鈥淭here were only about 12 to 14 other high school girls鈥� rugby teams at the time. Now there are 65 to 70,鈥� said Felix.
鈥淩ugby is the fastest-growing women鈥檚 sport in the world.鈥�
There鈥檚 a brave new world ahead for the U-18 girls who will take part in the Team sa国际传媒-versus-U.S. exhibition XVs matches that go today at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m., both on the Brentwood College fields in Mill Bay.
鈥淪ome of these sa国际传媒 kids can aspire to play for sa国际传媒 one day,鈥� said Felix, head coach of the provincial team that will take on the Americans.
鈥淵ou are going to see future stars on both the sa国际传媒 and U.S. sides this weekend. The American team features the best high school players in the U.S. [who are part of USA Rugby鈥檚 Pathway To The Eagles national-team development program].鈥�
Felix, the former Cowichan great and capped Canadian international, reflected on the repercussions of sa国际传媒鈥檚 recent female successes on the rugby pitch.
鈥淚t鈥檚 had a massive impact on women鈥檚 rugby in sa国际传媒,鈥� said the assistant head of school at Brentwood College.
鈥淭he silver medal at the World Cup and sa国际传媒鈥檚 Olympic qualification for Rio have shown there are international opportunities for girls in a sport that is physical and aggressive yet skillful.鈥�
Island players on the sa国际传媒 team are Adel Arndt, Taya Gagnon, Chloe Baird-Titcombe, Dawson German, Maddie Gold, Olivia Kellinghusen and Lauren Sargent from G.P. Vanier in Courtenay; Hannah Morten, Mariah Fontana and Emily Lindsay from Cowichan High; Delaney Martin, Brooklyn Navarette, Avi Sharabi, Haz McKenna and Denise Roy from Brentwood College and Sofie Kennedy from the Stelly鈥檚 Stingers.
