|
Billet program a big hit with high school rugby players: Vancouver's Sir Charles Tupper Secondary School in Edmonton
By Chris O'Leary, Edmonton Journal
Full newspaper article with photo here
posted May 14 2009
Pit two rugby teams against one another and you're almost guaranteed a gruelling, bone-crunching contest. It's not too often that both teams, let alone anyone else, comes away from the encounter feeling markedly improved.
That's just what's been happening over the last week though, as the men's rugby team from Ross Sheppard High School has worked with Vancouver's Sir Charles Tupper Secondary School in a youth exchange program, sponsored by the YMCA.
The reason for the trip may be rugby, but there's a lot more than the game happening for those involved. Rather than staying at hotels, the visiting teams are billeted by the families of the host school. The visiting teams also volunteer their time to a charitable group. Last weekend in Vancouver, coach Mike Lynagh's Shep team worked in a soup kitchen. This morning, the members of Sir Charles Tupper's rugby team will put themselves to work at the Edmonton People in Need shelter.
"It wasn't just about rugby, it was about the whole experience," Lynagh explained. The coach said he was impressed with what he saw from his team while they volunteered.
"You take 22 teenagers into a soup kitchen and you don't know what to expect. They were really good," he said.
"For two hours, they worked and they had a whole bunch of pallet skids and what they did was they separated stuff and they repacked it into the boxes, sorted it through different types of things. (The workers at the soup kitchen) said that we sorted six tons of food."
The billeting was a good experience for the kids as well. Lynagh estimated that upwards of 70 per cent of Sir Charles Tupper's rugby team was of Asian descent. He also guessed that about 70 per cent of the Ross Sheppard squad was Caucasian.
"I think it's a big change to stay in someone's house who probably has a different culture than what we normally see," he said.
Seventeen-year-old Galen Langlois, who plays hooker for the Ross Sheppard rugby team, said he enjoyed the five-day stay he had with his billet family in Vancouver.
"It was an interesting experience. I got to try new foods and everything. I tried some bok choy, some rice, stuff like that. It was good stuff."
Sir Charles Tupper 8-man Delorean Allen, also 17, said he was looking forward to meeting the family of the Ross Sheppard player he billeted a week ago. He said he liked the idea of billeting better than spending a weekend in a hotel with his team.
"What I've experienced so far, you get to know the (opposing) team better, you get to know the person, where they come from," he said. "And when you play it's not just playing against another guy. The best part is after the game, you guys can go out and have fun.
"It's not just going out and playing rugby. Even if we're just handing out soups, we'll go home and say, 'You know what, we made a better impression on the community, on that place. At least we left a mark.' It's a more positive attitude that you leave the place with."
The trip may not be just about rugby, but there's still lots of that. Both squads have been practising together under the instruction of their respective coaches and with the added help of former national rugby team coach Ric Suggitt and David Johnston, the junior national men's rugby coach. And while they're sharing roofs for the time being, the two schools went head-to-head last weekend in Vancouver, with Ross Sheppard coming out on top, 18-8.
Sir Charles Tupper will stay in town through this weekend as one of the 16 teams taking part in the Ross Sheppard rugby tourney, which gets underway Friday and concludes on Saturday. Games will be played at Coronation Stadium and at the Edmonton Clansmen Rugby Club's field at 111th Avenue and 111th street.
2008 Rees Boot Game this Wednesday 6:30 pm at UVIC's Wallace Field between SMUS and Oak Bay
[ed. I also understand the 7s trials will be held at 4pm at the same venue, so lots of rugby to watch if you have the time.]
by Ian Hyde-Lay
posted March 11 2008
Two of BC's leading high school rugby sides, SMUS and Oak Bay, get set to battle Wednesday, March 12 in the 14th Rees Boot Game.
Kickoff time is 6:30 pm at UVIC's Wallace Field.
The annual pre season clash, the brainchild of former Oak Bay coach Gary Johnston and SMUS alumnus Gareth Rees, has produced some marvelous, colorful clashes over the years, and this encounter should be no exception.
