Wednesday's Ruck & Maul

September 10, 2025 Posted in News / Victoria BC / Rugby Club / CW Rugby / Juniors / Girls Rugby / B.C. Rugby / Community / Coaching / Clinics / Boys U18 / Boys U16 / Boys U14 / Girls U16-U18 / Girls U14

CW YOUTH - SEASON OPENER

COACHING SYMPOSIUM

CW took the initiative to invite a consortium of talented coaches to spend a day with our youth last Sunday. This was on the heels of a very successful clinic recently conducted for “#10’s” by Canadian International and former CW player, Ander “The Maestro” Monro. Thanks, Ander.

The Pre Season Camp was blessed with great rugby weather, and fresh fields. An early start saw over 80 U16/18 Boys and Girls descend on Windsor Park to take in some guest coaching. For several hours, athletes trained in a variety of position-specific drills, led capably by former CW players and Canadian Internationals.

At Midday the Junior numbers would swell with the inclusion of the U14 Boys and Girls, another 50+ athletes on-field. In total, over 135 athletes would utilise the day for skill development.

Darcy Patterson and Liam Chisholm explain.....

Lunch and Classroom Sessions would follow, with presentations on AT Work, Nutrition, and Stretching, followed up by some Keynote Speakers.

CW would like to extend a massive thanks to former CW Alumni, current Premier Players, and/or Canadian Internationals for donating their time on this day.

Doug Woolridge (Former professional player, 21 Caps for Canada and former CW prop); Hubert Buydens (Professional player, former CW prop, 51 Caps for Canada, current Pacific Pride Assistant Coach); Doug Hepp (long time member of CW and front row player, represented Crimson Tide and currently Premier Reserves Head Coach); Liam Chisholm (former Vikes and CW captain, capped Canadian second rower, Personal Trainer); Chloe Hill-Huse ( currently Vikes player at sevens and fifteens, VIRU referee and CW Age Grade ‘grad’ , versatile player with BC Reps for six years), Lucie Romeo (current Vikes sevens and fifteens player, All Team Canadian Uni Sports); Emily Samek (CW women’s Prem player who has been on the NSWT squad, currently coach of our U14 Girls program); Breanne Nicholas (National Women’s Sevens since 2016); Julia Greenshields (prolific try scorer with NSWT 7’s, selected as a 19 yr old in 2013, currently teaching at Glenlyon Norfolk); Zech Pilgrim (an outstanding Premier player with CW for four seasons, a Kinesiology student and versatile backline player); Mike Fuailefau ( Mike started out playing minis with Westshore before changing clubs and finishing his Mini, Age Grade and Premier career with CW, long standing and powerhouse member of the NSMT’s Sevens, also played with the Vikes); Andrew Easson (UVic grad, third season with CW, backline player); Mike Adibe (Athletic Therapist, long time CW standout in backs, Shawnigan Lake School); Dr Michael Smith (UBC, professional rugby, NSMT, and CW flanker); Dafydd Thomas (CW second year loose forward from Wales); Clayton Daum (UVic grad and CW long-serving lock, Assistant Coach at SMUS and CW Minis coach); Caitie McNally (CW Premier Women Head Coach, NSWT Rep and member of CW BCRU Premiers 2014); Oliver Winser (long time CW player who has successfully turned to coaching, school administrator and UVic Women’s Assistant Coach); Temi Ogunjimi (from wrestling to rugby, NSWT 7’s rep, captained CW Women’s Prems 2024, studying Law at UVic);and Keynote Speakers-Darcy Patterson (UBC Coach, Head Coach BC U18 Girls, and former NSWT’s Sevens player), Christiaan Esterhuizen (Head Coach Pacific Pride, Coach Canada Men U20).

What an All-Star cast! Congratulations and huge shout out to CW Boy’s U18 Coach and Community Director, Brandon Gerhardt, for organising this initiative. A tip of the Ruggernut's cap to ALL involved.

Relative to Monday’s Musings blog, the writer came across the following Facebook post by former Oak Bay Wanderer Junior player and UVic Vike’s player, related to the early days (well, ‘fifties’), of Oak Bay RFC. Thanks to Paul Carnes for reminding us that in the combined history of the Castaways and Oak Bay clubs’ their locations for clubhouses were many... Thought it might be an intriguing reminder of the past, as we contemplate the exciting new venture on Currie Road.