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GRITTY RUN – Emile St-Pierre runs with the ball as he gets support from Charlie Feht and Colin Schut during a game at the Midnight Sun Sevens rugby tournament in Anchorage. Photo courtesy of LINDSAY CASKENETTE

Gold Diggers strike bronze in Anchorage

Rugby roots are starting to take hold in Whitehorse.

By Marissa Tiel on June 23, 2016

Rugby roots are starting to take hold in Whitehorse.

In what was only the second effort by the competitive men’s team, the Gold Diggers, at a tournament, they clinched bronze.

After losing only two games at the Midnight Sun Sevens tournament in Anchorage, the team was turning heads, said player Mike Fancie.

“A lot of people told us they were excited to watch us play,” he said.

The team’s only other tournament was this same event last year. It’s only the second year for the club, which was resurrected from the Whitehorse Wolverines, which were active in the 90s.

Fancie credits better preparation to this year’s strong showing.

“It was a really big contrast to last year,” he said. “This year we had the numbers, fitness, and ball handling skills that were all working in our favour.”

The Gold Diggers brought 12 men’s players to the tournament and four women.

The ladies broke up and played with other women’s teams in attendance.

Fancie is looking to grow the rugby program in Whitehorse and was excited that the ladies decided to make the trek to Anchorage to compete.

For the tournament, teams required a minimum of seven athletes to play, with spares sitting on the bench.

“It’s tough because you’re asking people to play with strangers,” said Fancie of the Whitehorse female rugby players.

“But it speaks to the culture of rugby that we can bring four people and they can tag along and join in without there being any hangups.”

The games that the men didn’t win, were still close, missing points from not converting their trys.

“They were competitive. They were all good games. I’m excited that we came really close to winning the games that we didn’t,” said Fancie. “We have a really bright future ahead of us.”

With the success of the club in Anchorage and the inclusion of rugby sevens in this summer’s Rio Olympics, Fancie hopes there will be a platform in the community to offer more rugby opportunities, especially in schools.

The competitive team is now “back to the grind,” and is considering attending a 10-a-side tournament in Fairbanks in July.

Touch rugby games continue Monday nights with competitive practices on Thursdays.

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