Another report from Phil Meyer with the following: “This report came out in 2014, a couple of weeks before our Rounsfell Cup second-in-a-row win over Burnaby.”
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Huddy Huddy – North America’s Team!!!
Back in the day, our Bays principally grew up through the Vancouver Island high school system – especially from Oak Bay High – where, in Phil Mack’s words, “Coach Jono made it absolutely clear that we had no other choice than James Bay”. These Island guys have kept coming – although in recent times, in reduced numbers.
From year to year, a few “overseas” guys have also added in – often Kiwi’s. But times always change – and a hallmark of champion teams is to change with them! As Past President Tommy Woods says: “JBAA reinvents ourselves every so often – so we can stay on top!”
With recent BC High School Poobahs giving rugby the shaft on our Island – Rugby Canada 15’s, 7’s and U20’s to-ing and fro-ing in and out of Langford from/to all over the country and the world – and some players bouncing back and forth between Canada club winter rugby in BC, and summer rugby east of the Rockies, A Whole Lot of Reinventing Has Been Going On over the last couple of years!
Coach Pete – with Bill, Jono, Pat and El Jeffe - describe these reinventions as “The New Formula”! The goal is the same. WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS!!! Twenty-four in all since we started! One quarter of all championships that have been played in Canada’s top league!!! Eleven more than any other club in the BCRU!!!
Our NEW JBAA FORMULA is much more expansive!
· Still start with Island high school guys!
· Look cross-pond for other young gunners in BC!
· Cull lists of players coming to Langford to train or play with Rugby Canada!
· Search corridors at U Vic for players who “like to play with our Bays!”
· Turn over eastern rocks for any “impact players” that RC may have missed!
· And starting this year, try to build relationships with Rugby USA to attract a few Eagles – particularly those up-to-nose in winter snows – to come and nest at MacDonald Park through our warmer springier season.
And so, this year, we have registered some 80+ athletes – keep a wary eye on injuries, and on international comes and goes – field our champions’ line-ups – for Premiers and for Ones - week to week to week!
This season’s gone quite well! Core Warriors in the trenches every game! Our “Nationals” (Canada and USA) in play - when not in play around the world! A home game Premier semi-final at The Mac next Saturday! Then a First Division semi on the mainland two weeks hence! JUST WHERE WE WANT TO BE!!! Semi-Finalists in both leagues! North America’s Team!!!
We are now finally in the home stretch! Two big games left – against two big teams! We have advantage! Mind and muscle memory of championships before! The last, our sky high triumph at Wallace Field last year!
In earlier days, we were a smaller Premier squad. Some 20 guys or so who’d played together pretty much all year. Now, our team construction more complex – expanded comings – goings – into/out of our teams. But now, our guys are tightening – shoulder to shoulder – heart to heart – pulled closer by the chance TO BE A CHAMPION once again!!! Driven on by the experience of WHAT IT IS TO BE A BAY!!!
If any still wonder what this is – you weren’t at Barry Robbins’ Fight Night last Thursday at The House of Bays!!! The most stirring rendition of Oh Canada I have ever heard – led and insisted on by Vader, a current spiritual leader. Sixteen JBAA Warriors, delivering and taking lumps – spreading blood liberally - all for our Champion JBAA Rugby Team. Current Canada’s in the crowd – Philley Mack, Whitey, Connor, Junior, Nick, J-Ross – Canada’s from before! Our Eagles Nick and Graham adding in! Viker compadres in the House. All joining in the rhythm, sound and mayhem of this unique JBAA night. Egged on by undulations from our swishy James Bay ladies, swaying moth-like round these pugilistic flames!!!
We will publish our line-ups later in the week. Whoever is available – our Premier line-up will be damn good! On paper, probably better than the Champions who stepped on-field last year. Whether we, in fact, again reach the levels of past Champions will depend, as always, on how we play. All together! Intensity and focus! Playing like our Bays have always played in big games from before!
Huddy Huddy Bays – You Will Decide!!!
Phil Mack Capping Wednesday, April 23 at The House of Bays!
This Wednesday, an important event in our long Bays’ history will occur at The House of Bays. Between 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM, a fund raiser will be held to support the newly formed Vancouver Island First Nation Sevens Rugby Team – The Thunder. Phil Mack is coaching the team – John Lyle – another proud First Nations rugby man – is managing the team. During the event, Phil will be presented with a Canada cap, in a unique First Nations Capping Ceremony.
Entrance to this Thunder Fundraiser will be $25 at the door. Thunder jerseys, signed First Nation prints and art pieces - and other rugby memorabilia - will be available for purchase. There will also be some cool auction items. A $100 VIP entrance fee will get you a signed print – and further help this worthy rugby initiative. Canada 7’s players will attend.
Our Bays have a proud history of First Nations players in our line-up. Phil Mack and Crosby Stewart are only two recent among these. Olde Star Les Underwood tells the story of being interviewed for some financial grant that JBAA was applying for back in the day – and being questioned by an officious woman.
“Does JBAA have a program to assist First Nations people?” she asked.
“I’m not sure”, Les replied. “But we have four Underwood’s in our backfield – and I’m the only one who’s not First Nations!”
Huddy Huddy to Phil and The Thunder! This is a great opportunity to support rugby in an important way. And it continues our tradition of looking to First Nations athletes Who Can Play, as we build our Champions going forward!
Huddy Huddy All You Bays – Champions’ Season is Upon Us!!!