A number of Cochrane youth ages 13-18 headed west late last week (February 21) on a four-day rugby tour.

Francine Horton,  Bow Valley Rugby Club, Administrator, shares 36 boys including members of the Saracens, Saints and Red Deer Titans headed to Shawnigan Lake School about 45 minutes outside of Victoria for a long weekend immersed in rugby. "While they are there they are playing two local teams the Cowichan Piggies and the Castaway Wanderers, they are also visiting Rugby Canada and hopefully meeting the Canada Rugby Sevens team."

Horton says the opportunity to head to Shawnigan Lake is a real eye-opener as to where rugby can take the youth. "Shawnigan Lake is basically the cornerstone of rugby and rowing. It is well known for both sports and many kids go on from Shawnigan Lake School to play for Rugby Canada, so we are giving the boys some ideas as to where they might like to go in a few years time and get scholarships to these places if they work really hard."

This is the third tour for the Barbarians and Horton was excited to see a diverse age group. Normally only the U13s and U15s have headed on tour, but this year a number of U17s and 18s were joining the mix. "They have never been before and they are playing quite high-level rugby so it's a great experience for them as they get to play teams we wouldn't normally get to play and BC has very good teams because they can train a lot longer than we can here in Alberta."

The Barbarians have been fundraising for months to cover their expenses including food, travel, site seeing and being properly kitted up. 

The Bow Valley Rugby Club is happy to expose the youth to an incredible experience that could alter their future with rugby. 

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