Show Me Whatcha Got
Stingers Brave Rain, Look to Upcoming Season
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The atmosphere at the men’s rugby tryouts last weekend was focused yet calm.
Having fallen just short of their goal to take home a championship last year, the Stingers are intent on cleaning up this time round. With a lot of returning players and some talented rookies, the team is confident that they will be contenders once again.
Veteran players Jonathan Dextras-Romagnino and Jimmy Bang were pleased with the first practices of the season, despite having to endure heavy rain on Sunday.
“We expect to win the championship! Last year we finished one point shy of first place in the standings and lost in the finals for the championship. This year we want to make sure that doesn’t happen again,” said Stinger centre Dextras-Romagnino.
Head coach Clive Gibson and his staff were all business this weekend. They believe that the team has the potential to improve from last year, despite some strong players having graduated.
Gibson also believes that some talented rookies will fill those spots very well, and thinks they may even push some returning vets even further, as the new faces look to prove themselves on the roster.
Though Coach Gibson has a great relationship with his players, he won’t be playing favourites with the returning ones. Gibson warns players who don’t work their hardest that they won’t enjoy riding his bench.
“I don’t provide cushions,” he said. “So they get splinters.”
Since the expectations are as high as can be this season, Gibson and his team need to perform at their best in order to reach them.
With a good mix of veterans and rookies, Concordia has a great chance of winning the championship this year.
After coming so close last season—the Stingers lost to McGill in the provincial finals—the players know what needs to change in their game this time around.
The players and coaching staff also agree that one big change needs to come from the fans, and feel that increased support could give the team the extra edge that they need to win a title.
Bang echoed the sentiment, adding that the team hopes to see more Stinger fans come out in higher attendance to the games this year.
“The team has spent a lot of time locked away in the training facility preparing for the season and we feel somewhat isolated from the rest of the school,” he said. “We want to see more of our fellow students at home games this year.”
That support may be coming. This year, students are organizing a group for passionate fans called the Swarm.
Consisting of Concordia students, community and athletes, the Swarm focuses on cultivating Stinger pride. More information about the group can be found on Facebook.
The Stingers travel to the Royal Military College in Kingston for a couple of non-conference games, before opening their season in Sherbrooke on Sept. 11. Kickoff is at 3 p.m.
This article originally appeared in Volume 32, Issue 01, published August 30, 2011.
