Rugby



Rugby has been a cornerstone of Shawnigan’s athletic programs since it was introduced to the School by Captain E.D.W. “Tiny” Levien in 1928. Girls’ rugby began in 1993, shortly after the School became co-ed. Through strong development programs and partnerships with Rugby Canada and other organizations, Shawnigan has become an integral part of the sport’s development in Canada.

Shawnigan aims to provide young rugby players with every opportunity to develop their skills, reach their full potential, and enjoy their participation in the sport. Rugby is played by students in all grades, with many beginning in Grade 8 and continuing to play the sport for the rest of their time at Shawnigan. Numerous graduates have gone on to the post-secondary, provincial, national, and professional ranks. 

Head Coach

John Tait, Head of Rugby
jtait2@shawnigan.ca

John is a former Rugby Canada international player in both sevens and XV, and played professionally for Cardiff RFC and CA Brive. He was the assistant coach for Canada’s men’s XV team, then the Director of Women’s Rugby for Canada as the team won the silver medal at the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens and bronze at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. As Head of Rugby, John has direct responsibility for all rugby development at Shawnigan and ensuring our coaches deliver a quality rugby experience to our student athletes.

Coaches

List of 10 items.

  • Remi Anctil

    • Coach at Shawnigan since 2016
    • Began playing rugby in high school, and has represented BC at multiple age levels
    • Has also coached with the the BC Bears U16 and U18 sides, Vancouver RFC and Vancouver North RFC, Salish Sea Warriors, and the Vancouver Island U16
    • Holds a Masters of Education in Coaching Studies from the University of Victoria

  • Matt Clinton-Baker

    • Coach at Shawnigan since 2016
    • Grew up playing in New Zealand; won BC provincial championship with Glenlyon Norfolk School, and played U Sports rugby with the University of Victoria
    • Played club rugby in New Zealand and England
    • Coached at many levels, from the U15 level for Auckland Grammar School in New Zealand to the First XV level in England, and with various teams at Shawnigan

  • Andrew Doyle

    • Coach at Shawnigan since 2002
    • Played most of his rugby in Wales
    • Has coached all Shawnigan teams, including Grade 8s, Colts, 1st XV and Iron Women (senior girls)
    • Has coached Shawnigan’s 1st XV to 15 provincial and three national championships

  • Adam Holloway

    • Coach at Shawnigan since 2021
    • Played Championship-level rugby in England for Henley RFC
    • Played Championship-level rugby in England for Henley RFC
    • Played for universities in England, and Wellington and the Hurricanes Super Development Squad in New Zealand
    • Coached in Edmonton, Alberta for Ross Sheppard High School, winning the city championship in 2015

  • Graham Linn

    • Coach at Shawnigan since 2000
    • Played high school and university rugby in Scotland
    • Played First Division rugby in France and Scotland from 1980 to 1990

  • Barbara Mervin

    • Coach at Shawnigan since 2022; has also coached with the University of Victoria, Westshore Rugby Club, For the Love of the Game, Peterborough Pagans, and BC Grassroots Rugby
    • Represented Canada in three XV World Cups (2010, 2014 and 2017), winning silver in 2014, and finished her 12-year career with 38 XV caps; played for  the Canadian sevens team from 2008 to 2013, helping claim titles in Hong Kong, Dubai and Las Vegas
    • Led Western University to national championships in 2004 and 2005, earned All-Canadian Honours every year from 2003 to 2005, and was U Sports MVP in 2005 and Rookie of the Year in 2002
    • Inducted into the Rugby Canada Hall of Fame on her own and as part of the 2014 World Cup team, the Western University Hall of Fame, and the City of Peterborough Hall of Fame

  • Clay Panga

    • Coach at Shawnigan since 2022
    • Played and coached for various clubs in New Zealand before moving to Canada at the age of 20
    • Played club rugby in Canada and for the Canadian men’s XV; coached with the Canadian national U17, U18, and U20 men’s XV, and U20 and senior women’s XV
    • Founded the BC Grassroots Rugby Foundation, aimed at bringing the sport to young people and small communities and limiting costs, and works with Thunder Rugby, which promotes rugby in Indigenous communities in BC

  • Dani Robb

    • Coach at Shawnigan since 2017; also coaches the girls’ development hockey team
    • Multi-sport athlete in high school (rugby, field hockey, and ice hockey)
    • Played four years of U Sports rugby at St. Francis Xavier University, winning two national titles and four AUS titles, and was named an AUS all-star
    • Won gold with Team Canada at the 2013 U20 Nations Cup, and has also played for Team BC

  • Laura Russell

    • Coach at Shawnigan since 2013
    • Played for the Canadian national women’s XV team, serving as captain and retiring in 2022 with more than 50 caps
    • Played in two Rugby World Cups, winning a silver medal in 2014; named to the team in 2022 as well, but unable to play due to injury
    • Named Rugby Canada’s Women’s XV Player of the Year in 2015 and 2016, and received the Gillian Florence Award in 2018

  • Jeff Williams

    • Coach at Shawnigan since 2005
    • Has also coached with the Canadian national U17, U18, U20, and senior men’s XV and sevens sides
    • Represented Canada at the U23 level and spent time with the Canadian national sevens and XV teams
    • Began playing rugby in high school; represented Ontario at the U19 level, Nova Scotia and BC at the senior levels, and spent time with the Canadian national XV and sevens teams

List of 4 items.

