CAIS Rugby Champions

Shawnigan's rugby program has two more banners to hang in the School's Sportsplex.

The School won both sides of the CAIS Rugby Championship this weekend, earning national titles for both the boys and the girls teams.

"This is the first time that we have won together and been able to share the experience," says Shawnigan's Head of Rugby, Tim Murdy, adding "It was great for the kids and the School."

Shawnigan's 1st XV went through the tournament virtually untested, earning comfortable wins over Trinity College School, Upper Canada College and St. George's, before downing host Brentwood in Sunday's final.

The Girls XV, meanwhile, improved rapidly over the course of the weekend. The group beat Country Day School, Hillfield and Ashbury in the round robin before producing a defensive gem against Notre Dame in Sunday's final. "We were challenged a great deal over the week," says Girls XV Head Coach Mark Hall. "Our opponents had strong tacklers and physical teams, and we didn't respond to pressure all that well early on. However, good teams find a way to win, and I'm happy with how our group progressed over the course of the tournament."

 

Shawnigan's rugby program continues to build towards Provincial Championships at the end of May, and Coach Murdy says the experience gained in tournament play will help in preparations for those events.

The 1st XV is expecting to play in the inaugural 'AAAA' BC Championship in Abbotsford, while the Girls XV is aiming for a berth at the 'AA' Championship in Kamloops.