Image credit: Robert Gajda

By Marty Hastings

B.C. CHAMPIONS

Rugby redemption for Kamloops Raiders: ‘It was perfect’

May 5, 2025 | 6:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — Dillon Alexandre held his baby daughter in his left hand and gripped the B.C. Rugby Union Men’s Division 2 Championship Trophy with his right mitt, laughing while the moment was captured on camera.

“It’s exactly what I’ve been hoping for forever,” Alexandre said. “It was perfect.”

Alexandre and his Kamloops Rugby Club Raiders clubbed the Brit Lions of Delta 45-22 to win the B.C. title on Saturday (May 3) in Abbotsford, snapping an eight-year club championship drought and exorcising the demons of 2024.

“The drought is over,” Raiders’ head coach Ben Littlechild said. “Kamloops rugby is back No. 1. The league knows it this year and while people believe we’re a small town outside of the Lower Mainland, they know Kamloops rugby is a force in the province and, to me, that feels pretty special.”

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: May 29, 2025

44m ago

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Dealing with one of life's toughest decisions

6h ago

The Tattle of Hastings

THE TATTLE OF HASTINGS: B.C. Lions defensive backs talk training camp standouts, Kamloops experience

17h ago

The Squamish Axemen bludgeoned Kamloops 42-12 in the provincial final last year.

For Alexandre, that loss — and belief in his team, a mix of grizzled veterans and sprightly youngsters — spurred him to push back rugby retirement by one season.

“With this club, with this team, we knew we had something special,” said Alexandre, who is stepping away from the pitch due to injuries and family commitments. “Come August last year, we knew we were going to go for it again. What makes it special is we delivered.”

The Raiders ripped through the regular season — suffering only one defeat — and cruised through the first two rounds of the post-season, dispatching Chilliwack 41-25 and Richmond 48-17 to reach the title tilt.

“To win this year, it felt really good,” Littlechild said. “We have some players moving on with their careers. To do this for them, for me as a coach, is pretty special.”

Littlechild trumpeted the challenges unique to Interior and Okanagan BCRU teams, the gruelling travel schedule and harsh weather conditions that stood between the Raiders and redemption, along with stiff competition on the Coast.

“It’s rain. It’s muck. It’s cold,” Littlechild said. “The sacrifices for their family, their time and their bodies is massive and I want to recognize all of them for that.”

Kamloops took an early lead in the final, but Brit Lions – which finished fifth in league standings and put together a Cinderella run in the playoffs – kept it close for most of the first half.

The Lions broke under Raiders’ pressure about 10 minutes before halftime, surrendering a series of tries.

Kamloops pulled into a comfortable 30-7 lead at the break, paced by overpowering forwards and belligerent backs.

Several significant first-half injuries forced lineup changes, but squad depth proved valuable and the Kamloops finishers staved off a comeback attempt to secure victory – and vindication.

“Just elation,” Littlechild said of the final-whistle feeling. “It is hard to describe. I charged on the field looking for somebody to hug.”

Alexandre embraced his wife, baby and rugby brothers while his playing days slipped away.

“They’re times I’m never going to forget,” he said. “They’re exactly why I play this sport.”