Mentors, from right Journey Middle School teacher Ross Leadbetter and coach Matt Mortenson (with JMS vice-principal Wayne Kelly at left, discuss successful tournament experience with JMS rugby 7’s players on May 14.
The group of grade seven and eight boys was celebrating a strong showing at SMUS last Friday, earning an Island Championship in the heavyweight ((180 lbs. and less) and a bronze medal finish in the lightweight (155 lbs. and less) division. Of all the schools taking part, Journey was one of only two to field two teams, quite an achievement considering its enrollment of just 520 students. The news was so good that there has been talk started involving the possibility of an affiliation with an established community rugby program.
Discussions are in the very early stages, but there’s a chance a local program could be spawned with a connection to the venerable Castaways program in James Bay.