Men’s Rugby: Stingers Name Craig Beemer as New Head Coach

Beemer Looking To Continue Concordia Rugby Tradition With New Coaching Job

SportsTristan D’Amours — Published August 19, 2016

“Having been with the team obviously makes it a lot easier on me because I know the guys and they know me,” Beemer said. “Anytime that’s the case, it’s a bit smoother of a transition. I think one thing that helped me was my head coaching experience from [the McGill Redmen].”

Beemer replaces former men’s rugby head coach, Clive Gibson, who took the decision to retire on July 13, which let little room for a coaching application process.

The Peterborough, Ontario native spent eight seasons as assistant and then head coach of the McGill rugby program, winning eight championships in the process.

Despite having won all of those championships, Beemer firmly believes that Concordia also has a strong rugby tradition and that he will continue on with it. He was hired as an assistant coach under Gibson during the 2014 season that saw the Stingers winning an Reseau du Sport Etudiant du Quebec championship.

“You’re talking about McGill winning all those championships, but before Concordia won [the 2014] championship, they were in the final those four years,” said Beemer. “It’s not like I need to rebuild anything.

Despite not having much time for recruiting, Beemer believes that his team will be strong enough for the season, with a few players from the 2014 championship team still at hand. With the prior recruitment made by Gibson, he feels better about the little time given to him before the start of the season.

“If I should’ve been out [recruiting players] then that would’ve been really hurtful,” said Beemer. “But overall this year, rugby is going to be word of mouth when it comes to new recruits.”

Beemer intends to focus on adapting, something he believes is one of his strengths. For him, RSEQ rugby depends on coaches’ talent identification and adapting to their team’s aptitude instead of making up a rigid plan that players need to abide.

“I will still have my same principles,” Beemer said, “but there’s no chance that we’re going to try and go through a wall with a Lamborghini when you need a tank.”

The Concordia Stingers men’s rugby program open their season on September 11 where they’ll visit Beemer’s former team, the McGill Redmen. The home opener is planned for September 25 they will host the École de Technologie Supérieure Piranhas