{"id":10227,"date":"2019-05-03T13:11:27","date_gmt":"2019-05-03T16:11:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thelaker.ca\/?p=10227"},"modified":"2019-05-03T13:11:27","modified_gmt":"2019-05-03T16:11:27","slug":"updated-high-school-rugby-sidelined-despite-order-reinstate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/?p=10227","title":{"rendered":"UPDATED: High school rugby remains sidelined despite Minister&#8217;s order to reinstate it"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p style=\"text-align:center\"> <strong><em>NSSAF cites safety, insurance as to why they pulled the sport mid-season <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>BEDFORD: <\/strong>The education minister has ordered the NSSAF reinstate the sport of rugby; however as of Monday May 5, the NSSAF Board of Governors says the issue remains unresolved, and thus rugby remains a &#8220;non-sport.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the release on May 3 Zach Churchill, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development said the decision the NSSAF made to abruptly end high school rugby, the NSSAF contravened the terms and conditions of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)\n with the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development in \nthat it neglected to inform the department of its intent to communicate \nit\u2019s decision on May 2, 2019., and furthermore, made the decision \nwithout appropriate consultation with school communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Further,\n the provincial Medical Officer of Health, along with other respected \nphysicians, have expressed strong concerns about the decision, and \nthey\u2019ve cited Canada-wide data,&#8221; said Churchill. &#8220;Given the perspective \noffered by the province\u2019s Medical Officer of Health, I have called on NSSAF to reinstate rugby for all high schools immediately for the duration of the season.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Churchill also asked the NSSAF\n to work with the department to assemble a panel of subject matter \nexperts to thoroughly review and assess available research on safety in \nsports for school sports across Nova Scotia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a memodated May 5, the NSSAF said the issue remained unresolved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Any school playing rugby, like any other non-NSSSAF sport, is at the discretion of the principal,&#8221; the memo said. &#8220;The NSSAF will provide updated information as available.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reports indicated that the NSSAF\n and Department of Education are currently in meetings. Rugby N.S. \ntweeted they had not been informed of this, and only heard it again \nthird hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rugby  players across metro HRM and the province are disappointed and  heartbroken, along with feeling blindsided by a decision by the Nova  Scotia School Athletic Federation (NSSAF) to can the sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The  players\u2014close to 100 from high schools in Metro Halifax and HERH in  Milford\u2014gathered inside Ice Patch Hallow in the Sunnyside Mall in  Bedford in a quickly arranged rally on May 2, with a goal of sending a  clear message to the NSSAF that they were not happy. That was clear as  the players chanted \u201cLet us play! Let us play!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lockview High \nplayer Brooklyn Peyton, who has aspirations to play at the university \nand national level, says the removal of a sport she took up just a year \nand a bit ago has left her devastated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s very disappointing,\u201d  said Peyton, of Waverley, on her reaction to the news. \u201cRugby is my  life. It\u2019s really changed my life, and they\u2019re taking family away from  me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/file1-164.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10228\"\/><figcaption>Members of the Millwood High Knights girls rugby team were one of the early arrivals at the rugby rally. The girls had messages of \u201cLet Us Play\u201d written on their face before the rally inside Ice Patch Hallow in Bedford. (Healey photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Abby Tramble, of Fall River, said it\u2019s frustrating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSome\n of the girls are just getting into it and they\u2019re having so much fun,\u201d \nsaid Tramble. \u201cIt\u2019s heartbreaking hearing this news. It\u2019s not what any \nof us expected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In an internal memo, obtained by Global Halifax,  the NSSAF, the governing body for high school athletics, said they came  to the decision after a \u201cthorough review of incident report data  provided by the School Insurance Program.\u201d In that data it showed that there  have been 158 insurance claims as a result of soccer; 162 insurance  claims as a result of football; 187 claimed as a result of hockey; and  454 claims under rugby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"LHS girls rugby players react to removing of rugby by NSSAF\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5DJELXXXm1Y?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In an interview with CBC N.S., \nStephen Gallant, the federation\u2019s executive director, said the decision \nwas made at the organization\u2019s first board meeting of the year. He said \nthe reason had to do with the number of injuries being sustained by \nrugby players.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis was not a knee-jerk reaction today. This has been an ongoing discussion for the board after last May,\u201d said Gallant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The  incident Gallant refers to from May 2018 saw a PEI student die after  suffering a head injury during a school rugby game at a tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Houston called on the NSSAF to reinstate high school rugby. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cRugby has been such a good thing for so many students who\nmade the decision to play,\u201d says Houston. \u201cLike many sports, it\u2019s an activity\nthat instills positive self-esteem and team work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Houston says the announcement was shortsighted and, if\nanything, should have come with adequate notice, not part way through the\nseason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cStudents who chose this sport and have flourished because of it are now left with nothing to do,&#8221; he said in a May 3 release. