The James Bay Athletic Association, led by Canada’s first World Cup captain Hans De Goede, dominated rugby in the province with eight Rounsefell Cup B.C. championships in the span between the 1973-74 and 1981-82 seasons.
That era will be celebrated with a 50th-anniversary team reunion Saturday at the JBAA clubhouse.
“It was such a tight-knit group. The comradery was special,” said De Goede, twice named to the all-world XV.
“We built quite a reputation.”
The rep was further enhanced on Canada with capped JBAA players De Goede, Daryl Noullette, Chuck Shergold, Gary Johnston, K.C. Walt, Ray Rogers, Ron McInnes, Mick Eckardt, Stu Barber and Ken Wilke.
The JBAA strength was up front with the forwards, including the noted pro boxer of the era, Gord Racette.
“There was, at the time, seven James Bay players in the Canada forward pack,” recalled Barry Robbins, who played on all of the B.C. champion teams of that era and became club president and the current treasurer.
Six of the JBAA players were in the forward pack with the Island Crimson Tide in the momentous game when the Island side upset mighty Cardiff, with legends Gareth Edwards and Gerald Davies, at Royal Athletic Park.
“The James Bay players came mostly from blue-collar families and were grinders with work ethic,” said Robbins.
Much of the JBAA roster was made up of players from the Vic High and Claremont high school powerhouses of that time. The head coach was Tillman Briggs.
“Tillman was the catalyst,” said De Goede.
The late Briggs pulled it all together.
“Tillman brought the cohesion,” said Robbins.
Former JBAA and Canada player Johnston added: “It was a unique bunch of guys. Our coach Tillman Briggs told us it’s better to do the wrong thing all together than the right thing individually.”
cdheensaw@timescolonist.com
