players achieve the opportunity of travelling and playing in Argentina in 2025. We have boys on the U14, U16 and U18 teams in the North Thompson who along with their families will be fundraising to go on this trip of a lifetime!”
The Clearwater Times and The Star/Journal are also teaming up to support the boys’ efforts and every subscription they sell to either newspaper will reward them with a donation from Black Press for $20 for every subscription or $10 for every renewal. The fundraiser will take place from Nov. 15 to Jan. 31, 2024. Watch for the Kamloops Rugby Club Junior Raiders players in Clearwater and Barriere if you are interested in supporting these dedicated athletes.