  • Program Highlights

    Shawnigan Rugby has achieved much success over the years. The Colts (Grade 10 boys), Iron Women, and senior boys’ 1st XV teams have participated in many provincial finals, resulting in numerous provincial championships. The senior boys’ team enjoyed a five-year winning streak from 2009-2013 and again in 2015. In 2016, the AAAA tier was started, and Shawnigan won it three of the four years it existed. Many Shawnigan players have gone on to represent Canada at the national level in rugby, with the girls’ program producing World Cup champions and Olympic medalists. 

    Senior boys’ and girls’ teams regularly travel on rugby tours, with destinations including Argentina, France, Italy, the UK, Japan, Las Vegas, New Zealand, and South Africa. In 2023, Shawnigan was invited by Rugby School in England to represent Canada at an international tournament celebrating the 200th anniversary of the sport’s creation.

  • Program Overview

    Students follow a progressive, balanced program of training and competition throughout their time at Shawnigan. This program respects students’ natural stages of physical, mental, and emotional development, and its key aim is to increase the likelihood that players of all abilities will remain active throughout their lifetimes. Three afternoons a week are set aside for the development of core rugby skills, tactical knowledge, and games awareness, alongside promoting positive attitudes that value respect, commitment, determination, and teamwork.

    The program has an extensive fixture list and aims to play at the highest level, fielding as many teams as possible and providing every student with the opportunity to compete and represent the School, regardless of their level of ability. Teams regularly compete in tournaments at local, regional, and national levels, often with great success. Each rugby team has its own coach and mentor throughout the season. The School has a number of very experienced and specialist rugby coaches, supported by enthusiastic and experienced members of staff.

  • Teams

    - Grade 8 boys
    - Grade 9 boys
    - Colts (Grade 10 and select Grade 9 boys) – 1st and 2nd XV
    - Senior boys (Grade 11 & 12 boys) – 1st and 2nd XV
    - Iron Women (Grade 8-12 girls) – competitive & beginner teams

  • Program Structure

    Fall:
    Grade 8 boys – competitive season
    Grade 9 boys – competitive season
    Senior boys and girls – training season

    Winter:
    Grade 10-12 boys – training season
    Grade 8-12 girls – training season

    Spring:
    Colts (Grade 10 boys) – competitive season
    Grade 11-12 boys – competitive season
    Iron Women (Grade 8-12 girls) – competitive season 
“Standing on the Shoulders of Giants”
Shawnigan is proud of its rugby heritage and is looking forward to celebrating 100 years of rugby at the School in 2028.

Rugby Facilities, Amenities & Support

  • Hyde-Lay Pavilion
  • Canada Field (home to international rugby fixtures)
  • Six turf fields
  • High-performance weight room
  • Spin room
  • Health & Well-Being Centre offering on-campus massage, acupuncture, and more
  • Athletic Therapists on staff
  • Athletics-specific university guidance support
  • Staff advisors for each student to ensure academic, athletic, and personal success

Alumni Success Stories

List of 4 items.

  • Eloise Blackwell ’08

    • New Zealand Black Ferns player 2011-present, including time as captain
    • Professional player for the Auckland Storm, including time as captain; sixth woman to play 150 first-class games in New Zealand

  • Hannah Darling ’14

    • Bronze medallist at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro
    • Gold medallist at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto

  • Matt Evans ’06

    • Canadian senior men’s player 2008-2019 (XV and sevens); gold medallist at the 2011 Pan Am Games in Guadalajara, Mexico
    • Professional player and manager in England and Wales

  • Djustice Sears-Duru ’12

    • Member of the Canadian senior men’s XV team since 2014
    • Professional player in Scotland, England, and the US

Partnerships

Thanks to our first-rate facilities and commitment to excellence on and off the field, Shawnigan has forged partnerships with Rugby Canada and Thunder Indigenous Rugby. Shawnigan has an ongoing Memorandum of Understanding with Rugby Canada, and has been the site of many training camps and international fixtures at the junior and senior levels over the years. Many Shawnigan players have gone on to represent Canada at the national level.

Our Athletes are attending

We acknowledge with respect the Coast Salish Peoples on whose traditional lands and waterways we live, learn and play. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in this beautiful region, and we aspire to healthy and respectful relationships with those who have lived on and cared for these lands for millennia.
1975 Renfrew Road
Shawnigan Lake, BC V8H 2G7
+1-250-743-5516
Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 13 –18 on Canada’s beautiful West Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.