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Local rugby player returns home from Irish tour

Rowan Megale played three games with B.C.’s U18 team earlier this month
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Nelson’s Rowan Megale carries the ball during a game in Ireland with Team B.C. Photo submitted

Rowan Megale hopes his rugby career will have a little luck o’ the Irish going forward.

The Nelson native is back home after playing for B.C.’s under-18 team during a trip to Ireland earlier this month. Megale, a L.V. Rogers grad, played inside centre for the team, which won all three games it played.

Megale said the rugby in Ireland, which boasts a national men’s team that is currently ranked fourth in the world, is different than the one played in Canada.

“They weren’t based on size, they were based on technique,” he said. “So it was like when we played USA and it was hitting big guys. [The Irish teams] were just really dialled in on their techniques. It was a step up trying to follow the ball and everything.”

Megale flew to Dublin on Aug. 10. His side played games against Munster, Corinthians RFC and Leinster while also visiting Canada’s training camp during the Rugby Women’s World Cup. He also got to watch Canada play New Zealand, who would go on to win the tournament.

He said the trip was instructive.

“I watched how the other team played and it’s a lot of rugby sense I missed out on. Like when to drop back and when to push up and how to place your feet before a tackle. You can learn so much by just watching other people play.”

Megale was recently accepted by the University of Victoria, but he’s deferred his degree to spend a year upgrading courses. In the meantime he’s going to continue training as well as working on his other sport, powerlifting, in which he set a provincial record in April.



Tyler Harper

About the Author: Tyler Harper

I’m editor-reporter at the Nelson Star, where I’ve worked since 2015.
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