BC Rugby – Vancouver, BC – March 16, 2017: BC Rugby is pleased to announce the selection of 13 Head Coaches for its Representative XVs teams. These coaches all come with years of experience in coaching at all different levels. 

This year BC Rugby has added 6 new head coaches who offer insight and unique perspectives to their respective teams. These 6 new Head Coaches are Ryan Banks, Everett Konsmo, An Hoang, Adam Roberts, Stuart Crowley and Walt Brandl. 

New Head Coach Ryan Banks is a Burnaby and Abbotsford Sports Hall of Fame Inductee. Banks has represented Canada 36 times on the National Men’s XVs team and has also played for the National Sevens team in South America and Japan. He has also competed at the Rugby World Cup in 1999 and again in 2003, as captain.

Banks shares, “I am very excited about the opportunity to lead the U15 Boys at the Canadian National Rugby Championships and give back the knowledge and opportunities that were passed down to me. I love Rugby and I am willing to do whatever it takes to make sure the kids are successful, have fun and they continue to play rugby.” 

Also new to coaching our BC Rep teams is Stuart Crowley. Crowley has coached school teams, club teams and regional representative teams. Crowley adds, “I’m honoured to be coaching the BC U18 Girls’ Team, and grateful for the opportunity to work with the quality athletes at this age grade. With the U18s touring to Ireland and the U17s competing at the National Festival, this will be a great opportunity to showcase the strength and growth in women’s rugby in BC.” 

Returning coaches from last year include Matt Gordon, Marlene Donaldson, Shane Muldrew, Conan Cooper, Darcy Patterson, Curry Hitchborn and Aaron Frisby. 

These returning coaches offer the wisdom and expertise needed to bring their teams to the highest level of competition. Hitchborn, who has played rugby from age 11 to 21 and has coached for the last 11 years at various levels from high school to club to provincial, shares, “It’s an honor to be back coaching this team for the third year. The coaching staff of Ken Erikson and Bruce Rainer round out the program and bring expertise and highly valued experience which we’ll need in Nova Scotia.” 

With a strong group of Head Coaches, BC Rugby has high expectations for its teams this summer. Dean Murten, Performance Development Manager at BC Rugby shares, “This year sees a combination of new and returning coaches. With a tour to Ireland for the U18 male and female teams, the U17 male and female playing in the U18 division, and the U15 playing in the U16 division at the National Championships I feel we have some exciting challenges ahead.  We have some outstanding coaches that will provide some great support, guidance, and coaching for all the BC athletes.” 

Head Coaches for BC Rugby Representative XVs Teams 

U14 Boys – Matt Gordon of Victoria, BC (Castaway Wanderers) 
U15 Boys – Ryan Banks of Coquitlam, BC (Burnaby Lake RC) 
U15 Girls – Marlene Donaldson of Victoria, BC (Westshore RFC)
U16 Boys A – Shane Muldrew of Victoria, BC (Castaway Wanderers)
U16 Boys B – Everett Konsmo of Vancouver, BC (UBCOB Ravens)
U16 Girls – An Hoang of Vancouver, BC (Meraloma RC)
U17 Boys – Conan Cooper of Burnaby, BC (UBC) 
U17 Girls – Darcy Patterson of North Vancouver, BC (Capilano RFC)  
U18 Boys – Adam Roberts of White Rock, BC (Bayside RFC)
U18 Girls – Stuart Crowley of Aldergrove, BC (Langley RC) 
U19 Men – Curry Hitchborn of North Vancouver, BC (UBC)
U20 Women – Walt Brandl of Burnaby, BC (Burnaby Lake RFC)
Senior Women – Aaron Frisby of Victoria, BC (Westshore RFC)

 

Competition Schedule: 

Canadian Rugby Championship (Senior Women, U20 Women, U19 Men) – Nova Scotia, July 17-23 

National Rugby Festival (U17 Boys & Girls, U16 Boys & Girls, U15 Boys) – Calgary, August 14-20 

BC Teams Tour to Ireland (U18 Boys & Girls) – August (Exact dates TBD)

More information about BC Rugby

The British Columbia Rugby Union, commonly known as BC Rugby, is the governing body for Rugby in British Columbia and is a Provincial Union of Rugby Canada, the national governing body. Representing over 7,500 individuals registered through around 60 Member Clubs and Associations across the Province, BC Rugby leads and manages the sport with the aim to grow participation and develop excellence in all games of Rugby and in all facets of the sport.

 

Web: bcrugby.com

Twitter: twitter.com/bcrugbyunion

Facebook: facebook.com/bcrugbyunion

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For further information, please contact:

BC Rugby

Cassie Xiong

Marketing & Communications Manager
cxiong@bcrugby.com

Tel: +1- 604-737-3070