As November comes around, many athletes are preparing themselves for the physically demanding second season. This season is loaded with sports, ranging from basketball, swimming, tennis, and touch/rugby. Specifically, our touch and rugby teams are looking forward to the upcoming season.
The ladies’ touch rugby team is gearing up for the annual All-Asian Schools Touch tournament in Singapore. There, they will face some of the toughest competition in Asia, including schools they won’t play in IASAS.
Captain Jazz Burr (12) acknowledges the intense competition ahead, but is excited nonetheless as the team has a “strong mix of experienced players and wee freshies who are excited to learn.” After a heartbreaking loss in the consolation game last IASAS, you can bet our girls are hungry for some wins this season.
For the past several years, Mr. O’Shannassy had accompanied Mr. Rogers, the touch team’s head coach. As he has since left ISB, the touch team has had two new additions to their leadership: Ms. Stewart and Mrs. McRobbie. Ms. Stewart shows her positive look on the team by stating that, “if everyone works on trusting each other and creating a strong team connection, the future of this team looks great.”
With the rugby exchange coming up in Manila, our boys are looking to gain some experience on the pitch. After losing the majority of their team, the rugby captain Thana Witchawut (12) admits they “are a bit inexperienced and uncoordinated.” However, he doesn’t think this will hold them back, as he believes “the new players bring spirit and determination that [he’s] looking forward to playing with this year.”
This year, the boys’ head rugby coach Mr. Harvey states that “the coaches are in an interesting position” as they have to choose whether to focus the team on playing either a 7v7 lineup, which they play in the BISAC league, or 10v10 lineup, which they play in the IASAS league. He doesn’t seem to be too shaken about this upcoming decision as he describes his new team as “keen, fit, and excited to play.”
We wish our teams good luck as they head off to their respective tournaments, ready to show off their weeks of hard work!
Peyton E
