SURREY — During the summer, as Walter van Halst contemplated some of the best ways to both recognize and enhance the many dedicated teachers who volunteer their time to coach rugby in B.C. secondary schools, he kept asking himself the same fundamental question.“Why can’t we develop coaches the same way we develop teachers?” asked the […]
High School Rugby
A Rugby World Cup of their own! UBC Thunderbirds travel to Japan for eight-nation World University men’s championship
VANCOUVER — Canada opens play in Japan at the 2019 World Cup of Rugby on Sept. 26.And while the UBC Thunderbirds men’s team won’t be able to attend any of their home nation’s matches, they’ll be returning from the Land of the Rising Sun with some world-class rugby memories of their own.That’s because the ‘Birds […]
West Vancouver’s Simon Li: Just 15 months after tackling football and rugby, the Highlanders’ raw rookie answers the call of the Calgary Dinos
WEST VANCOUVER — Out of nowhere, he established his high school’s new gold standard for raw rookies. Now, West Vancouver Highlanders’ graduating senior Simon Li is headed off to a university career as a diamond in the rough.
Meet The Quad Squad: Find out who made the grade in Varsity Letters’ 2019 Game Day XXIII B.C. Quad-A rugby Dream Team!
LANGLEY — The 2019 Premier League season, one which opened with the St. George’s Saints last-second win over the Shawnigan Lake Stags in the opening round of the Stadium Series at Swangard back in April, and closed earlier this month with a B.C. finals re-match won at Rotary by the Stags, showcased B.C. high school […]
B.C.’s best Triple-A boys rugby players! Meet the Varsity Letters/BCSSRU 2019 Game Day XXIII Dream Team
LANGLEY — We opened our look at B.C.’s best high school rugby players, by tier, with our Tuesday look at Double-A. It’s Wednesday and time to shift attention to the Varsity Letters/B.C. Secondary Schools Rugby Union Triple-A team, one defined by not only a heavy Fraser Valley flavour, but by its exclusive public school membership.
B.C.’s best AA high school rugby players of the year! Check out the Varsity Letters/BCSSRU 2019 Game Day XXIII
LANGLEY — After one year away, Varsity Letters is back with one of the most-read features in our young history. Two seasons ago, through the expertise of the B.C. Secondary Schools Rugby Union, we presented our first B.C.’s Top XV player list, featuring the top three high school players from around the province at each position.
A Sunday Read: Rubbing shoulders with adversity helps Collingwood’s rugby brothers Neill-Klein and Preston fashion a dream ending
ABBOTSFORD — You can never mask elation, yet to see it emerge from the deepest of places in a moment of celebration is to better understand why the best things in life are worth fighting for.
Mariners find their rugby treasure! With the speedy McMullins carrying the torch, Marriott tops Bateman for Triple A Tier-1 gold
ABBOTSFORD — They celebrated a program first knowing full well that their future is bright.With a starting XV boasting 14 Grade 11 players along with its graduating senior captain Erik Niehbur, Surrey’s Earl Marriott Mariners are a juggernaut waiting to happen in 2020.But forget about all of that. How about what they did Saturday?“It was […]
Tupper Tigers bring B.C. rugby title back to East Vancouver! First banner since mid-1960s earned after victory over Byrne Creek
ABBOTSFORD — There is a faded banner hanging at East Vancouver’s Sir Charles Tupper Secondary signifying a B.C. high school rugby championships from the mid-1960’s.
It was 20 years ago this week! Lord Byng coach Mallette relishes “…a precious opportunity” as Grey Ghosts snap a two decade title drought
ABBOTSFORD — Mike Mallette didn’t need to be reminded that a signature moment had just arrived in his life, and in the lives of the Lord Byng Grey Ghosts rugby program, one which he has made his life’s work.