Barbarians bouncing back from tough 2014 season

July 22, 2015 · 0 Comments

By Jake Courtepatte

The senior men’s Aurora Barbarians have returned to form this year, once again becoming a force to be reckoned with on the rugby pitch.

Facing relegation at the end of last season following a dismal showing, the Barbs secured their position in the ‘A’ division only after a strong 24 – 6 defeat of the Waterloo County Pirates in the relegation match. They took the 2015 season as a task to show that they still belong in the Premier league of Ontario Rugby.

At just over the midway point of the 2015 Premiership season, the Barbs are sitting in a comfortable second position in the standings, holding a 5-3-1 record, second only to perennial powerhouse Balmy Beach.

They put up 41 points last week in a dominating win over Stoney Creek, and are averaging 30 per game on the season.

The season runs until the end of September, with the Barbarians set to take on the Brantford Harlequins next Saturday, who sit only three points back of the Aurora club in standings.

A number of Barbarian players have been called up to the provincial level at all age groups this season, including men’s teammates back Jon West and forward Paul Ciulini, who will be representing the Ontario Blues against the American Rugby Premiership in Ottawa in August.

To learn more about the Barbarians organization, visit www.aurorabarbarians.com.