More than 200 elementary students in Port Alberni have been active playing rugby this spring.
Children in Grades 4 to 7, from every elementary school in the Valley, have been participating in a program offered in partnership with the After School Sports and Arts Initiative, SD70, and the Black Sheep Rugby Club.
“It is a great partnership,” said SD70 After School Sports and Arts Coordinator James Messenger. “We are all working together and as a result we are making sure that every child has an opportunity to play. Every school provides at least one staff sponsor or coach, the Black Sheep provide an army of volunteers to help coach and the funding from the provincial government helps make sure we have the equipment and funds to make it all happen. The program is free and accessible to all. Offering rugby makes a lot of sense because there are opportunities for them to continue with the sport at high school and also as adults.”
Since spring break the youth have been participating in after school sessions twice a week where leaders start building their basic skills.
The Grade 4 and 5’s play flag rugby and the Grade 6 and 7’s play a modified version of seven aside.
The Black Sheep have also offered a lot of support to provide out of town playing opportunities in Cumberland and Victoria for the keen Grade 6 and 7 students.
In addition to these exciting events, BC Rugby just announced that they will be hosting an Aboriginal Rugby Clinic on May 23 at the Black Sheep Rugby Club from 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
The clinic will be led by international rugby star Phil Mack. Mack is a member of the Toquaht First Nation. He earned 31 caps in test matches as a scrum-half with the Canadian XVs team and played in the 2015 World Cup.
Mack became the first Canadian player to appear in 50 HSBC World Sevens Series tournaments and represented Canada in the Pan Am and Commonwealth Games. Mack was named to the World Sevens Series all-star team in 2014.
Though he recently retired from international competition, Mack dedicates a lot of time to promoting the sport and encouraging young athletes. In addition to the clinic Mack will also be visiting Haa Huu Payak Elementary School.
All these opportunities for our youth in Port Alberni would not be happening without the support of organizations like the Black Sheep Rugby Club, the After School Sports and Arts Initiative, and the volunteer time of the teacher coaches and sponsors.