Even though both of her parents not only played for, but captained national rugby teams, Maggie Banks insists she found the sport on her own.
B次元官网网址淚 grew up playing every other sport around,B次元官网网址� Banks said on Friday afternoon, shortly after her Vancouver Island-Central Coast team defeated Kootenays in a girls rugby sevens match at the 2018 BC Summer Games. B次元官网网址淭here were always rugby balls around, but there was never any pressure from my parents. I found it myself, with a little encouragement.B次元官网网址�
BanksB次元官网网址檚 dad, Ryan, played in the back row for Canada at the 1999 and 2003 Rugby World Cups. And her mom, Heather Wilson, represented Canada in the 1994 and 1998 Rugby World Cups.
Although she was around the sport constantly, she didnB次元官网网址檛 start playing until she was 13.
B次元官网网址淚 practically grew up at the rugby pitch,B次元官网网址� Banks noted in her BC Summer Games athlete bio, B次元官网网址渁nd cheered on the sidelines at the 2003 World Cup in Australia.B次元官网网址�
While BanksB次元官网网址� hometown is Coquitlam, she spends almost the entire year on Vancouver Island where she attends rugby powerhouse Shawnigan Lake School, while also training with the national program, so it made more sense for her to try out for the Vancouver Island-Central Coast team instead of the squad representing the Fraser River zone, which includes Coquitlam.
B次元官网网址淚t was convenient. IB次元官网网址檓 here, obviously, so itB次元官网网址檚 easier for me to train with this team.B次元官网网址�
| Maggie Banks delivers a pass to one of her Vancouver Island-Central Coast teammates during a match against the Kootenays at the 2018 BC Summer Games girls rugby sevens tournament on Friday, July 20. (Kevin Rothbauer/Black Press) |
Shawnigan Lake School is the site of the BC Summer Games rugby tournament, so Banks is at home playing on the familiar pitch. SheB次元官网网址檚 also working with familiar faces as four of her high school teammates are on the Island team B次元官网网址� led by Shawnigan coaches Shannon Atkins, Laura Russell and Dani Robb. There is something unusual, however, about being on the Shawnigan pitch with players who might ordinarily be rivals.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a little weird, playing here with other people I donB次元官网网址檛 usually play with,B次元官网网址� Banks admitted.
Family and friends from both the Shawnigan Lake area and her hometown of Coquitlam gathered at the fields on the weekend to cheer for Banks and her teammates.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always nice to have them around for support,B次元官网网址� she said.
The 2018 BC Summer Games girls rugby sevens tournament continues at Shawnigan Lake School through Sunday morning, with the final at 10:30 a.m.
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