Are you passionate about rugby? Want to earn graduation credits playing the sport you love?

D.W. Poppy Secondary, together with the Langley School District, is inviting students with strong interest and experience in rugby to apply to DWP High-Performance Rugby.

DW Poppy’s High-Performance Rugby combines provincial curriculum with a focus on sport, health, safety, and well-being. This academy is structured around the values of PRIDE and FAITH: Passion, Respect, Integrity, Discipline, and Effort; Family, Accountability, Intent, Tenacity, and Humility.

The goal of the course is to develop students holistically, as people first, while developing as athletes as well as future coaches and referees. Students will experience fun, personalized learning, while being expected to meet high standards of behavior and scholastic discipline. Students will receive the support needed to meet these standards and to fulfill their potential. Applications are open to students with rugby experience in grades 9 through 12.

The course is led by D.W. Poppy Teacher and Rugby Coach Stuart Crowley. Mr. Crowley is a respected leader in the school and Langley rugby community. He is a caring and compassionate educator who inspires students and athletes to achieve excellence on and off the pitch. He has been instrumental in growing the sport locally, having coached school, club, regional, provincial, and USports teams. Some of his former student-athletes have moved on to high-level competitive play and professional/representative careers. The Langley community, which has a long rugby history, is excited to see the academy help develop more well-rounded students and elite athletes.

Families should be aware of relevant BC School Sports regulations:

• Any applicant who is accepted and transfers from another school while in Grade 9 or beyond will lose a year of eligibility if they have played rugby for their school in the season prior to the transfer (with some rare exceptions). While such an applicant will be able to take full advantage of the Academy, they will likely not be eligible to play for DW Poppy’s rugby teams in the year of their transfer.

• Students who reside out-of-catchment may not both receive sport specific instruction greater than 4 credits per year and participate for the school team in that sport.

If anyone has any questions, or would like to request an application form, please email Stuart Crowley: scrowley@sd35.bc.ca