Rugby is like life. You can have the ball in your hand and be running down the field feeling unstoppable. Then someone tackles you and you hit the deck and you're vulnerable; you're lying there exposed. Suddenly your teammates are there, not just over the ball but over you, protecting you. They're prepared to put their bodies on the line for you. That's what happens in life: you fall over, and your mates come to your aid. I remember standing on the sideline in Italy, watching one of the most mismatched games of rugby I've ever seen; two players had already been significantly injured, Malcolm had just broken his nose. We got scored on again and I asked them if they wanted to call the game and suggested it was probably a good idea. Everyone looked at me, including Malcolm with his crooked nose, and said they wanted to keep battling, that's when I knew that at the very least, this team was tough. We did go on to forfeit that game shortly after that, but the grit and resilience of these men had already been proven. It has been a long journey with this group, with nearly every player on the team having first played the sport last season and having a winless CISAA season, to just missing out on playing in a CISAA championship this year. It is truly impressive to see how far they're come; and now we have a number of players who are going on to play rugby in university. The goal is always to win, you don't play sports to lose, but instilling a passion for this amazing sport that can give you so much is also the goal, and I think that was accomplished. Honestly, boys, I'm going to miss you guys a lot. So many personalities and dynamic individuals. Its inspiring and speaks to how great this place is. Many of you balance so much it's crazy, you'll be on stage performing a lead role in a play or writing an AP exam, and then the next day you're smashing someone on the rugby pitch; that's what its all about and a lot of you proved time and time again that you really can do it all. So, thank you for an amazing season, its been a pleasure coaching you over the past two seasons and never forget "what goes on tour stays on tour". We honour the patient, caring, superbly skilled, and consummately professional work of our Athletic Therapist Heather Tugnett. From our Italy trip through the pre-season and CISAA season, Heather put in countless hours to keep our boys on the field. We offer our most sincere thanks for your absolutely invaluable work Heather. We say goodbye to an unprecedented 23 grads this year. We thank you all for restarting our rugby program after COVID-19. Please stand and be recognized as I call your name: Joseph Aitoro, Basil Al Balushi, Roan Binnendyk, Jo Jo Criswick, Massimo Di Biase, Owen Kamphuys, Kai Kang, Lucas Morrison, Tinaye Gorima, Logan Nirenberski, Kian Pouragha, Sam Power, David Rubtsov, Konstantin Sauer, Hudson Shea, Declan Ste. Marie, Gabriel Ste. Marie, Riley Sullivan, Steven Sun, Nicholas Tasker, Teagh Tremain, Dylan White, Roy Xia Gentlemen, we hope you enjoyed your experience, learned new aspects of what it means to work as part of a team, and hope you will be ambassadors for this great game as you look to play college, university, and club rugby in the years to come.

Most Improved Player
This year's most improved player was a key member of our team. Our go-to lineout jumper, a quick, mobile ball carrier, and superbly effective at the rucks, he showed consistent improvement throughout the year and ended up playing more minutes than any other forward. Please give it up for the 2023 1st Rugby MIP and Western University rugby commit: Lucas "Mo" Morrison.

The Most Valuable Player trophy is named in honour of Courtenay Stoate, the teacher and coach who founded ruby union at St. Andrew's College in 1963. Presented by Mr. Tim Stoate, class of 1973, and son of Courtenay Stoate. Picking a single most valuable player is almost impossible in sports like rugby which are so highly dependent on the abilities and combined performance of so many. Of the 23 grads, at least 8 players were in the running for this award. This year it goes to our toughest tackler, a force to be reckoned with as ball carrier, an excellent line-out thrower and hooker, and a passionate, committed leader on and off the field who grew to become our greatest asset. Please give it up for the incoming Head Prefect, next year's team captain, and 2023 1st Rugby MVP: Malcolm Austgarden.

Mark Oliver Award
This is the highest award for rugby at St. Andrew's as it recognizes the person who has best displayed the combination of: passion for the game, exceptional athleticism and ability, leadership, and outstanding character. Presented by Mr. Michael Roy, St. Andrew's Executive Director, Enrolment Management, class of 1985, and a classmate of Mark Oliver. This year's winner is a quiet leader by example, the hardest working player on the field as well as the fittest, with a superbly diverse skill set he is capable of playing almost any position but was usually found leading the pack from #8 Most importantly, he is one of the humblest players you will meet. Always looking to build others up, always positive, quietly determined, and highly skilled. We hope to see him on the field for UofT this fall. A big thank-you and congratulations to: Teagh Tremain.

Story by Jon Butcher, 1st Rugby Coach