TRU Athletics scuttles rugby seven’s pilot project Apr 4, 2019 3:51 PM

KAMLOOPS — If the Canada West University Athletics Association membership votes to approve women’s rugby sevens as a varsity sport, the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack will not be a part of it.

Thompson Rivers Athletics Director Curtis Atkinson says after being involved in the pilot project for the last two years, the WolfPack will not continue. “ We had a chance to review the last two seasons with head coach Derek Pue and assistant coach Jesse Olynyk and made the difficult decision not to continue at this point regardless of what the final decision on the sport will be in Canada West.”

Atkinson said it was a tough go for the program, which was starting from scratch to compete against established schools who also had rugby 15 programs. “It was very difficult right from the start. I respect and admire both Derek and Jesse for guiding us through the project. They were absolutely the right people to take this on and lead us through it. They are very well thought of in the rugby community. It is very difficult to start from scratch when you are going up against schools that have established rugby 15s programs from which they can pull their top sevens athletes. I am very appreciative of the entire coaching staff and all of the student-athletes who showed tremendous commitment to TRU and the program.”