by Natalie Ramsay | Apr 22, 2023 | Game Reports
On an overcast Saturday afternoon, the Comox Valley Kickers and the Chilliwack Crusaders faced off in an intense rugby match at Cumberland Village Park. Both teams came into the game with their season on the line, but it was the Kickers who ultimately prevailed, winning the game 29-15. Tries were scored by Will Perry (2), Derek McCubbin, Stephen Hextall, Justin Thomson with Kyle Hall and JB Nikkel adding one convert each. From the start of the match, it was clear that both teams were evenly matched. The Crusaders had a strong offensive line, while the Kickers relied on their tenacious defense to keep the Crusaders at bay. The game remained scoreless for the first 20 minutes as both teams fought for control. The first points of the game were scored by the Kickers, who managed to break through the Crusaders’ defense and score. It was a very back and forth game and it came down to who can make the most of their opportunities and capitalize on their opponent’s mistakes. Midway through the game, the Crusaders’ Tighthead Prop received a red card for violent conduct and repeated infringements and was sent off the field, forcing Chilliwack to play a man down for the rest of the game. The Crusaders continued to fight, and the tension was palpable as the game remained close throughout. The game was a tough matchup for both teams, with several players on both sides sustaining minor injuries. Despite this, both teams showed incredible sportsmanship and determination throughout the game. The Kickers’ defense was particularly impressive, managing to hold the Crusaders to just three tries despite...
by Natalie Ramsay | Apr 17, 2023 | Women's News
After five years at the helm of the Comox Valley Kickers Women’s Rugby Team, Coach JP Lussier (“JP”) has announced that he will not be returning for the following season. The news has come as a shock to many of the players, who have grown to respect and admire JP for his dedication and hard work in building the team into a competitive force. Co-Captain Natalie Nguyen says, “JP has been an integral part of our success over the past five years. He’s helped us to develop our skills and our teamwork and has always been there to support us both on and off the field. We’re going to miss him, and we’re not sure what the future holds at this point in time.” Despite the uncertainty, the players are determined to continue building on the progress that has been made. “We’ve got a strong team, and we’re all committed to continuing to improve,” says Nguyen. “We are sad to see JP go, but we will work hard to find a new coach this offseason who can help us grow and achieve our goals.” JP himself has expressed mixed feelings about leaving the team. “It’s been an amazing five years with the team, and I’m incredibly proud of everything we’ve achieved together,” he says. “I will remain involved with the club as Treasurer of the Executive Committee, but I also feel that it’s time for me to move on from coaching to new challenges.” As the Kickers Women’s Rugby Team looks ahead to the future, there is no doubt that they will face some challenges. But the players are...
by Natalie Ramsay | Apr 16, 2023 | Game Reports
In a thrilling quarterfinal playoff match, the Comox Valley Kickers Men’s Rugby Team emerged victorious over Brit Lions RFC from Delta, BC with a final score of 80-24. Tries were scored by Brandon Hudson (3), Stephen Hextall (2), Will Perry (2), Nate Bice (2), JB Nikkel (2) and Devon Moore. Kyle Hall made 7 converts with Nikkel adding 3. The match was played at Cumberland Village Park in front of many fans, who were treated to an exciting display of skill, strategy, and determination from both teams. From the opening kickoff, the Kickers looked confident and assured. They immediately began to impose their will on the visitors, forcing turnovers and capitalizing on their possession. The early lead seemed to galvanize the Kickers, and they continued to press forward with wave after wave of attack. The visitors simply had no answer to their relentless pressure, and it wasn’t long before the score began to climb. The scoreline was 54-12 at halftime. Despite falling behind, Brit Lions refused to give up, and continued to be aggressive in their set pieces. In the second half, the Kickers continued to build on their momentum, putting pressure on the Brit Lions and controlling the pace of play. Their defense was particularly impressive, as they repeatedly shut down Brit Lions’ attempts to mount a comeback. Time and time again, they held firm on their own goal line, denying their opponents any chance to score. With their forwards providing a steady stream of ball, the backs began to exploit gaps in the defense, creating several scoring opportunities; victory was assured. After the match, Comox Valley...
by Natalie Ramsay | Apr 3, 2023 | Club Events
Both Comox Valley Kickers Rugby teams had a bye this past weekend, which only meant one thing: CLUB SOCIAL! Players and supporters all flocked the Cumberland Masonic Hall in their best Olympics-inspired outfits for Beer Olympics. Many disciplines and countries were represented in what was an evening filled with friendly competition consisting of Flip Cup, Beer Pong and Musical Chairs. There was also a powerful rendition of the Rugby Days of the Week. DJ services were provided courtesy of Ben Bekk and photography by Kaitlyn Card Photography, both active Comox Valley Kickers RFC players. Thank you to everyone who attended and made the evening a great...
by Natalie Ramsay | Mar 26, 2023 | Game Reports
Both Comox Valley Kickers Rugby teams were on the road to Nanaimo this past Saturday. The Comox Valley Kickers Men’s team won 64-25 against the Hornets. Stephen Hextall had a standout game scoring four tries, with Devon Moore notching two tries and Nate Bice, Kai Mills, Sebastian Lambert, and Raffael Tonazzi adding one a piece. Converts were made by Kyle Hall (5) and JB Nikkel (2). “The players embodied the ‘next man up’ mentality. We were missing some key players this game, but it didn’t show. Nanaimo was a strong side, but we were able to follow our game plan of making our tackles, quick rucks and making plays,” says Coach Dan Mills. “Next week is a bye for us, which will allow our players to rest up and prepare for playoffs which start the weekend after Easter.” Playing against the Nanaimo Hornets, on their celebration of 25 years of women’s rugby, the Comox Valley Kickers Women’s team lost 5-50. The lone try was scored by Daris Forberg. “It was a tough game. We couldn’t build any chemistry or momentum. We would work hard to advance the ball just to turn it over on the next play. Nanaimo capitalized on our errors to our detriment,” says Coach JP Lussier. “Division 2 is a developmental league and we played several versions of rugby throughout the season from 10- to 12- to 15-a-side rugby. We have a core of very talented and skilled players but need the consistency of numbers. I am hopeful that next season most of our players will return and we will be a more competitive side, building...
