Rugby has a reputation as a rough and tumble game – and that’s what Grade 11 Hugh McRoberts’ student Aveena Zhao likes about it.
To be a good rugby player, you need to be aggressive and enjoy tackling and running fast, but Aveena doesn’t necessarily think it’s more dangerous than other sports.
In fact, she does competitive cheerleading, and that can be more dangerous than rugby.
In rugby, her feet are squarely on the ground compared to cheerleading where you can get lifted and thrown in the air.
“If you fall and get hit (in rugby), it’s not as bad as people falling on you,” she said, although she enjoys her cheerleading as well.
Aveena recently returned from Calgary after playing on the provincial U16 team in the Western Canadian Championships. Joining her on the team was another Richmond rugby player, Ayana Titifanua who plays with the Bayside Sharks RFC.
The BC Bears ended the championship in second place, after being beaten by the Ontario Blues 14-0 in the final.
The BC Bears U16 girls team started the championship tournament by beating the Alberta Wolfpack 32-0. Next up, they were against the Ontario Blues who trounced them with a 41-5 win.
But the Bears rallied in their next game against Rugby Saskatchewan, taking a decisive 42-6 win. This set them up for the semifinals.
They faced the Wolfpack once again, and won in another shutout with the final score 10-0 which meant they were headed for the finals.
But Ontario would be the Bears’ nemesis again, shutting them out of the scoreboard with their 14-0 win.
Aveena puts the loss down to some mistakes made in the game, and she’s confident they’d tie them or even win in a rematch.
‘I love tackling’
Aveena has tried to convince some of her friends to play rugby but there is resistance, largely because the game’s aggressive reputation.
For Aveena, rugby is just a lot of fun and a way to release stress due to its physical nature.
“I love tackling,” Aveena told the Richmond News. “It’s an aggressive sport – you can’t be gentle.”
After a couple years of playing, Aveena said she started to get her stride in her second year of playing.
“Last year was the year it really clicked,” Aveena said, especially, she added, as she figured out the “weird rules.”
Part of that is confidence, Aveena said, something that has grown for her since she started playing two years ago.
Rugby requires players to focus on the moment and be aware of their surroundings as they play – and, above all, not to be scared of the other team, Aveena said.
“You have to be present, run hard, pass, tackle – you can’t be running slowly,” she added.
There is a lot of trust needed to play rugby, however, she explained, knowing your teammates have your back when you’re tackling, passing or running.
Selection to the BC Bears took place this spring, and Aveena was chosen to the 24-player team out of a pool of about a hundred players.
With the provincials behind her as a U16 player, Aveena’s next goal is to get on the U18 team next year, and hopefully one day qualify for Team Canada.
