For Jared Barker, discovering that his 14-year-old son, Caleb, had developed a love of rugby was a bit of a mixed blessing.
Barker loves rugby, having played the game in his youth, progressing to the national team where he played from 2000 to 2006.
But despite his love of the game and pride for his son, the options for his son to play were geographically limited.
The only clubs in Greater Victoria were in Oak Bay, James Bay or the West Shore.
“You want to make it possible for them to play, but I live in Central Saanich so to make it to one of those clubs for a one-and-a- half hour 5 p.m. practice turned into up to a four-hour commitment to allow for travelling time,” said Barker.
“I knew of other parents on the Peninsula who were in the same boat so a few of us got together and decided to create an option on the Peninsula for kids who wanted to play rugby.”
So in late August of last year the group, operating under the umbrella of the James Bay club (for administrative reasons), organized a drop-in day to measure the interest and the viability of a new option for youngsters looking to play rugby on the Peninsula.
“At that first meeting we had 13 kids show up but that number grew, and now in our second year of operation we have teams in the U14, U16 and U19 girls and boys division,” said Barker.
He added that it was the perseverance of the players last year that has made the growth of the club possible.
“We had a very young team last year in the U16 level, and we took our licks, but the kids, who could have gone off to play for a more established club, hung in there and showed what they were made of.”
That team ended up sending 18 players to the Crimson Tide (the South Island Rep Team) for the summer and of those, eight were selected to the Provincial Team.
“It’s only our second year and we are now fielding teams in the U14, U16 and U19 girls and boys division and we are expecting to challenge for a BC Championship this year,” said Barker.
Barker is now one of three coaches working with the club and is thrilled with the Peninsula teams’ success to date but is always on the lookout for more players.
“We want to get the message out there that there is a local option for kids who want to play rugby. We set up Claremont High as our home base and the kids who come out to the club are really representing the Saanich Peninsula. We’re building up to be a force to be reckoned with,” said Barker.
“More than half our players also participates in a Jr. Tide Academy that focuses on helping kids make rep teams by giving them the highest level coaching (current national U20 coach Jeff Williams).”
To get more information on the Peninsula rugby program or to register, visit jamesbayrugby.com/registration.
