The St. Michaels University School Blue Jags enter this week’s B.C. Senior Girls Sevens Rugby Provincial Championship, hosted May 30-31 in Abbotsford, as the No. 1 seed in the province and Coach Ian Farish believes the ranking is well-deserved based on the team’s depth.
However, whether the Blue Jags can back it up with a B.C. banner when the tournament ends on Friday will likely come down to how well that depth is utilized and whether SMUS is able to withstand the gruelling two-day, six-match challenge in Abbotsford.
Girls’ rugby has only been a provincial-level high school sport for three years. The Blue Jags have been in the thick of the hunt for a banner in both the previous B.C. championships, finishing fifth in 2022 and second in 2023, when they lost to Claremont in the title game.
“I think we should be considered No. 1 this year, based on our depth,” said Farish, who is the team’s teacher-sponsor and an assistant to Head Coach Chris May. “I think we have a good shot at winning it. The key will be making it through six games with a good number of players still being able to function at a high level.”
SMUS is the top seed in its four-team pool – which also includes Port Moody’s Heritage Woods, Elgin Park of Surrey and Kamloops' Westsyde – for Thursday’s preliminary play. Quarter-finals, semifinals and finals go Friday.
The Blue Jags’ lineup is characterized by strong defence, good hands and very aggressive runners who are capable of breaking the line. “We have enough speed and enough reliable tacklers,” Farish said.
With sevens rugby games being very short – just two seven-minute halves – nobody can afford a slow start, even in pool play contests. Maintaining possession is also key to success, Farish said.
The Blue Jags’ depth will be tested right from the start this week, particularly since they have lost Harper May, a talented scrumhalf/flyhalf, also coach Chris’ daughter. Harper, a team leader who unfortunately tore her ACL in the final minute of the Vancouver Island final against Claremont, will be sorely missed.
“That’s where our depth will be instrumental,’’ Farish said. “Some of the girls have come a long way this season and a number of them have really developed as players.”
Indeed, this is a strong SMUS lineup with 10 of the 14 players having honed their skills in club rugby with the local Castaway-Wanderers. Farish said the SMUS team’s spring break tour of France and Italy – on which they played 15s rugby – was also a key in bringing this sevens group together.
“Absolutely,” he said. “Because of the competition we faced. We had four very hard and physical games and so we were ready from the start [after the tour].”
SMUS will rely heavily on prop and captain Sam Robinson, who does a lot of the hard work scrummaging and fills a key leadership role on the team. Other Grade 12 starters who are expected to lead the way include prop/winger Chioma Duru, a powerful runner who has great hands and can break the line; Moe Ohara, a scrumhalf/wing who runs well and tackles fearlessly for her size; Alex Motherwell, a flyhalf who provides athleticism and an uncanny ability to intercept the ball; Taylor MacDonald, a hooker who is very strong defensively and a good runner and tackler; Katie Maybie, who at outside centre is also an athletic, strong runner with good hands; and speedster Ruki Madzimure on the wing, who has rugby smarts, fantastic acceleration, and a great step that makes her hard to tackle.
“Ruki is also fearless in the counter-ruck and can be counted on for turnovers at key moments,” Farish said. “And Ava Gillespie has also been key at hooker and could easily start. She is a strong runner and has a great arm for lineout throws.”
The team also relies on coaching help from a pair of SMUS Rugby grads and UVic players, Morgan Warner and Chloe Hill-Huse. “They have really contributed a lot to our season,” Farish said.
Vancouver Island teams are highly regarded heading into the provincial tournament. In addition to the top-ranked Blue Jags, Claremont is seeded No. 2, Reynolds No. 3 and Belmont No. 5. The tournament schedule is available on the BCSS provincials website.
