High school students always have a smorgasbord of sports and extracurricular activities to choose from, which can make it hard to attract them to sports that aren't necessarily as high-profile as others, such as rugby.
At South Surrey's Earl Marriott Secondary, however — a school with a history of producing highly skilled rugby players and a well-known rugby program — coaching staff always go out of their way to encourage students to at least give the sport a try.
With approximately 130 to 150 boys and 30 girls involved in the school's rugby programs this year, Grade 8 rugby coach Bryn Johnson said many friends end up playing together for years.
"I remember playing high school rugby in grade 12 with my best friend from kindergarten," which can be harder as students grow up and play on different teams for other sports, and have to travel to compete as well. "I think it's really cool and it's something special about this program, and I think the kids recognize it ... they're playing with their best friends, and that's really neat."
Johnson, who coaches EMS rugby programs along with Adam Roberts, Frank Ellestad, Matt Harris, Martin Wheeler and Izaak Kelly — an Earl Marriott grad who was named to Team Canada along with three other EMS alumni last August for the Pacific Nations Cup — said most of the students who start playing in Grade 8 are being introduced to the sport for the first time.
"I think this year we have three players that played Bayside (Rugby) last year. All the others have never played rugby before in their life," Johnson noted.
Many kids hear about the EMS rugby program through friends or older siblings, and the coaches all teach it in P.E. as well, he said.
"I always tell all kids we've never made a cut, Grade 8 through 12, in rugby at this school," said Johnson. "Everyone can play. The more kids I get in Grade 8 means the more games I try and schedule."
He and the other coaches always encourage students to just come and try it out, he continued.
"I always tell them, 'Play in one game and then decide,' and so I think that's really important — that there's sort of no pressure if they come try it."
While this year's season is nearly done, several Grade 8 rugby Mariners say they'll return to the rugby program next year for sure, having gotten involved this year in a nearly undefeated season.
"I just had a lot of friends that wanted to play, and it's a nice link, a thing to do to be a part of the school and to participate," said Grade 8 student and rugby player Jordan Fyfe, adding the team bonding when they travel for games has created some great memories.
"I enjoy being a team. ... We went to Shawnigan Lake recently, and the most fun part wasn't necessarily the game, but it was the team bonding that we all did together. We were singing on the bus ride there and back — we were doing karaoke together. The team bonding is the best part."
James O'Neill, one of his teammates, said his older brother helped introduce him to the sport, as well as Johnson, who he remembered came to their elementary school to teach them the basics of rugby.
Ridzwan Olusesi gave credit to Fyfe and O'Neill for getting involved.
"It was mostly these two forcing me to play rugby," he quipped with a grin. "I like just showing people what I've got on the field, every time I go on the field. I just tell myself. 'Be better than last time, play better, do better ... help your team out, let them help you out, and don't do everything yourself.' The game in general just brings joy every time I step on the field — everything just goes away. It's just a fun game to play."
O'Neill said he enjoys the sports as well as the entire rugby community, which is well-known on the Semiahmoo Peninsula.
"I like the sport because you've got to do a lot of tackling ... just playing the sport is really fun," he said, adding it's great to ba part of a team. "The rugby community is really nice ... everyone's really nice on the field."
They all encouraged future EMS Grade 8 students — as well as any student who hasn't tried — to give rugby a chance.
"Just try it out — even of you don't think you'll continue, because once you get on the fields it's pretty fun. Play one game," Fyfe said.
"If you just play, you'll have a good time," O'Neill agreed.
All say they plan to play rugby at EMS until at least Grade 12.
"I think I'll play for the next 40 years. I might play for the country also," Olusesi predicted. "It's a fun game! Rugby is something anyone can be good at, even if you're not as big or as tall or as fast, you can still play something."
Both EMS junior and senior rugby teams play in the South Fraser Finals at South Surrey Athletic Park Wednesday (May 14) at 2:45 p.m. and 4 p.m.
