The Port Alberni Black Sheep Rugby Club is ready for the start of the 2025-26 season after a whirlwind tour of Australia earlier this year.
The Div. 1 men's team spent a total of 19 days in Australia this July for the British & Irish Lions tour. The British & Irish Lions, a team made up of players representing England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, plays a series every four years, rotating between the countries of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
During their time in Australia, the Black Sheep had a chance to play five games against smaller clubs from Australia and the British Isles. But they also had a chance to watch some "high-level" rugby action, said the club's head coach Jas Purewal.
"Seeing that level of love for rugby was overwhelming," Purewal said.
He described stadiums "packed" with tens of thousands of spectators and posters plastered up all over the country with pictures of rugby stars. In Melbourne, the Black Sheep had a chance to watch the Lions play against Australia in "one of the most intense games you'll ever see," said Purewal. It was a come-from-behind win for the Lions that came down to the final minute, with the Lions scoring a try on a controversial call.
"We went out to the bar afterwards, and everyone was talking about that play," said Purewal. "It was playing over and over again on every TV. It was like the Stanley Cup Final."
The tour was a successful one for the Black Sheep, who won four out of five of their matches. The first was a 44-32 win against the Mosman Rugby Club in Sydney. Next, they travelled to Kiama in New South Wales to play against Black Sheep president John Symington's former club, where they won the game 47-24. They also picked up a 45-22 win against the Brisbane Wests Bulldogs and a 15-10 win in Melbourne.
Their final match of the tour was a 25-10 loss against Melbourne.
"We were pretty tapped out at that point," said Purewal.
Outside of rugby, the Black Sheep kept busy by visiting tourist spots, like the Sydney Opera House. They also took excursions to the Gold Coast and Manly Island and had a jetboat outing.
"They didn't get a lot of sleep," Purewal laughed. "We definitely kept them busy. It was hard work, but I'm really proud of our guys."
The Black Sheep spent several years planning their excursion "down under." The club has taken international trips previously, to places like the United Kingdom and New Zealand, but the British & Irish Lions tour to Australia offered a unique opportunity for Black Sheep players, says Purewal.
"It's just such a unique thing because of the history behind it," Purewal explained, adding that the tour dates all the way back to 1888. "It's one of those iconic things. The whole country was so excited, and it really showed the passion for the sport. I think it's really important to expose our guys to the rest of the world and let them see what's out there. Rugby is a world game, and it can bring you a lot of opportunities."
The planning process took several years, said Purewal, because of the logistics involved with raising funds, building contacts in Australia and obtaining game tickets.
"We had some young guys who had to get their first passport," Purewal laughed.
Some of the younger Sheep had a great showing overseas, said Purewal. Kyle Parkar, in particular, had "a brilliant breakout" during the tour. Ryann Tramer and Zayden Crowley, the youngest player on the trip, also played "fantastic," said Purewal.
The Black Sheep's 2025-26 season has now started, kicking off with a three-game homestand on Sept. 20, Sept. 27 and Oct. 4. Purewal says the challenge this season will be filling the roster. Several key players - Cody McClary, Dane Dentoom and Anthony Selva - are still off the roster while they recover from injuries obtained last season.
"We're trying to get some younger guys out, some of the high-school-aged guys and guys in their 20s," Purewal said. "The challenge is going to be getting our numbers up."
For anyone interested in trying out rugby, the men's team practices every Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30 p.m. The Black Sheep Rugby Club is located at the top of Argyle Street.
