The Queen Margaret's School Royals senior girls rugby team made history by winning the North Island Championship earlier this month and following it up with a bronze medal performance at the Island tournament on May 12-13 in Cowichan.
The Royals dominated their opponents in the North Island tournament, beating NDSS 36-0, Highland 33-0, and Carihi 20-10. They continued their winning streak at the Island event, defeating Belmont 31-12 and Royal Bay 12-7, earning them a spot in the provincial tournament — a first for the school's senior girls rugby program.
Coach Ander Monro praised the team's dedication and perseverance.
"It was a thrilling moment for them," Monro said. "Their dedication and what they are trying to achieve was a delight to witness."
Despite a tough loss to the reigning B.C. champions, Claremont, the team bounced back to beat Reynolds 31-15 to earn third place on the Island. Elsie Jones and Kipling Szasz were named to the tournament all-star team.
"The team never gave up and despite a tough loss in the semi, they managed to bounce back superbly and ended the tournament with a well-deserved result against Reynolds," Monro said.
The B.C. Rugby 7s Championships run May 29-30 at Rotary Stadium in Abbotsford.
“I’m proud of the way the girls fought over the last few days, especially when things did not go their way,” said coach Rob Jones. "We are excited to spend the next couple of days connecting in camp before the work begins again.”
Meanwhile, the junior boys Royals made history, too, advancing to their first-ever Island tournament by winning their first Central Island 7s finals on May 6.
At the Islands, they faced early challenges in losses to Glenlyon Norfolk, 26-55, and to Mark Isfeld, 29-14, on the first day, but they roared back to dominate Stelly's 48-0 and oust Carihi Secondary 35-5, finishing a respectable fifth overall on the Island.
Coach Wes Plater expressed immense pride in the team's performance and their journey throughout the season.
"Having already secured the Central Island Championship title, the junior Royals demonstrated significant improvement and a strong team spirit as the Island Championships progressed," Plater said. "We are incredibly proud of the team. Day one was tough, but they showed incredible character to bounce back and dominate their matches on day two. Their growth throughout the season has been fantastic to witness, and winning the Central Island title was a testament to their hard work."