The experienced Andrew Crow will lead SMUS, which used last year’s 44-19 Boot Game victory as a springboard to capturing the 2007 BC AAA championship. The starry #8, who has already played multiple times for Canadian age grade sides and who captained BC U18 to last summer's Interprovincial title, is a powerful runner and punishing tackler. He will be well supported by fellow National squad players Sam Skulsky, appearing at flyhalf, and pacy fullback Beau Parker. However, of equal importance will be the work of an unheralded front five, led by tight head prop Benson Ling, who must secure quality first phase possession.
Oak Bay, with Murray Allen at the helm, can also boast plenty of size and experience. Flyhalf Connor Braid and inside centre Dylan Jones make for an imposing midfield duo, with winger Willie Ganong a deadly finisher. In the pack, #8 Shea Wakefield will look to celebrate his recent Canada U17 selection with a big performance, while blindside Sam Lawless adds to an abrasive back row. The bolter up front may well prove to be prop Pieter van der Merwe, younger brother of Canadian international DTH.
Admission is $2 for students; $5 for adults. The school 2nd XVs will play a curtain raiser starting at 530pm.
Starting lineups:SMUS Oak Bay
Andrew Stephen 1 Tony Tiet
Thomas Zhang 2 Paul George
Benson Ling 3 Pieter van der Merwe
Chad Margolus 4 Reid Turner
Taylor McCarten 5 Pete Summers
Johnny Humphries 6 Sam Lawless
Mac Stone 7 Doug Spence
Andrew Crow 8 Shea Wakefield
Sasha Gray 9 Elliot Mitrou
Sam Skulsky 10 Connor Braid
Richard Moser 11 Willie Ganong
Mike van der Westhuizen 12 Dylan Jones
Jared Sweet 13 Lorik Maksuti
Richard Moser 14 Keenan Murphy
Beau Parker 15 Tony Anderson
North Shore Outlook article on Carson Graham (AAA champions) and Rockridge (AA champions) - Birds of a Feather
By Justin Beddall - North Shore Outlook newspaper
jbeddall@northshoreoutlook.com
posted June 11 2006
At the start of the 2006 BC High School Rugby championships, the Carson Graham coaching staff presented their players with black tank tops emblazoned with the words "Unfinished Business" on the back, right underneath the eagle logo.
At last year's tournament, the red-clad Carson Graham team went undefeated but still ended up in third place. In the semis, Carson played Island rival Shawnigan Lake.
The game was tied 13-13 at the end of regulation and two five-minute OT periods settled nothing, so the game had to be settled by tie-breaking rules because games are not permitted to go beyond 70 minutes.
Shawnigan ended up winning the game because they had scored first. The other tie-breaking formulas (tries, converted tries and penalty kicks), were even between both clubs.
This year, the Eagles tended to their unfinished business.
The black shirts seemed especially fitting when the Eagles ended up facing their rival from the Island in the championship game and winning 18-5 to capture the AAA 2006 BC High School rugby title.
Coach Tom Larisch was pleased that his senior players had the opportunity to get even on the field with Shawnigan Lake.
"It was retribution," he said.
"They played the best game of the season. They played with discipline and focus. They all played so well; it was a real team effort."
After falling behind 5-0, the Eagles scored 18 unanswered points.
In the quarterfinals, Carson defeated Magee 18-3 to set up a hard-fought semi-final match against Oak Bay. Carson prevailed 14-12 thanks to a game-saving tackle by Ryan Kerluck.
Larisch said the Carson team will lose some Grade 12 starters next season but the program is well stocked with more than 47 players on the roster this year, which forced the school to field two teams.
The West Vancouver Highlanders, meanwhile, finished 9th at the B.C.'s, defeating Lord Byng 31-12 in their final game of the tournament.
Paul Brown (West Van) and David Owen (Carson) were named to the Commissioner XV squad.
