Gavin and Lachlan Kratz may already be turning heads in the Castaway Wanderers, as both boys turned into champions at Rugby Canada’s National Championship Festival in Vancouver Aug. 7-11.
Gavin, 15, who played on the boys’ under-16 Gold Team, won his match against Ontario 50-0. Lachlan, 13, played on the boys’ under-14 Gold Team. Though the U-14 team lost their eight-year winning streak, Lachlan then played for the U-14 White Team, which won its match.
“I thought it was an amazing experience because I met a lot of new people and played the best rugby I’ve ever played. The coaches were awesome,” said Lachlan. “We got great kit bags and B.C. jerseys and shirts. Staying in the dorms at UBC was really fun. The most outstanding thing was getting a chance to play rugby, kick a few field goals, and make a few tries.”
Lachlan said he will continue playing for the Castaway Wanderers, and will try out next summer again for the U-14 BC team. Meanwhile, older brother Gavin hopes to be selected for next year’s U-16 B.C. rugby team.
“There were so many great teams that we competed against,” Gavin said. “It was lots of fun.”
Other Oak Bay stars of the event included Jack Nyren, who played for the U-17 and U-18 team, as well as the Castaway Wanderers’ girls team, which saw Ciel Arbour-Boehme, Cachelin Hall, Miranda Llewellyn, Alexandria Bos, Adrienne Graham and Imogen White play for the U-16 Blue Team.