PAST: Lord Byng Grey Ghosts / Old Boys Ravens
PRESENT: Jericho Beach Park
FUTURE: University of B.C. Thunderbirds
On an Australian rugby tour with the Grey Ghosts last summer, outside centre Niko Clironomos scored four tries in a 38-5 victory over their Gold Coast hosts. This individual output is not what the Lord Byng captain remembers as the highlight of the trip.
“It was the most fun game I’ve played in. It was the best team game we’ve ever played,” the 18-year-old said about five years with the high school team. “We put 10 phases together and everyone scored. Everyone was working together. It was fun to see what we could do with the ball.”
Lord Byng head coach Ian MacPhee knows Clironomos as a grounded and mature player, one who sets up his teammates for success and doesn’t say much about it. He said, “Niko's on field performance and character are second to none and although he is not a 'rah-rah' or vocal leader, he has always lead by example and has the respect of all his teammates as a result.”
Plus, he delivers. “He is one of the most complete athletes that I've worked with,” MacPhee said of the player invited on a U20 national team European tour and a member of the provincial seven- and 15-a-side teams. He was identified as one of the best high schoolers B.C. and was awarded a scholarship to play for UBC next year.
“He doesn’t have to brag,” said Old Boys Ravens junior coach Garret Garbe. “He’s gifted with amazing speed and he’s strong. The biggest thing is he’s humble but he has a lot of confidence.”
Clironomos became the Grey Ghosts team captain two years after his older brother, Trystan, held the role. Both also play in the junior Ravens program that won the B.C. Rugby Union U19 provincial championship twice before Clironomos started his senior year at Lord Byng.
“He’s the best junior player our club has seen in a long time,” said Garbe.
Before Clironomos turned 10, his father died. His mother raised a daughter and four rough-housing sons who all play rugby. Clironomos, born third after his sister and oldest brother, grew up at a young age.
“It made me to be more independent. It was hard but you grow,” he said. “Pretty quickly after, you learn not everything comes easy. You have to work for what you want. It’s made me a better person in a way, not growing up spoiled.”
When he suits up for the Thunderbirds next season, Clironomos will be playing for a Ravens rival and won’t hear his club teammates cheering him on. It’s a short-term sacrifice for long-term gain, said the Ravens coach.
“It’s an investment for our roster for when he comes back four or five years later, he’ll be better for us,” said Garbe. “All the boys he played with love playing with him.”
