School launches fitness regime to assist rugby players

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The new coach of a local high school’s rugby program is attempting to give her charges a leg up in performance with a new multifaceted fitness program.

North Peace Secondary School (NPSS) has launched the new Dawn at the Den fitness program to help it’s rugby teams train during this upcoming season.

Adarah May, the first-year girls’ head coach of NPSS, says the program runs five days a week and is designed to give students a more comprehensive playing experience.

May is a 2021 graduate of NPSS and a former participant on the girl’s rugby team. Upon graduation, she studied at Olds College of Agriculture and Technology in Alberta and received a diploma in environmental science while working at that school’s athletic centre.

A self-professed fitness enthusiast, May also works as a personal trainer at Prevail Athletics.

“I played rugby from grade 10 to 12,” said May.  “I really had a passion for it. I wanted to go to college for it, but due to [Covid-19 pandemic] I was unable.

“I started assistant coaching and also received my rugby referee certification since then. I ended up getting the position of head coach this year, and I thought ‘there’s this free open gym in the school. We used to have training sessions all the time.’”

The program is run Monday to Friday, starting at 6:45 a.m. until 8:10 a.m. Highlights include film sessions to run through the laws of the game or game structure and rugby-centric athletic training.

“Some days, we’ll watch a 15s or sevens tournament on YouTube and take players through it and how [the game] works,” says May. “Other days we’ll do bench, deadlift or squats.  

“We’ll try to learn and focus on our form so we can promote less injury and safe lifting in the gym.”

Although it is specifically for rugby students right now, May feels other NPSS teams or students can participate in the Dawn at the Den program in the future. 

“We’re trying to get physical training involved in everybody’s lives at the North Peace,” said May.

More information about the Dawn at the Den program is available on the school’s Instagram page.