Outdoor training kicked off this week at the St. Albert Rugby Football Club and the turnout was lower than expected for the men's and women's teams.
"We're lacking in numbers right now obviously because of the late spring so it's been tough to get the same guys coming out," said Jake Robinson, scrum-half for St. Albert's premier men's provincial champions, after Tuesday's workout. "It takes a few practices for people to consistently come out and get into the mood that it's rugby season."
The short-staffed women's line-up hit the pitch Thursday with several question marks surrounding their upcoming season. One of the top players, Sabrina Kelly, will not be available for the Edmonton Rugby Union spring league fixtures because of wrestling commitments. The versatile 19-year-old eight-man/flanker is a national-level grappler who will compete at junior worlds in late July in Romania.
"I hope I have enough time for rugby this year. I'm gone for all of May, just because of wrestling," Kelly said. "Rugby is fun. It's always nice to do a different sport."
The season debut for the men and women is next Saturday at Ellerslie Rugby Park against the Druids. The third division men scrum down at 12:30 p.m., the women play at 2:15 p.m. and the premier men swing into action at 4 p.m.
"We're definitely looking forward to getting back into the season and hopefully kick things off just like we ended last year," said Robinson of the first premier provincial championship in club history. "We're struggling for numbers so we're not going to be able to put a top team out but we'll definitely put a competing team out for sure."
The first 15 finished 13-2 as the Labatt's Cup first division playoff winners after losing the provincial final two years in a row.
"I'm really looking forward to the season," Robinson said. "A lot of our players are playing in B.C. right now but we've got some core guys back as well as some fresh new faces too. It should be exciting to see them out there."
Aiming to repeat
Very few premier teams have won back-to-back provincial titles but Robinson is confident the firsts can get the job done.
"You bet we have a shot at repeating. It would definitely be special to create a dynasty at the St. Albert rugby club. We've been [in the provincial final] now for four years, if you include the second division [championship win by the first 15 in 2007]," said Robinson, a fixture on the first 15 the last four years after starring for the 2006 tier II provincial high school champion St. Albert Skyhawks.
"We started out as a really young team and now a lot of guys are starting families; now we've got to be reaching into schools and keep developing the youth that we have and keep a strong team going for years to come."
Robinson, 22, also spent time with the Calgary-based Prairie Wolf Pack last year and in the Canadian Rugby Championship final in St. John's, Nfld., came off the bench in the 74th minute to engineer the team's only try in the 19-8 loss to The Rock.
"Playing for the Wolf Pack definitely helped me improve my focus and boosted my confidence," said Robinson, who is equally adept playing in the centres and kicking for points when called upon when he is not quarterbacking the offence.
As for the rest of the men's program, the thirds placed eighth out of 10 teams at 4-9 with a young roster and a sprinkling of salty veterans.
The seconds don't ruck and maul until May 14, when they battle the Clansmen in a rematch of the league semifinal. Game time is 4 p.m. at Airways Park. The second 15 are coming off their third straight loss in the league's J.W. Shaw Cup final after placing third in the 2010 fixtures at 6-6.
Meanwhile, the women are in tough after one of their worst seasons ever. They struggled in the Alberta premier division with nine losses and two wins by default as the fourth and last-place team. They had to forfeit their semifinal match because of a lack of players. It was St. Albert's first team in premier since the 2006 winless campaign.
The second 15 women posted a 3-9 overall record as the shield consolation playoff winners after recording one win in league play as the seventh-place finisher in the standings. In 2009 St. Albert finished 13-1 as the league's pennant and playoff winners and provincial champions.
Last year the firsts and seconds were basically the same group of girls on both teams.
This year the spring league will determine the teams in premier and second division, starting in late June.
Elite athlete
The loss of Kelly for an undetermined time is a big blow for the women. Her rugby credentials include the U17 nationals with Team Alberta (bronze in 2008 and silver in 2009) and a metro Edmonton premier championship with the Paul Kane Blues in Grade 10. She also played her first game of senior women's rugby at age 14.
The tackling machine is equally as talented and aggressive on the rugby field as she is on the wrestling mat.
"Wrestling and rugby are two sports that really co-exist really well. A double leg [takedown] is just like a tackle," Kelly said.
The product of the Lorne Akins Crush junior high wrestling program continued her rise to stardom at the University of Alberta and was honoured as the outstanding female rookie of the year at the recent Green and Gold Athletic Awards.
"It was kind of a surprise but at the same time it was awesome to get it," said the two-time provincial high school gold medallist at 70 kilograms for Paul Kane.
The 19-year-old science student captured her 67-kg weight class at the Canada West championship and was the silver medallist at nationals, while helping the Alberta Pandas' wrestling team win its first CIS championship title in school history.
"Last year I would come out for three or four practices a week just because I was in high school. This year it was six days a week. I got Sundays off, unless we were travelling. It was a pretty intense schedule but I guess it paid off. It was a lot of wrestling for the entire year," said the 72-kg silver medallist last year at junior nationals and the Junior Pan-Am Championships.
In the CIS 67-kg final Kelly lost a close decision to Guelph's Allison Leslie. Both rounds were decided by one point.
"It was a really good match. Obviously I didn't get the result I wanted but that's OK. The girl I wrestled is a third or fourth year university student so just being able to have that experience to wrestle a girl like that is awesome. Next year hopefully I can do better."
Kelly was also named the outstanding female wrestler at junior nationals recently in Edmonton. She went undefeated in three 67-kg matches with the Bears Wrestling Club, the gold medallists in the female team event.
"I almost got pinned in my first round but I ended up coming back. It was really nice, just because I wrestled the girl I beat before and she beat me so it was nice to see a change in results."
Her goal for worlds is to rise to the challenge.
"All I want to do is just wrestle my best," she said. "It's going to be pretty cool. I have international experience so it's not going to be so nerve racking."
SCRUM BALLS: Appointments are being accepted for the second annual SARFC Spring Cleanup Fundraiser. The cost is $100 per yard. Included is rake and removal of debris, general lawn mow, garden bed cleanup and removal of organic material. All monies raised will be put back into the men's program to assist with transportation costs, equipment needs and with bringing in import players. Bookings are done by email at [email protected].