In AA action, Rockridge Ravens defeated Hugh McRoberts 29-10 to take their third-straight AA rugby championship.
In the quarterfinals, the Ravens flew over Esquimalt 53-11 and then downed Robert Bateman 27-7.
Rockridge's main West Van, the Collingwood Cavs - the team they faced in last year's championship final - placed fifth overall at the tourney.
The championship trophy was bittersweet for the Ravens as it marked the last game for influential longtime coach Tim Murdy, who notified the school and the team earlier this year that he is leaving the West Van school to coach and teach at Shawnigan Lake next season.
Trevor McAlister (Collingwood) and Ryan Hamilton (Rockridge) earned selections to the Commissioner's XV squad.
In other rugby action involving North Shore schools, the Seycove Seahawks won the Lower Mainland Tier 2 AA championship on May 29.
Saturday's Final Results: Carson Graham AAA champions, Rockridge AA champions: Commissioner's XV announced for AAA and AA
BCSSRU Press Release
posted June 3 2006
2006 BC High School Rugby Championships
AAA Final Scores
Gold and Silver medal game
1st- 2nd Shawnigan Lake School 5 vs Carson Graham 18
3rd - 4th Oak Bay 39 vs St. Michaels University 24
5th –6th Magee 15 vs St. George’s 45
7th-8th Elgin Park 22 vs G.P. Vanier 7
9th-10th West Vancouver 31 vs Lord Byng 12
11th-12th South Kamloops 12 vs Semiahmoo 31
13th-14th Fleetwood Park 10 vs Kelowna 10 (W)
15th-16th Francis Kelsey 15 vs Rick Hanson 27
AAA FINAL RESULTS
Gold Carson Graham
Silver Shawnigan Lake School
Bronze Oak Bay
4 St. Michaels University
5 St. Geoerge’s
6 Magee
7 Elgin Park
8 G.P. Vanier
9 West Vancouver Secondary
10 Lord Byng
11 Semiahmoo
12 South Kamloops
13 Kelowna
14 Fleetwood Park
15 Rick Hanson
16 Francis Kelsey
AA Finals Scores
1st-2nd Rockridge 29 vs Hugh McRoberts 10
3rd –4th Brentwood 11 vs Robert Bateman 7
5th –6th Collingwood 25 vs Westsyde 13
7th-8th Esquimalt 5 vs Kelowna Christian 15
9th-10th Sullivan Heights 19 vs Clarence Fulton 33
11th-12th Sa-Hali 5 vs Lord Tweedsmuir 10
13th-14th Reynolds 12 vs Aldergrove 5
15th-16th Nechako 17 vs Tupper 20
AA Final Results
Gold Rockridge
Silver Hugh McRoberts
Bronze Brentwood
4 Robert Bateman
5 Collingwood
6 Westsyde
7 Kelowna Christian
8 Esquimalt
9 Clarence Fulton
10 Sullivan Heights
11 Lord Tweedsmuir
12 Sa-Hali
13 Reynolds
14 Aldergrove
15 Tupper
16 Nechako
AA Commissioner XV
1. Trevor McAlister Collingwood
2. Nic Thiessen Robert Bateman
3. Nathan Hirayama Hugh McRoberts
4. Ryan Hamilton Rockridge
5. Cole Alexis Clarence Fulton
6. Chris Price Aldergrove
7. Mitch Sonneson Westsyde
8.Scott Maffin Sullivan Heights
9.Victor Wiens Kelowna Christian
10.Brendan Gray Tupper
11.Torren Anderson Reynolds
12. Alex Hull Brentwood
13. Kasey Gulbranson Nechako Valley
14. Matt Smee Lord Tweedsmuir
15. Kyle Laberge Esquimalt
16. Cole Greer Sa-Hali
AAA Commissioner XV
1. Paul Brown West Vancouver
2. Scott Walmsley Frances Kelsey
3. Sean White Oak Bay
4. Ron Recino G.P. Vanier
5. Jason Tymofichuk Kelowna Secondary
6. Daniel Owen St George’s
7. Benny Thomson Magee
8. Jesse Kliman SMUS
9. Graeme Denhoff-Ball Lord Byng
10. Cam Brodie Semiahmoo
11. Aaron Desmoyers Fleetwood Park
12. Wyatt Hirschman Rick Hanson
13. David Owen Carson Graham
14. Ray Desjardins South Kamloops
15. Ian Manly Shawnigan Lake School
16. TBA Elgin Park
Thursday Semi-Final Results and Saturday match ups
[ed. there was a previous error in a score, the correct result was Hugh McRoberts 10 - Brentwood 3]
BCSSRU Press Release
posted June 2 2006
2006 BC High School Rugby Championships
Finals will be played on Saturday, June 3.
