There will be a familiar face patrolling the sidelines in Burnaby this weekend at the Provincial Regional Rugby Championships (PRCs).
Tireless volunteer Al Smith is working with the Vancouver Rugby Union South U16 boys team that features talent from South Surrey, Delta and Richmond.
Smith has poured years into coaching with the high school program at McRoberts along with junior age teams at the Richmond Rugby Club.
“It’s been a while since I have done this but it was an opportunity to work with some really strong kids after three or four pretty tough years at McRoberts,” said Smith of his regional coaching role. “We are actually not as strong as I hoped we would be. Kids are just so busy these days with other sports and for some of them it has already been a long season.”
Smith has leaned heavily on talent from South Surrey’s Bayside Rugby Club which also is the main feeder for Earl Marriott — a perennial power at the high school level. His roster features three players from South Delta Secondary’s junior team including George Johnston who aged up to help the SDSS senior team win the provincial championship for the first time in school history.
Two of his McRoberts players are on the squad and, according to Smith, there would have been more from Richmond if they were available over the Canada Day Weekend.
The PRCs are overseen by the B.C. Rugby Union and feature the top boys and girls talent from U14 to U18.
The province is divided up into eight regional zones — with teams from North Vancouver Island, Vancouver Island, Thompn-Okanagan, Vancouver and Fraser Valley.
The U16 boys division is the deepest of the championships with nine teams thanks to four from the Vancouver Rugby Union (West, South, North, Northwest) and two from the Fraser Valley (West and East).
The PRCs are the final selection process for provincial teams that will be competing in national age group championships this summer.
The division finals will take place on Monday with all matches at the Burnaby Lake Rugby Club. For more information visit www.bcrugby.com