A new partnership between one of the Cowichan ValleyB次元官网网址檚 most accomplished rugby figures and the Cowichan Valley School District will bring a top-end rugby academy to the Cowichan Valley starting with the 2021-22 school year.

The school district is working together with Robin MacDowell to establish the MacDowell Rugby Academy at Cowichan Secondary School starting next fall, and MacDowell hopes it will affirm the Cowichan Valley as a focal point of the sport in Canada, while providing students with the skills they need in rugby, academics and community leadership.

MacDowell RugbyB次元官网网址檚 motto is B次元官网网址淒ream. Believe. Succeed.B次元官网网址� which MacDowell elaborated on in the press release announcing the academy.

B次元官网网址淭he MacDowell Rugby team strongly identifies with the idea of developing an athlete to reach a potential that would otherwise be untapped,B次元官网网址� he explained. B次元官网网址淭heir main goal for our aspiring athletes is to dream big, [and] believe in themselves, which will ultimately help them succeed in rugby and life!B次元官网网址�

Open to students in grades 10-12, the new academy will have 30 dedicated spots for athletes from the Cowichan Valley, 15 for athletes from across Canada, and another 15 for international students. Athletes from Japan, Barbados and the U.S. have already expressed interest.

Originally from Duncan, MacDowell has spent most of his life in rugby. He moved to Europe at the age of 19 to play professional rugby in France and Italy, then returned to Canada to play for the national team on the World Rugby Sevens Series.

Since his playing career ended, MacDowell has coached at all levels of the sport, including grassroots, age grade, club, university and provincial programs. He started his academy in Saskatchewan, where it continues to flourish even as he has returned to the Cowichan Valley to help grow the game at home.

On the international level, MacDowell guided the Mexican womenB次元官网网址檚 team to its first-ever appearance at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2018. He has also worked with Rugby Canada in the 2017 Youth Commonwealth Games in the Bahamas, the 2018 Youth Olympic Qualifying Champions in Las Vegas and the World University Games in Naples, Italy. Most recently he has worked with Rugby Canada identifying talent for the womenB次元官网网址檚 national team program, and with the national development academy in Langford.

Pat Kay, a Cow High grad who has spent the last several years playing for the national menB次元官网网址檚 sevens team and is likely to represent Canada at the Olympics in Tokyo, will serve as a guest coach at the academy when his playing schedule permits.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 jealous that this wasnB次元官网网址檛 around when I was 16 or 17,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t gives more kids more opportunities, whether itB次元官网网址檚 the national team or university, and it gives them more opportunities to continue rugby into their older years.B次元官网网址�

Letting young athletes, especially in small communities, know what their opportunities are is important to MacDowell.

B次元官网网址淢y driving force was days like today, when I could talk to students who are bigger or stronger or who have more potential than me, but didnB次元官网网址檛 know what was out there,B次元官网网址� he told a group of Cow High students at an information session on Feb. 17.

With his years of playing and coaching at so many levels, MacDowell has a vast network of connections, and has already established partnerships between his academy and more than 30 universities across Canada and the U.S., and six Major League Rugby teams.

MacDowell expressed his thanks to several SD79 officials, including International Student Program principal Liz Hollands-Gamble for leading the initiative for the Cowichan Valley along with vice principal Kevin OB次元官网网址橠onnell and Cowichan Secondary principal Darcy Hoff.

Hollands-Gamble has been an inspiration of MacDowellB次元官网网址檚 for many years.

B次元官网网址淟iz was my Phys Ed teacher at Mount Prevost Middle School and was the first person that lit a fire inside me and told me I could do anything I put my heart into,B次元官网网址� he related. B次元官网网址淗er impact on me at that time was life changing. As she moves on to retirement later this spring I am thankful that her last legacy was to inspire me to realize this dream to bring a full-time academy to my hometown.B次元官网网址�

The Board of Education fully endorsed MacDowellB次元官网网址檚 academy.

B次元官网网址淎s a board we are committed to providing the highest quality of educational experiences to our students,B次元官网网址� board chair Candace Spilsbury said. B次元官网网址淥ffering a world-class rugby academy for students in the valley and beyond truly fits that mandate.B次元官网网址�

Cowichan Secondary principal Darcy Hoff is excited to see the academy come to his school.

B次元官网网址淔or us, this is a really good opportunity for students to pursue a passion while attending their home school,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎nd having international students and students from across Canada interested in doing something at our school, hopefully that will help [Cowichan Valley students] see how neat this experience is.B次元官网网址�

MacDowell played for the Cowichan Rugby Football Club growing up, and that organization has thrown its support behind the new academy as well. Club president Angie Gudmundseth noted that she has known MacDowell since he played junior rugby, and has seen what the sport has done for him.

B次元官网网址淲e are so excited for this opportunity Robin will bring to the community, young athletes, and the Cowichan Rugby Club,B次元官网网址� Gudmundseth said. B次元官网网址淭he athletes involved will benefit from RobinB次元官网网址檚 theories, and will be exposed to our beloved sportB次元官网网址檚 culture, a culture that offers a lifelong positive, meaningful attitude towards all aspects of a productive life. The club is looking forward to the partnership with RobinB次元官网网址檚 program, and will provide all it can in continuing to support our youth.B次元官网网址�

Cow High boys rugby coach Tom Fogarty urged his athletes to consider signing up for the academy.

B次元官网网址淭he level of coaching youB次元官网网址檙e going to get is unmatched, especially at a public school,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a game-changer.B次元官网网址�

For more information about registration for the MacDowell Rugby Academy, email robin@ macdowellrugby.ca