DW Poppy Rugby Excellence Program

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

DW Poppy’s Rugby Excellence Program (DWP REP) combines provincial curriculum with a focus on sport, health, safety, and well-being. This program is structured around our core values of PRIDE and FAITH: Passion, Respect, Integrity, Discipline, and Effort; Family, Accountability, Intent, Tenacity, and Humility.

The goal of the DWP REP is to develop students holistically. We focus on students as people first while developing members as athletes, coaches, and referees. Students will experience enjoyable, 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 DW. Poppy teacher and rugby coach Stuart Crowley. Mr. Crowley is a caring and compassionate educator who inspires students and athletes to achieve excellence on and off the pitch. He has helped 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.

The DW Poppy Rugby Excellence Program is divided into two streams for compliance with BC School Sports regulations: Rugby Academy, for students who reside within the DW Poppy catchment area, and High-Performance Rugby PE, for students who live outside the DW Poppy catchment area.

The DWP REP runs in two cohorts: Junior REP for Grades 9 and 10, and Senior REP for Grades 11 and 12. Each cohort incorporates a maximum of 32 students per year across grades and genders. For both cohorts, the Rugby Academy consists of three courses per year:

· Two courses blocked together in the timetable during the first semester.

· One course outside the timetable, after school throughout the second semester.

Also, for both cohorts, High Performance Rugby PE will be one block run concurrently with the Rugby Academy in first semester.

Additionally, applicants and their families should be aware of relevant BC School Sports regulations regarding transferring schools and athletic eligibility. Any student who transfers past grade 9 is not eligible to play the same sport in consecutive years at two different schools, with some rare exceptions.

For more details, or to request and application form, please contact Stuart Crowley: scrowley@sd35.bc.ca