鈥淭he thing about tackling is it鈥檚 90 per cent heart and 10 per cent skill,鈥� Marshall Corbett said, as the semi-circle of high schoolers kneeling around him nodded.
鈥淭he minute you decide you are willing to make a tackle you will be successful.鈥�
Corbett is the coach of the Jasper Cougars rugby team, and April 17 he was getting the team ready for the weekend鈥檚 big tournament.
The Jasper High School Invitational will bring 11 teams to town April 25 for a day-long rugby tournament, and Corbett thinks the Cougars have a shot at winning the whole thing.
鈥淭hey could take the tournament. Our senior team鈥檚 looking really good; we鈥檝e got some guys that have been playing for quite a while,鈥� he said of the 19-man team鈥攁n impressive size for a school the size of the Jasper Junior/Senior High School.
And while the teenagers battle it out this Friday, the following day will see an even bigger rugby tournament come to town, when 30 teams roll in for the Jasper Downhill Sevens tournament.
The tournament will have a place for mens, womens and 鈥渙ld boys鈥� teams to compete, and Jasper鈥檚 mens team, the Ravens, will be in on the action.
鈥淥ur Jasper team this year is looking very strong. We鈥檝e got a couple of recent grads, and a couple of imports who have played all over the place, so it鈥檚 a good mix. Some old guys, and some young guys,鈥� Corbett said. Although he admits the team has some real talent, he doesn鈥檛 think they have enough vets to challenge for the title.
Regardless of the outcome, however, he encouraged everyone in town to come down and enjoy some rugby this weekend.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be pretty good times,鈥� he said, mentioning the beer tent that will be set up in Centennial Park for the adult tournament.
Both tournaments will take place primarily at Centennial Park, with a few games played on the high school field.
Trevor Nichols
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