It’s been an outstanding rugby season for all of Earl Marriott Secondary’s rugby teams, with all four — senior boys, junior boys, Grade 8 boys and the senior girls — squads winning regional South Fraser championships.
Provincials are next for the three of the Mariners teams, as Grade 8 boys don’t go further than the South Fraser competition, with the senior boys and girls teams set to compete starting Wednesday (May 27) in Abbotsford.
The junior boys team just won provincials Sunday (May 24), beating Collingwood in a close, 19-17 championship win after going undefeated all season.
In fact, all of the South Surrey school’s rugby teams went undefeated in league play all season, setting them up for some competitive play at provincials, which go from May 27-30.
While piling up victories is always nice, all of EMS’s rugby coaching staff agree that it’s more about students having fun, developing news skills and enjoying themselves — and having the chance to play a sport that many never have the opportunity to try.
“Rugby is very much on the periphery of North American sports society, but if you’re fortunate enough to go to a school that offers a rugby program … this a sport that everyone would love to play — they just just don’t know it,” said Earl Marriott director of rugby and senior boys rugby coach Adam Roberts. “Some schools just don’t even offer a rugby program. It’s just such a different feel … the culture and the tradition and how people are on the field. I mean, you’re tough as anything on the field, but off the field, it’s very social and and very, very much a lifestyle.”
Bryn Johnson, who coaches the Grade 8 boys team, agreed.
“I love when kids come and try (rugby). I love the parents that allow their kids to try it,” he said, noting the Grade 8 boys program had 40 boys by the end of the season, while the junior rugby program boasted nearly 60 players this season.
“Like I said (Sunday) to the juniors before their game, ‘Go create a memory today.’ I don’t remember much from high school, but I remember winning my blue banner. And that’s a memory that those kids will remember over probably anything else in their Grade 10 year.”
Winning isn’t necessarily the focus, Johnson maintained, but a “byproduct of the plan.”
“All I ask is come try it, and if you don’t like it, don’t do it … winning is obviously a part of it, that helps build what we try and do here. The big thing is giving (players) a positive experience and then usually the winning is a bonus, but because they buy into it, that is the outcome.”
With a provincial win still resonating, junior boys rugby coach Taylor Howes emphasized how “incredibly proud” he was of his athletes.
“It was definitely a program effort and and it’s been a long time coming,” he said Monday (May 25), recalling provincials last year, where the junior boys upset the No. 1-ranked team in the province in pool play, but lost a “heartbreaker” in the the semi-final, finishing the tournament with a bronze. “To flip it back this year … was awesome.”
Alexis Ewacha, who coaches the senior girls rugby team with head coach Adam Van Staveren, credited a core group of dedicated players for much of their success this season.
“We’re so proud. We’ve got a really big group of girls that have been playing since Grade 8 and we have 10 graduating seniors this year … the last time we made it to provincials was when they were in Grade 8, so it’s been great to see the program filled up over the years and kind of come full circle,” she said.
The Grade 12 players have been leaders on and off the field, she noted, and fantastic with encouraging new players to try the sport.
“Everyone gets to try. No one gets cut. It really is such a special sport, because there’s something for everybody on the field.”
All of the coaches remarked on how all the teams’ athletes show up for each other as well, to watch games and cheer on other players to show their support.
Grade 8 rugby player Declan Johnson, who also plays club rugby with Bayside, was pleased with his teams’ successful season.
“I like the community that rugby has. It really brings everybody together and it’s really fun,” he said at the school Monday.
Ridzwan Olusesi, who plays with the junior boys team, also played for two years in South Africa before coming to Canada.
“Being able to just be part of that squad just really brought joy to my face … it’s just the game itself, like the contact and all that. It’s every everything a man could ever dream of. It built me as a person and as a player in general,” he said.
Senior boys EMS player Liam De Goede concurred.
“(Rugby is) much bigger than the game. It brings forth personality, and you learn so much about yourself … you find discipline, and it gives you life skills you you carry on with yourself, like time management, showing up to practice on time, being respectful to peers and coaches around you. It’s so much bigger than the sport,” De Goede said, adding how all the teams support each other.
“It’s a mutual thing between all teams, how we all just show up for each other.”
Astrid Maynes, who co-captains the senior girls rugby team with Isla Van Staveren, was pleased with all of the teams’ success.
“It feels very historic and really important to have all four of our rugby teams — who are already known for being quite strong here at EMS — having won (all four South Fraser championships) for the first time in 20 years,” she said. “We’re very proud of our ourselves.”
Maynes said rugby offers endless opportunities for those willing to try.
“It’s such an inclusive sport. Everybody is welcome. The travel opportunities as well have just been (amazing), and I would encourage anyone to try it because it’s such a versatile sport and also, one that happens to be year ‘round.”