AA Final – 12:00 – Thunderbird Stadium
AAA Final – 1:30 – Thunderbird Stadium
AAA Matches for Thursday Semi Finals (Thunderbird Stadium)
1st –4th
5:30 Shawnigan Lake School 13 vs St. Michaels University 3
7:00 Oak Bay 12 vs Carson Graham 14
5th –8th
4:00 St. George’s 28 vs Elgin Park 8
4:00 Magee 10 vs G.P. Vanier 8
9th – 12th
2:30 West Vancouver Secondary 16 vs Semiahmoo 5
2:30 Lord Byng 6 vs South Kamloops 0
13th – 16
2:30 Kelowna 26 vs Rick Hansen 5
2:30 Fleetwood 40 vs Francis Kelsey 14
AAA Match ups for Saturdays Finals
1st-2nd 1:30 T-Bird Stadium Shawnigan Lake School vs Carson Graham
3rd - 4th 10:30 T Bird Stadium Oak Bay vs St. Michaels University
5th –6th 10:30 Wolfson 1 Magee vs St. George’s
7th-8th 10:30 Wolfson 2 Elgin Park vs G.P. Vanier
9th-10th 10:30 Wolfson 3 West Vancouver vs Lord Byng
11th-12th 10:30 Wolfson 4 South Kamloops vs Semiahmoo
13th-14th 10:30 Spencer 1 Fleetwood Park vs Kelowna
15th-16th 10:30 Spencer 2 Francis Kelsey vs Rick Hanson
AA Matches for Thursday Semi Finals (Thunderbird Stadium)
1st –4th
2:30 # 1 Rockridge 27 vs # 4 Robert Bateman 7
4:00 # 2 Brentwood 3 vs # 3 Hugh McRoberts 10
5th –8th
12:30 #5 Collingwood 13 vs #8 Esquimalt 12
4:00 # 6 Westsyde 13 vs #10 Kelowna Christian 0
9th –12th
12:30 # 12 Clarence Fulton 17 vs # 16 Lord Tweedsmuir 13
12:30 # 7 Sullivan Heights 2 vs #14 Sa-Hali 19
13th –16th
11:00 Reynolds 7 vs Nechako Valley 5
11:00 Sir Charles Tupper 19 vs Aldergrove 22
AA Match ups for Saturdays Finals
1st-2nd 12:00 T-Bird Stadium Rockridge vs Hugh McRoberts
3rd –4th 9:00 T- Bird Stadium Brentwood vs Robert Bateman
5th –6th 9:00 Wolfson 1 Collingwood vs Westsyde
7th-8th 9:00 Wolfson 2 Esquimalt vs Kelowna Christian
9th-10th 9:00 Wolfson 3 Sullivan Heights vs Clarence Fulton
11th-12th 9:00 Wolfson 4 Sa-Hali vs Lord Tweedsmuir
13th-14th 9:00 Spencer 1 Reynolds vs Aldergrove
15th-16th 9:00 Spencer 2 Nechako vs Tupper
Quarter-Final Results from Wednesday May 31st - AAA and AA
posted May 31 2006
AAA Winner's Bracket
#1 Oak Bay 20 vs #9 G.P. Vanier 14
#2 St. Michaels University 27 vs #7 Elgin Park 24
#3 Shawnigan Lake 22 vs #6 St. George's 14
#4 Carson Graham 18 vs #5 Magee 3
Losers Bracket Time – 2:30
# 8 West Vancouver Secondary 18 vs #16 Kelowna 12
# 10 South Kamloops 32 vs # 15 Frances Kelsey 10
# 11 Fleetwood Park 0 vs # 14 Lord Byng 7
# 12 Rick Hanson 17 vs # 13 Semiahmoo 45
AAA Matches for Thursday Semi Finals (Thunderbird Stadium)
