Howe named Victoria Vikes women's rugby head coach

Source: Victoria Sports Info

VICTORIA - Bruce Howe is the new head coach of the University of Victoria Vikes women's rugby team.

Howe, an assistant with the team last season, replaces Brad Skene who stepped down from the role after commuting from Duncan, B.C., to coach the team for the past four seasons. Skene had been involved with the Vikes program since joining as an assistant in 1996 and will assist with the transition this season.

"Bruce Howe has made a huge contribution to rugby at UVic and most recently he has helped build our women’s rugby team, with coaches like Brad Skene and David Graham, into a competitive CIS program" said Clint Hamilton, director of athletics and recreation at UVic. "Bruce’s enthusiasm and commitment to UVic's women’s rugby is tremendous and this, combined with his vast knowledge and expertise in the sport, will undoubtedly benefit our Vikes student-athletes. We are fortunate to have someone with his professional resume leading to our program."

A former men's rugby player himself both overseas in New Zealand and in B.C. where he captained the provincial team, Howe was a co-recipient of the Times Colonist Publisher's Award for Community Contributors in 2010. Howe has been a builder with the Vikes men's and women's programs for many years, serving as an assistant coach with the UVic men with former Vikes men's rugby head coach Dave Docherty from 1978-93 and as an assistant to the women's program for the past four years. He also coached the Vancouver Island Tide and British Columbia senior men's program.

"I really enjoy it, it's been a good experience," Howe said. "I'm really excited about the year ahead. I've had a chance to meet with some of the players and I think it's going to be a strong year."

Howe has a strong academic background, as the former dean with UVic's faculty of education and the former assistant dean and acting dean of graduate studies at UVic. He is also a professor emeritus in the school of exercise science, physical and health education at the university.

A former senior men's national team head coach from 1978-1983, Howe was also involved with Rugby Canada's elite athlete development program.

The Vikes women's rugby team will open its season Friday Sept. 23 hosting the Alberta Pandas at 5 p.m. at  Wallace Field. Training camp begins Saturday Sept. 3 at Wallace Field and will conclude with a squad-trial game on Saturday Sept. 10.