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis has been ripped away from them abruptly and without warning,\u201d says Houston.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Houston noted women\u2019s rugby is the fastest growing sport in Canada and this decision will have a disproportionate impact on female athletes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/file-227.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10229\"\/><figcaption>Savannah Wheatley of the Lockview Dragons girls rugby team smiles as the face-painter finishes up the \u201cLet Us Play\u201d message on her face at the rugby rally, which was quickly organized following the NSSAF\u2019s decision to remove the high school sport. (Healey photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>However, many gathered in Bedford did term the removal as a knee-jerk reaction by the NSSAF in interviews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lockview\u2019s\n Caitlyn Gannon said many of the players don\u2019t understand why the NSSAF \nmade their decision, considering other sports have more serious \ninjuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe could be looking at solutions to safety instead of \njust getting rid of the sport,\u201d said Gannon, of Fall River. \u201cThere are \nthings that could be done to make it more safe as far as regulations, \nthen taking it away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lydia Ramsay said the NSSAF should have \nthought of modifying the rules before jumping to a conclusion that \ncanning the sport altogether was the only option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s not fair  for us girls who have worked so hard, our coaches, and for the teams at  the top that could make provincials, them taking it away it\u2019s just  horrible,\u201d said the Oakfield resident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Rugby players send NSSAF message\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Tn8Y-OP3nUw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>For Peyton, she is training\n to play at a higher level, and without high school it means one less \noption to help her improve her game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLockview was what got me \ninto liking rugby,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a gateway to get into professional \nrugby. Now we don\u2019t have that opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Parent Nathalie Wheatley, whose daughter Savannah plays with LHS, works in healthcare. She was shocked at the news.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\n think for all the boys and girls in the high school league they weren\u2019t\n given an opportunity to discuss this \u2026 to come up with a better \nsolution than just removing the sport of rugby,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She\u2019s \nworried that the NSSAF move will set a precedent and other contact \nsports, like football and hockey won\u2019t be safe from being cut either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In separate releases, Rugby N.S. and Rugby Canada deemed the news of the sport\u2019s removal a \u201cdisappointment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe\n must find a solution to ensure that young sport and rugby enthusiasts \nin N.S. can continue to play and compete in the sport of rugby,\u201d Rugby \nCanada\u2019s Director of rugby development Paul Hunter said in the release \nissued late on May 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>HERH Tigers Raymond Hazell and Marcus Oldreive both said the news upset them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt kind of blindsided us,\u201d said Hazell of Elmsdale. \u201cWe had no idea there was even talk of this happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re all just really upset about it and kind of angry at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Oldreive, who calls Lantz home, said the team was getting pumped for their game. Rugby was the only sport he played.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI really enjoyed it,\u201d he said. \u201cI made a lot of friends with the Tigers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hazell said the NSSAF should have discussed their decision with those impacted before making it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe\n know when we step on the field the consequences that the game can \nbring,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re fully aware of what can go on, but we still get \non the field; we still love the game; we still enjoy ourselves while \ndoing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe all feel like their doing for them and not us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In his grade 12 year, it\u2019s not the ending to Hazell\u2019s high school rugby career he envisioned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI felt like I was robbed of my final year of the sport I love,\u201d said Hazell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A protest was scheduled for May 3 outside NSSAF offices at 4 p.m.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NSSAF cites safety, insurance as to why they pulled the sport mid-season BEDFORD: The education minister has ordered the NSSAF reinstate the sport of rugby; however as of Monday May 5, the NSSAF Board of Governors says the issue remains unresolved, and thus rugby remains a &#8220;non-sport.&#8221; In the release on May 3 Zach Churchill, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":10230,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,21],"tags":[196,2,197,5,369,174,175],"class_list":["post-10227","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-sports","tag-east-hants","tag-fall-river","tag-herh-tigers","tag-lockview-high","tag-nssaf","tag-rugby","tag-rugby-n-s"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10227","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10227"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10227\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10227"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10227"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10227"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}