1st –4th
5:30 Shawnigan Lake School vs St. Michaels University
7:00 Oak Bay vs Carson Graham
5th –8th
4:00 St. George’s vs Elgin Park Wolfson 2
4:00 Magee vs G.P. Vanier Wolfson 1
9th – 12th
2:30 West Vancouver Secondary vs Semiahmoo Spencer 1
2:30 South Kamloops vs Lord Byng Spencer 2
13th – 16
2:30 Kelowna vs Rick Hansen Wolfson 1
2:30 Fleetwood vs Francis Kelsey Wolfson 2
AA Winner's Bracket
# 1 Rockridge 53 vs #8 Esquimalt 11
# 2 Brentwood 35 vs #10 Kelowna Christian 5
# 3 Hugh McRoberts 39 vs #6 Westside 5
# 4 Robert Bateman 35 vs #5 Collingwood 5
Losers Bracket Time – 9:30
# 9 Aldergrove Community 7 vs #16 Lord Tweedsmuir 12
#7 Sullivan Heights 33 vs #15 Reynolds 32
# 11 Nechako Valley 5 vs #14 Sa-Hali 21
# 12 Clarence Fulton 17 vs #13 Sir Charles Tupper 12
AA Matches for Thursday Semi Finals (Thunderbird Stadium)
1st –4th
2:30 # 1 Rockridge vs # 4 Robert Bateman
4:00 # 2 Brentwood vs # 3 Hugh McRoberts
5th –8th
12:30 #5 Collingwood vs #8 Esquimalt- Spencer 1
4:00 # 6 Westsyde vs 10 Kelowna Christian Spencer 1
9th –12th
12:30 # 12 Clarence Fulton vs # 16 Lord Tweedsmuir Wolfson 1
12:30 # 7 Sullivan Heights vs #14 Sa-Hali Wolfson 2
13th –16th
11:00 Reynolds vs Nechako Valley Wolfson 2
11:00 Sir Charles Tupper Tupper vs Aldergrove Wolfson 1
Playoff results AA and AAA Round One - Higher seeds all advance: UPDATE Wednesday match-ups at Thunderbird Stadium
[ed. game photos for Rockridge can be viewed at: www.actionphotos.shawbiz.ca]
by Connie McGinley
posted May 29 2006
AAA
1 vs 16 Oak Bay 19 Kelowna 0
2 vs 15 St. Michaels University 60 Fances Kelsey 7
3 vs 14 Shawnigan Lake 32 Lord Byng 6
4 vs 13 Carson Graham 30 Semiahmoo 5
5 vs 12 Magee 52 Rick Hansen 22
6 vs 11 St. George’s 25 Fleetwood Park 0
7 vs 10 Elgin Park 14 South Kamloops 12
8 vs 9 G.P.Vanier 10 West Vancouver 7
AA
1 vs 16 Rockridge 77 Lord Tweedsmuir 0
2 vs 15 Brentwood College 37 Reynolds 14
3 vs 14 Hugh McRoberts 85 Sa-Hali 0
4 vs 13 Robert Bateman 50 Sir Charles Tupper 0
5 vs 12 Collingwood 33 Clarence Fulton 15
6 vs 11 Westsyde 21 Nechako Valley 13
7 vs 10 Kelowna Christian 15 Sullivan Heights 14
8 vs 9 Esquimalt 17 Aldergrove Community 0
UPCOMING GAMES AAA
Wednesday May 31st - Quarter Final Match Ups
All Quarter-Finals are played at UBC’s Wolfson Fields at 4:00.
