Young Ardens Rugby Squad Continues To Gain Experience

Ardens Rugby is in Full Swing at the Swift Current Comprehensive High School.

Now in its 5th season, this year has seen a youth movement attempt to pick up where veteran players left off.

"Well this year has been a regrouping or rebuilding  year" said Head Coach Rufus Crawford "the original grade 9 girls that started in the first year, that stuck with the program for four years, all graduated last year, so last year we had a really strong team."

Crawford took over the Arden's squad after Chris Chapman left for Winnipeg after starting the program.

"Recruiting has always been really tough for our team because after Chris Chapman left we don't have anyone in the school that's part of the coaching staff."

The team's manager Danielle Pool does however work at the comp but Crawford says "as far as a teacher out there reminding girls, saying try out out Rugby, we don't have that."

Chapman says the new Youth Rugby program in Swift Current could remedy the recruitment problem in the future so they don't run into situations like they did earlier in the year.

"We've got a lot of young girls on our team" said Chapman "Our first game was in Brandon, back in April we went to a tournament, which was the first game ever for three-quarters of our team."

Chapman believes the team has come a long way since the start of the season and does not discount the rest of this season but is really looking forward to next year when the younger players are more seasoned.

Full interview with Rufus Crawford: