Eleny Robson, a Grade 11 student from Chatelech Secondary, competed in the BC Summer Games in Abbotsford this summer. She played on a North Shore rep team, which finished fifth overall.
“It was quite an accomplishment for a Sunshine Coast girl to make such a high calibre team,” Chatelech rugby coach Brian Scarr said. “We are very proud of her.”
Mimi Appelbe coached Robson in the Summer Games. Appelbe coaches a North Shore league and encountered Robson when the Chat team played against them.
“Because the Sechelt team isn’t in the league, they haven’t had a lot of experience,” Appelbe said. “But I saw her playing and – of all the girls who were playing and who were new – she seemed more confident and more aggressive.”
Appelbe invited Robson to play for her U16 team and she continued to impress her new coaches.
“She really takes to the game quite well; she’s very athletic. She’s got that confidence when it comes to playing a sport,” Appelbe said. “I have to say I was a little concerned because she was very nervous and she didn’t have a lot of playing experience, but she impressed both Graham – the assistant coach – and me. When we put her on, she just went.”
New players often spend their first few games watching the action more than getting into it because the game is quite complicated, Appelbe said, “but [Robson] would just pick up the ball and run. She never missed a hit.”
Jessica Nelson – also from Chatelech – is going into Grade 10 but was too young to play in this tournament. However, her coaches feel she has a bright future at the elite level in BC Girls rugby. Nelson and Robson both played for the U16 Vancouver Coastal team, which placed third in the province.
“I think the two of them together will bring back some experience,” Appelbe said. “Maybe some leadership and confidence and then the [Chatelech “Eagles” rugby] program can grow. It would be great to see Sechelt in the league this year.”