#1 Oak Bay vs #9 G.P. Vanier – Wolfson 3
#2 St. Michaels University vs #7 Elgin Park – Wolfson 4
#3 Shawnigan Lake vs vs #6 St. George's – Wolfson 1
#4 Carson Graham vs #5 Magee – Wolfson 2
Losers Bracket Time – 2:30
# 8 West Vancouver Secondary vs #16 Kelowna – Wolfson 4
# 10 South Kamloops vs # 15 Frances Kelsey – Wolfson 1
# 11 Fleetwood Park vs # 14 Lord Byng – Wolfson 2
# 12 Rick Hanson vs # 13 Semiahmoo – Wolfson 3
UPCOMING GAMES AA
Wednesday May 31st - Quarter Final Match Ups
All Quarter-Finals are played at UBC’s Wolfson Fields at 11:00.
# 1 Rockridge vs #8 Esquimalt – Wolfson 3
# 2 Brentwood vs #10 Kelowna Christian – Wolfson 4
# 3 Hugh McRoberts vs #6 Westside – Wolfson 1
# 4 Robert Bateman vs #5 Collingwood – Wolfson 2
Losers Bracket Time – 9:30
# 9 Aldergrove Community vs #16 Lord Tweedsmuir – Wolfson 4
#7 Sullivan Heights vs #15 Reynolds – Wolfson 1
# 11 Nechako Valley vs #14 Sa-Hali – Wolfson 2
# 12 Clarence Fulton vs #13 Sir Charles Tupper – Wolfson 3
BC High School Provincial Rankings AAA and AA: UPDATED PLAYOFF SCHEDULE AND RANKINGS
Updated schedule and rankings in spreadsheet format.
[ed. apparently the Press Conference went well with representatives from the Score, Province and Sun in attendance amongst others. A good experience for the young players to meet the press and become ambassadors for the sport. The BCRU will be setting up tents at the playoff events with club jerseys on display and providing information on club rugby. All good stuff...]
posted May 24 2006
AAA Rugby Rankings for May 15, 2006
1. Oak Bay (Victoria)
2. St. Michaels University (Victoria)
3. St. George's (Vancouver)
4. Shawnigan Lake
5. Carson Graham (North Vancouver)
6. Elgin Park (Surrey)
7. Magee (Vancouver)
8. G.P.Vanier (Courtenay)
9. West Vancouver
10. Fleetwood Park (Surrey)
Honourable Mention: Kelowna Secondary School, Burnaby Central, Semiahmoo (Surrey), Rick Hansen, Francis Kelsey
AA Rugby Rankings for May 1, 2006
1. Rockridge
2. Brentwood
3. Robert Bateman
4. Hugh Mc Roberts
5. Collingwood
6. Clarence Fulton
7. Sullivan Heights
8. Aldergrove
9. Esquimalt
10. Westsyde (Kamloops)
Honourable Mention: Kelowna Christian, Sahali (Kamloops), Lord Tweedsmuir (Surrey)
The Provincial 'AAA' and 'AA' Championship Tournaments will be held as follows:
Round 1 games (at various locations around the province) on Saturday, May 27, 2006 Round 2, 3 and 4 games (incl. Championship Finals) at the University of British Columbia from May 31 to June 3, 2006.
BCRU announces press conference for BC Secondary Schools Rugby Championships
posted May 19 2006
[ed. I'm usually modest with praise for the rugby governing bodies (especially at the national level) with politics rife in the decision making process but I have to say the BCRU got it right with this move to focus media attention on the high school championships. BC has a vibrant high school rugby culture that has generally been separate from the BCRU and the club structure. Hopefully we'll see more effort at all levels of rugby administration to improve the retention of junior players and their transfer to the senior club levels.]
