How does Elsie Allen excel at rugby, of all things?

[scobserver]

I'll bring this up later in the year when more people are looking, but I see in the Jan. 29 PD the following rugby score....


High school rugby

Nonleague

AT ELSIE ALLEN

Elsie Allen 29, North Bay 14

Points: EA-Joshua Kauvesi 20, Dylan MacCullom 5, David Armenta 4.

Record: EA 1-0


Someone please explain the long-running success of rugby at EA?? A sport generally associated as white and wealthier? Is the EA coach some sort of genius guru? Are rugby playing boys transferring from more "advantaged" neighborhoods into EA, which is the most non-white, least affluent school in SR? Or is rugby the rage among barrio youth and old fogey white guys like me are unaware? Are the families paying for this from their own pockets, I mean, how are "club" sports financed? The SR school districts don't even fund freshman sports at any school, yet EA, has excelled at rugby? Rugby players are excellent athletes, and EA has had really no sustained winning in any other sport since its opening.

I don't begrudge EA for this. If they have some unique advantage for rugby (or other activity), then by all means, emphasize it!

I am just curious how this has and continues to happen.

[mustangpride]

I don't know if it's still this way, but back in the late 90's/early 00's, students from other schools were allowed to play there because EA was the only school that offered rugby.

[bella]

A lot of islanders in that program over the years, which has helped their success. Not all whiteys at all.