Thanks to some new players and greater focus on success, the Prince George Vixens women's rugby team is heading into this season with higher expectations.
After a year of practice, Corrin Peet believes she earned her place on the Prince George Vixens women's rugby team at their last tournament.
"It was the first time I actually felt that maybe I was an asset to the team," said the 26-year-old graduate of Prince George secondary school about her performance in April at a rugby sevens tournament in Jasper.
Peet said she had always wanted to try rugby but was a little bit intimidated at first.
"It's a pretty intense sport and it looked really complicated," said the former high school basketball player. "I just wasn't sure if I would fit in, but when I found out you don't need experience I decided to join up. I went to a practice and I've been playing ever since."
Marina Crick started playing with the Vixens when the program began six years ago. She said anyone is welcome to drop by the team's practice it they want to test their rugby skill. There are about 16 women who practice with the Vixens right now with various levels of commitment.
Peet is the newest member of the team and, Crick said it's no surprise that she has improved.
"She's committed," said Crick. "She comes out to a lot of the practices, that's what it takes if you want to get better faster come out to the tournaments, come out to the practices and that's when you'll improve."
The Vixens practiced on the soccer turf at the Northern Sport Centre and rented school gyms during the winter. About half the members were able to make the first outdoor practice last week at the John McInnis school field. Summer practices are usually Tuesday and Thursday from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Crick said after a few lean years more women are showing an interest playing rugby.
"I think it's growing in popularity again," said the 25-year-old graduate of Duchess Park secondary. "It's just about getting more awareness out there. Some people do want to play rugby but they don't know that there's a rugby team in town."
Along with the Prince George Gnats men's rugby team, the Vixens are set to play in Edmonton this weekend at the 45th annual Rugbyfest - a social sevens tournament that generally kicks off the rugby season. There are three divisions for both men's and women's teams, elite, social and youth.
Vixens coach Derek Pue said he planned to enter the team in the social division, which isn't as competitive as the elite group.
"With the experience we have will probably enter into the social division and at least try to be in the final," said Pue.
In January, Pue said they polled the women on what they would like out of the 2013 season and the results indicated most of the team wanted to work hard and see some results as opposed to just socializing.
Last month, Pue, who had extensive coaching experience in the Fraser Valley with the under-16 and under-17 Team B.C. boys programs before moving to Prince George last year, led the Vixens to a 2-2 record in Jasper. The Vixens blanked Edson 35-0 and beat the Edmonton-based Rockers 15-10. The losses came against the Lep Pandas (an Alberta all-star team) and the Strathcona (Sherwood Park) Druids.
Pue said the Vixens may enter the SFU sevens and Williams Lake tournaments later this summer if there's enough interest in travelling, pointing out most tournaments come with big cash prizes and there's a lot of prestige a team gets when they win.
"It's about preparation," said Pue. "What I've been trying to do since I got here is get them adapted to this faster pace athletic game. Rugby isn't a game where you can just go out one day a week, go for a jog and then expect to do well on the weekend. It's about the fundamental skills."