Attention Sports Editors, Sports Directors and Assignment Editors
MEDIA ADVISORY
Top 60 rugby teams set to compete for the 2006 Provincial High School crowns
Join Canadian rugby legend, Gareth Rees as he announces the teams to compete in the Boy’s & Girl’s provincial high school rugby championships:
BC Secondary Schools' Boy’s Provincial Rugby Championship
Round 1 – Saturday, May 27 in various locations across the province
Round 2 – Wednesday, May 31 to Saturday, June 3 at the University of British Columbia
BC High School Girl’s Rugby Association Provincial Rugby Championships
Wednesday, May 24 to Saturday, May 27th at the Burnaby Lake Sports Complex
For photo, video and interview opportunities with top high school players and former international rugby stars that have taken part in one of the provinces largest high school championships, we invite you to attend:
Press Conference
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
11:30 A.M.
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Cortez Island Room
900 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, BC
Light lunch to be served.
Note: Additional story pitches to be forwarded tomorrow.
For more information, including personal interview requests:
Jeff Sauvé, CEO, British Columbia Rugby Union
O. 604.737.3021 C. 778.228.9564 E. jsauve@bcrugby.com
Murdy moves on - Rockridge coach off to Shawnigan Lake
By Jan-Christian Sorensen jsorensen@nsnews.com
posted May 17 2006
THE Rockridge rugby family is about to bid farewell to its father figure.
Tim Murdy, a fixture at the West Vancouver school since it opened in 1997, has accepted a job as director of rugby and head of physical education at Shawnigan Lake school on Vancouver Island.
Murdy, the current head coach of the Canadian U-21 men's rugby team and a former coach of the Capilano Rugby Football Club's premier men's team in West Vancouver as well as the Canadian U-17 men's team, has led the Rockridge Ravens to two-straight B.C. high school championship titles in the AA conference since the institution made the switch from junior- to full-secondary status two years ago.
To say that Murdy will be missed both at Rockridge and in the local community at large is a huge understatement, said Jim Martin, co-ordinator of athletics at the North Shore Secondary Schools Athletics Association.
"Without a doubt he makes kids reach their zenith," said Martin, himself a rugby coach at Argyle. "They go as far as they can with him. He is a tremendous motivator, very knowledgeable and the kids just love him - they would go through the wall for him.
"Murdy made everybody better. He set the bar high and consequently other coaches had to step up and meet the challenge that he laid out. He will be very much missed here. The club is going to miss him, the kids are going to miss him and the school system is going to miss him. Just look at the number of (North Shore) kids we have playing at the national level - why? Because of him."
Since Murdy began coaching national teams, the profile of North Shore rugby has been raised across the country, and a number of locals have been tapped for international duty because of his involvement. At a recent U-21 exhibition tour of the Cayman Islands, three North Shore players were in tow - Gordie Sawers, Glen McKinnon and former Raven Connor Christopher.
It was long a rumour in North Shore rugby circles that Shawnigan Lake had made overtures for Murdy, but he didn't make the decision to take the job until earlier this year.
At the heart of the matter is Murdy's desire to spend more time with his family - wife Teisha, son Kyle, 5, and three-year-old daughter Paige.
"Shawnigan Lake is sort of the designated national training centre (for Rugby Canada) so in that sense it certainly helps, because I won't have to leave my family when I go away to work at camps. I've been involved with other (national-team) programs as well, not just the U-17s and U-21s, so it's meant quite a bit of time away from home," said Murdy.
"It was a difficult decision (to leave Rockridge). I've enjoyed my time there and I would have been quite happy to stay there. I have a very supportive staff, administration and community and we've built a strong program. It's been a happy chapter in my life and I'm ready for a new chapter - that's the way I'm looking at it."
Jorge Knizek, a former Carson Graham standout player who helped Murdy coach rugby at Rockridge, has also moved on: he is now teaching at Terry Fox, only a few minutes from his home.
