The Bow Valley Barbarians recently lost a local derby 48-19 to the Banff Bears, but it’s not all doom and gloom for the developmental team.
It’s been a tough season full of ups and downs for the Calgary Rugby Union (CRU) Division Three side, but this is a team more about producing players for the future than worrying about current results.
“Banff was all over us in the first half,” Baabaas player Anthony Battistone said of the game. “But for us it’s not so much about the result as it is about giving players game time. There are a lot of Bow Valley Grizzlies players like myself, or Sam (O’Keefe) who play front row, but here were playing eight man or flanker. We do it for fun.
“You never know what you’re going to get with the Baabaas,” he continued. “There’s commitment, but if the Grizz have a game on Saturday a lot of the guys won’t play Friday night when these games typically happen.”
The Grizz are having a bit of a breather at the moment from CRU Division Two action, so Baabaas games allow them the opportunity to continue playing rugby and to try and stay in game shape before the big league starts up again.
“It gives our younger guys more game experience,” Battistone continued. “They get to play in positions they naturally play in and get way more time on the pitch than say five or 10 minutes with the Grizz, whereas the starting Grizz guys like myself just go out and have fun.”
The roster for the Baabaas isn’t just limited to Cochrane though, with people from Calgary invited to play as well as having a partnership with the Okotoks-based Foothills Lions Rugby Club.
“The Lions dropped their team from the league so we made an agreement to have players at all of the games,” Battistone said. “They’ll finish playing with us until the end of the season.”
Originally, the Baabaas were supposed to be the second Grizzlies team but due to a lack of numbers there were not enough bodies to fill the roster.
“Our goal in a couple years is to have a Division One Grizz team and a Division Two team,” Battistone revealed. “Hopefully we can get a bunch of guys to come through the junior and high school program.”
The Grizz next play at Mitford Pond against the Calgary Saints on Aug. 3 (kick-off is 7 p.m.), while the Baabaas play the Rams on Aug. 5 (also at Mitford Pond). Kick-off is 7 p.m.
