All instructors and players are insured with BC Rugby and Rugby Canada as part of their Subscription and membership.
Contact the club directly on squamishyouthrugby@gmail.com
Contact the club directly on squamishyouthrugby@gmail.com
Meet the Coaches
James Butterworth (Director of Youth Rugby & u12 Coach) lives in Squamish with his wife Tegan, for a little over 10 years since emigrating to Canada from England back in 2007. They have two young children, Seren (8) and Cai (5), who both enjoy playing rugby for the Axemen.
Originally from Surrey in the South East England, James was born into a very sporting family. Having been introduced to rugby from birth, he started playing mini rugby at the age of 5, progressing through the youth age groups up to senior level rugby. He continued to play for over twenty years as a Fly Half, enjoying 1st XV rugby for several well established clubs, his University side and even representing both County and Division levels. Having followed in his fathers footsteps in to coaching, this will be James’ 6th season as a coach for the youth rugby club which he is thoroughly enjoying. It gives him great pleasure passing on his knowledge so that the local kids can also experience the great things rugby has to offer.
In his spare time, James also enjoys hiking with the family around the Sea to Sky corridor, trips to the lake and skiing up at Whistler Blackcomb.
Originally from Surrey in the South East England, James was born into a very sporting family. Having been introduced to rugby from birth, he started playing mini rugby at the age of 5, progressing through the youth age groups up to senior level rugby. He continued to play for over twenty years as a Fly Half, enjoying 1st XV rugby for several well established clubs, his University side and even representing both County and Division levels. Having followed in his fathers footsteps in to coaching, this will be James’ 6th season as a coach for the youth rugby club which he is thoroughly enjoying. It gives him great pleasure passing on his knowledge so that the local kids can also experience the great things rugby has to offer.
In his spare time, James also enjoys hiking with the family around the Sea to Sky corridor, trips to the lake and skiing up at Whistler Blackcomb.
Megan MacDonald (u12 Coach)
Marek Hollin-Taylor (u14 Coach) lives in Brackendale with his wife and two young kids. He was first introduced to the Axemen back in 2016, when his son started playing at the age of 6.
Originally from Sydney, Australia, Marek played for the Drummoye Reds Colts.
Back in 2018, Marek stepped up into the Coaching role for the U/13 when Sean went in for ankle surgery. He’s since established himself as a strong Coach, which he’s really enjoying the enthusiasm of this age group and is seeing some amazing results.
In Marek’s spare time, he can also be seen around Squamish on his mountain bike or off on snow boarding adventures in Whistler and the surrounding backcountry.
Originally from Sydney, Australia, Marek played for the Drummoye Reds Colts.
Back in 2018, Marek stepped up into the Coaching role for the U/13 when Sean went in for ankle surgery. He’s since established himself as a strong Coach, which he’s really enjoying the enthusiasm of this age group and is seeing some amazing results.
In Marek’s spare time, he can also be seen around Squamish on his mountain bike or off on snow boarding adventures in Whistler and the surrounding backcountry.
Matt Westwood's (u14 Coach) passion for rugby began when he started playing as a flanker for Box Hill RUFC u14's in Melbourne Australia, also playing with school teams. After moving on from contact rugby in his late 20's, he kept on playing competitive touch rugby.
In 2003 Matt was a founding member of the Vancouver Touch Rugby drop-in game. With the Axemen, Matt's assisted with coaching with the Youth teams, trained with & assisted the Senior teams, and started up a weekly drop-in community touch game for all-comers.
Matt loves the game & community of rugby for what it can do for each and every one of us.
In 2003 Matt was a founding member of the Vancouver Touch Rugby drop-in game. With the Axemen, Matt's assisted with coaching with the Youth teams, trained with & assisted the Senior teams, and started up a weekly drop-in community touch game for all-comers.
Matt loves the game & community of rugby for what it can do for each and every one of us.
Jack Crompton (u14 Girls Coach) played rugby through high school and in University. He moved to Whistler in 1998 and played a couple years with the Hoary Marmot (Whistler’s retired rugby club).
Jack is convinced rugby is more than a game. It’s a joy. It’s a family. It’s community. This is Jack's first time back coaching rugby in over 15 years and he's so happy to be back.
Jack is convinced rugby is more than a game. It’s a joy. It’s a family. It’s community. This is Jack's first time back coaching rugby in over 15 years and he's so happy to be back.
Alistair McCrone (u16 Coach) has worked and lived in Squamish since 2011 when he returned to the coast from almost 15 years in the interior. His wife, Meghan, and he live in Brackendale with their two kids, Owen (10) and Clara (5). Megan is a potter and teacher and Alistair works for the Ministry of Forests. Most of the rugby mad McCrone family lives in Scotland and Alistair emigrated to Canada from Britain when he was just two. Which is sad because he hasn’t been able to take advantage of the frequent family visits to Murrayfield. Alistair played rugby all through high school at Shawnigan Lake School, on the North Vancouver Island rep team and at UBC for a few years until he was sidelined by injury. After that he dabbled in club rugby on and off. Alistair always played flanker and has really enjoy working with the kids to develop their technical skills as forwards. The backs may get the glory but don’t let that fool you the forwards make it all happen.
Alistair has been helping out and coaching with the club since his son Owen started playing 4 seasons ago, seeing our youth club grow from the smallest in the lower mainland to one of the largest. Alistair has expressed that ‘It’s a real joy to see the success the club is having and how well the kids are progressing in the sport’. In addition to coaching rugby Alistair has also coached X-Country skiing with the Sea to Sky Nordics and soccer in the past.
Alistair has been helping out and coaching with the club since his son Owen started playing 4 seasons ago, seeing our youth club grow from the smallest in the lower mainland to one of the largest. Alistair has expressed that ‘It’s a real joy to see the success the club is having and how well the kids are progressing in the sport’. In addition to coaching rugby Alistair has also coached X-Country skiing with the Sea to Sky Nordics and soccer in the past.
