Powell River Otago Rugby Club will be facing a powerful Comox Kickers side in an exhibition match scheduled for October 14.
In a game to be played at 1 pm at Cranberry field, Otago will be fielding a short-sided team because some key players are attending the Rugby World Cup 2023 in France, and the team will also be short due to some injuries. Otago coach Jack Beardmore said the Kickers will bring over some extra players to help Otago field 15 players.
“I’m definitely short players,” said Beardmore. “Comox is more than happy to fill out our side and get the game off.”
Beardmore said the Kickers were last season’s division three provincial champions, so they are a strong side.
“We are going to have our hands full, especially with our captain, Steve Quigley, over at the world cup,” said Beardmore. “He’s going to be dearly missed because he’s such a phenomenal rugby player and he is a real leader, so that’s going to hurt.”
Beardmore said Otago and Comox have a good relationship, with some Otago players heading over to Vancouver Island to play with the Kickers on occasion.
“We know what we are up against,” said Beardmore. “My hope is that we are going to keep this a close and tight game. We’ve been really focussing the past two weeks in training on defence and tackling. We had Tuesday night training and the whole practice was focussed on tackling techniques. For our Thursday training, I’ll be going over a game plan.”
Beardmore said the local players are fired up about getting some rugby action and there are more prospects for games. He said the Victoria Castaway Wanderers want to come back to Powell River, and Nanaimo Hornets also want to travel here for a home and home series.
“We’re getting more games and getting more people wanting to play us,” said Beardmore. “We are fully registered now with the British Columbia Rugby Union, which is making a big difference for us.
“Things are looking up. The more games we get, the better we are going to get. You only get better by playing.”
After the game there will be a treat for Otago and the Kickers. In rugby world cup action, Ireland will be playing New Zealand at the same time that Otago and the Kickers are on the pitch. Beardmore said the game will be recorded, so when the teams are back at the clubhouse, they can watch the quarter-final match between the two rugby giants.
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