A new Rugby Academy is coming to the 91原创 School District, and it鈥檚 the first of its kind in the Fraser Valley.

The academy will begin operating at D.W. Poppy Secondary next school year and will be led by long-time teacher and rugby coach Stuart Crowley.

The Rugby Academy will combine provincial curriculum and rugby-centred curriculum, and will include a focus on athletics, health, safety, and well-being, he said.

The academy will also be structured around the rugby program鈥檚 values of PRIDE: passion, respect, integrity, discipline, and effort.

Students will experience personalized learning, Crowley explained, while still being expected to meet high standards of behaviour, and scholastic discipline. This program is offered to students in Grades 10, 11, and 12.

鈥淚t allows kids who are passionate about rugby and who want to experience a daily training environment to take part in that, similar to what you would see at a university level,鈥� Crowley said.

After launching earlier this spring with an information session for interested students and families, 29 of 30 spots in the program are now filled.

鈥淚t鈥檚 the culmination of a lot of time and hard work put into something I鈥檓 really passionate about, so I鈥檓 ecstatic that this has come to fruition,鈥� Crowley said of how it feels to have launched the academy.

鈥淚鈥檝e had a lot of people express their appreciation that something like this finally exists. Quite a few families of younger students have reached out to ask questions and to tell me that they鈥檙e keen on their kids being involved when the time comes. We鈥檙e hearing a lot of positive anticipation from everyone involved.鈥�

In addition to on-field work 鈥� including training and in the spring, games against other schools 鈥� academy participants will learn about nutrition, rugby strategy, the place of the sport on the international stage and also within Canada.

Students will also earn various certifications along the way, that will allow them to pursue coaching opportunities down the road if they so choose.

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鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a great opportunity for the students in the program, and I鈥檓 grateful that I get the chance to come to work each day and teach students in an area that both they and I are really engaged in,鈥� Crowley said.

Crowley is a veteran, well-respected rugby coach in 91原创 and throughout the Fraser Valley. Crowley had led D.W. Poppy teams to various Eastern Fraser Valley finals, and last spring, Poppy鈥檚 senior girls team took home a provincial championship under his leadership.

In addition to helming the rugby program at D.W. Poppy, Crowley is also an assistant rugby coach at Trinity Western University and has also coached provincial teams with BC Rugby.

鈥淚 think (a rugby academy) is something that鈥檚 time has come. It鈥檚 an opportunity that I think is needed in the Fraser Valley and in 91原创, in particular.鈥�

Crowley said helping young students to grow 鈥� not just as players but as people 鈥� has always been a major part of his coaching philosophy.

鈥淩ugby is a sport that is unique in the values that is espouses, and I think amongst sports that are accessible to youth, it鈥檚 one that teaches some really, really strong lessons,鈥� he said.

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鈥淲e really want to make sure that the kids who come out of this program aren鈥檛 just good rugby players, but they鈥檙e good people. For me, that鈥檚 what rugby鈥檚 all about.鈥�

The district鈥檚 academy will be just the fourth secondary school rugby academy in B.C., and the first in the Fraser Valley.

91原创 School District has a number of sports-focused academies, including hockey, baseball, softball, equestrian, and soccer.

Anyone interested in having a child join the rugby academy, can email Crowley at scrowley@sd35.bc.ca. For more information, visit .

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