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They’ll walk away thinking “this is rugby and I want more.”

Three years ago, Fiji sevens great Waisale Serevi was in Vancouver to run a similar event with kids at a Vancouver Boys and Girls Club. Most of them knew nothing about rugby. They had a marvellous time. I often think about those kids — did anyone every follow up? Or did rugby just become a semi-remembered pitstop in their youth?

Last spring, Serevi was back, this time working with a group of First Nations kids, many of whom who didn’t know rugby.

Again, they had a blast. I hope someone made sure to let those kids know “here how you can do this again.”

That’s how you grow the game. This is where you should spend your money — not on another boring PR event, or another aimless radio ad. Find those kids. Make new connections. Help them find a way to do it again.

Tangible, easy wins. The kids are everything.

As ever: let’s get on with it.

(Where was Ghislaine Landry in this picture? With the Toronto Inner-City Rugby Foundation, running a Rookie Rugby session. They started small and have made a difference at every step. They don’t get caught up in the arguments or “what it looks like.” They focus on the result. They just get on with it.)

*this lesson works for any sport, not just rugby.

pjohnston@postmedia.com

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