Sevens
Wednesday's Ruck & Maul
Oh to be…… ……………a fly on the wall. The upcoming BCRU AGM, June 21st will see as its central issue debate and voting on the following, very cleverly, word-smithed motion, relating to the inclusion of Seattle Saracens in the CDI Premier League for the 2015/16 season. The gist of the motion...
Did the Dough on Day Two!
Backed the boys but the U.S. was simply too good, winning 29 – 10 on a day that simply turned out to be ALL U.S., posting 43 points on England and 45 on the Aussies in the final. Well done! This final tourney saw the U.S. as winners, Fiji, win the overall series and Fiji, RSA, N.Z. and England,...
Road to Rio Narrows
In what has been a heady twelve hour period of Canadian rugby, we salute our NSWT Sevens. For this pundit, no surprises with their second place finish at London, retaining second overall but now, being tied with the Aussies. Our women are flat out, very good! Day One they pounded their...
Wednesday's Ruck & Maul
WOMEN'S SEVENS The NSWT will be playing in London this weekend, the same time as the guys. Their parade will then move on to Amsterdam ( May22, 23), when a Tier II event will take place, in conjunction, featuring Canada's Womens Maple Leafs. Coach, 'Captain Canada' Morgan Williams will have...
Sevens Summary
It's All Ever so Close! This was a gut-wrenching day for a Canadian side that played good sevens, gave of their best but were not rewarded. It started with a close, one try to loss to an English side that went on to finish in third place. England were edged, 5 – 0 by N.Z. in their semi and went...
Canada Men Qualify for Cup Action
Fuli, "out the back door"! Playing as complete a game as possible, in recent memory, Canada’s Men schooled their U.S. counterparts in the Glasgow opener, 40 – 0. Unfortunately, the euphoria overtook the matter at hand and their second outing against Argentina lacked a similar quality. However,...
Game Day
Gotta love Port Alberni Mayor, Mike Ruttan who has backed his Black Sheep with an offer to Seattle’s Mayor for today’s BCRU DIV 1 Semi-final – a cedar box of sockeye to “no reply”! ‘Onya, Mike. CW says; “go, you good things, Port!” Best of luck to Jas and his lambs today. Glasgow...
Wednesday's, "Ruck & Maul" on Thursday!
Just a windup on the Women’s IRB Tourney. It was alluded to that there was a heavy CW volunteer involvement in an earlier blog on this site. Today, we would like to name names, starting with Dave Crossley, Chair of Local Organization – logistics, team liaison, volunteer management,...
Monday's Musings
Back a sure thing? Death, taxes and N.Z. Silver Ferns Sevens! They did it again, showing their superior skill, speed, athleticism and teamwork, N.Z.’s women are just a cut above the rest. Kudos to Russia who did not go easily in their first ever Final (10 – 29) and if it was the...
DAY ONE - ALL ACCORDING TO HOYLE!
CW congratulates Canada’s NSWT on their 3 – 0. Opening Day performance at the IRB Sevens. Early, one-sided wins over Russia and RSA were immediately forgotten when the U.S. laid down the wood to go ahead 15 – 12 with mere minutes remaining. It was up to Landry to save the day with her fifth try...
A Day in the Life of Windsor Park
N.Z.'s Silver Ferns hit out early. Hats off to Gord Kehoe who found something to do of value with his recuperating time from recent surgery. Gord linked with the Aussie Sevens Women and lined up a workout at his Crossfit Gym…..’onya, Gord. Training's done! England women...
Final Match of the Season
In preparation for the Burnaby Battle, we bring viewers the final fifteen minutes of last Saturday's game against the Thunderbirds, how the game was not won by the visitors almost appears a travesty based on this footage. We have no word about the squad but "go pro" reports Tuesday as...
Women's Rugby
As the weekend nears, the question of the day is; can a “Kish-less” Canadian 7’s team conjure up some magic in this weekend’s IRB Tournament? It is tough for the ladies to still have Kish and Marchak out with injury, at their first “home-front” Sevens appearance however, Coach Tate has made...
Blue Collar Performance
Eighty minute story, short. Fifteen blue collar guys fronted for the full eighty against the (new) league leaders, UBC, on Saturday. Hats off to The Ones, who, despite a lop-sided score produced a gutsy effort in the curtain-raiser. Our man at the park reports; “…despite many tries chalked up,...
Rugby Resumes
The CDI Premiership and Library Square Cup pick up play this weekend after a lengthy layoff. CW travels to UBC and a stint at the new Thunderbird Stadium. On paper it would appear a “no-brainer” as UBC sit in second place and the visitors are in the basement however with a closer inspection,...
Skeleton Crew Continue to Amaze
How prophetic was yesterday’s comment regarding “never ceasing to amaze”, as Canada proved on day #2 to be no chopped liver in Cup action after “squeaking in”. Their historic win over N.Z., 19 – 15 was every bit deserving, particularly after N.Z. opened with a try within a record 18 seconds!...
Canada in Cup Quarters
Indeed, blessings from the Easter fairy and a resounding 26 – 10 victory over Kenya, led by Hearn, Douglas and Trainor, edged the boys into Cup play on a points differential. It will be tough sledding as the team has lost Hammond and the opposition is New Zealand however valuable points have...
A Patchwork Quilt
From a Sevens side that looked almost ‘Dead Cert’ for Olympic inclusion one year ago – injuries and a limited player pool have put Canada on the ‘outside fringe’ to do battle in Olympic qualifying tournaments in June thru September. Top four from IRB Comp are automatics, “regional winners”...
Maple Leafs win in Hong Kong
Maple Leaf women win in Hong Kong Maple Leaf women defeated Japan 24-12 as the opening match to the Hong Kong Sevens in front of a 20,000+ fans at Hong Kong stadium. It was Canada's 3rd consecutive win in the Invitation Women's tourney and the first time for the Maple Leafs...
Day #3 - Done & (Canada) Dusted!
After a good start with a victory over Kenya (21 – 10), this Ruggernut mused over point differentials, in an effort to prognosticate form and comparison of team performances. What odds Portugal to tie the mighty Kiwis??? ….. and then for Kenya to open a 21 point differential over Portugal???...
Black Saturday
As good as Friday got, mere hours later, results tanked as the NSMT went down to Samoa, 19 - 24, a game which RC's writer's claimed could have gone either way. This fan did not see that, as the boys looked jaded, not at all sharp against a side they have been beating rather regularly of...
Good Friday Comes Early
Although Belgium scored from the opening kick off (pictured, Tchanque on the fly), Canada's NSMT 7's went on to win 28 - 12 in the Hong Kong Opener. From Coach Middleton; "...we knew from film they would be hard work and they were..." To paraphrase a Twitter comment from Captain Moonlight...
Four Decades of Premier Sevens
(It's not a blur, it's just that our lamps have aged!!) On the eve of the Men's RWC Sevens Competition we ask where has the time gone? From an annual event showcasing sevens, moons ago, the Hong Kong Sevens has become the premier event on a circuit that is now a full-on show,...
Monday's Musings
Kicking off with BIG bouquets to Canada ‘A’, NSMT on their come from behind, 28 – 26 reversal of their previous loss, over Samoa ‘A’ for third place finish in the inaugural, Pacific Nations Cup. The boys were down 13 – 21 at the half however, with the scrum being dominant (good news, over...