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 confident in their ability to adapt and grow, and they are determined to continue building on the legacy that JP has left behind.
“We’re going to miss JP, but we’re excited to see what the future holds,” says Co-Captain Lauren Sargent. “We’re going to keep working hard, and we’re going to keep pushing ourselves to be the best we can be. With the support of our community, we know that we can continue to achieve great things on the rugby field.”