Murdy will keep coaching the Ravens senior boys team as they push for a third-consecutive provincial title at the B.C.s May 31-June 3 at UBC, and he will be on board for a Capilano Rugby Football Club summer camp series at Klahanie Park in June, but by mid-July he and his family will board the ferry for the Island.
Murdy said he informed his players that he was leaving the school at a team meeting a few weeks ago.
"I didn't want to tell the kids before the season was over because I didn't want it to be a distraction," he said.
"But at one of our games there were some rumours flying around, and I just didn't want the kids to hear from someone else. I let them know that as athletes, there are opportunities that come up, but there are also opportunities that come up for coaches. It's a good opportunity and one that I would be silly not to try."
Perino Zambon and Dave Henning will take over the Rockridge rugby program in Murdy's absence.
"Perino's really taken on a lot of responsibility this year. He's working a lot with me to ensure that there will be continuity in the program," Murdy said.
On the weekend, Murdy helped the Ravens add another title to the trophy case. At St. Michael's University school on Saturday, Rockridge - ranked No. 1 among Lower Mainland teams - downed Vancouver Island No. 1-ranked Oak Bay 20-16 in the B.C. High School Premier League Rugby championship final.
High School scores from May 1 to May 6
by John James
posted May 9 2006
Mon, May. 1
-Mulgrave 15 vs Burnaby Mountain 49
Tue, May 2
-Elgin Park 41 vs Semiahmoo 17
-Chemainus 15 vs Ballenas 14
Tue, May. 2 4:00P
-Handsworth 0 vs West Vancouver 38
-Rockridge 35 vs St George's 12
-Moscrop 7 vs Central 38
-Kitsilano 0 vs Carson Graham 34
-Point Grey 35 vs Prince of Wales 48
-McRoberts 28 vs Rockridge 40
-Shawnigan Lake 64 vs Frances Kelsey 5
-Oak Bay B 63 vs Parkland 17
-Saint Michaels 34 vs Reynolds 19
-Stelley's 47 vs Claremont 0
-Glen Lyon 42 vs Parkland 0
-Oak Bay A 80 vs Esquimalt 0
-Carson Graham 69 vs Lord Byng 5
-Rockridge 35 vs St Georges 12
-Robert Bateman 39 vs Fleetwood Park 22
-Elgin Park 41 vs Semiahmoo 17
Wed, May. 3
-Burnaby Mountain 7 vs Seycove 37
-Burnaby North 36 vs Mulgrave 0
-Steveston 0 vs Britannia 17
Thurs. May 4
-Magee 76 vs 1 Point Grey 5
-Prince of Wales 7 vs Moscrop 38
-Port Alberni 32 vs Cowichan 18
-Oak Bay 16 vs Shawnigan Lake 15
-Glen Lyon 12 vs Reynolds 12
-Stelly's 15 vs Victoria High 12
-Mount Douglas 51 vs Claremont 10
Friday May 5
Saints Michaels 26 vs Vanier 21
Mainland League Standings (Does not include exhibition or Premier Games)
DIVISION: North Section
TEAM GP W L T D BP PTS PF AVG PA AVG PCT
Handsworth 6 6 0 0 0 6 30 271 45.20 29 4.80 1.000
Argyle 5 3 1 1 0 2 16 108 21.60 68 13.60 0.7000
Seycove 6 3 2 1 0 4 18 117 19.50 70 11.70 0.5830
Burnaby North 6 3 2 1 0 2 16 97 16.20 117 19.50 0.5830
Burnaby Mountain 5 1 3 1 0 1 7 91 18.20 154 30.80 0.3000
Alpha 3 0 3 0 0 1 1 42 14.00 72 24.00 0.0000
Mulgrave 5 0 5 0 0 0 0 21 4.20 237 47.40 0.0000
DIVISION: South Section
TEAM GP W L T D BP PTS PF AVG PA AVG PCT
Cambie
|
