Canada Rugby
'Twas the Night Before Rio....
Hello all, It’s less than 48 hours until rugby sevens makes history and joins the Olympic family. I can report that our women's team is well prepared (not affected by any of the issues being raised by other nations) and ready to launch their 2016 bid for a gold medal. We here on...
Wednesday's Ruck & Maul
CW's Dynamic Duo It is with great pleasure that CWRFC congratulates the duo of Caroline Crossley and Sophie de Goede. It has been a lot of fun to have been part of and watched the rugby growth of these ladies over a period of close to eight years, after they first held a ball at Windsor Park...
Yak is Back!
Canada’s senior men’s head coach Mark Anscombe has named a 26-man Canada ‘A’ team that will tour the UK next month. Canada will face off against Greene King IPA Championship club Doncaster (August 20th) as well as Pro 12 side Ulster ((August 26th). “We’re looking to develop our player depth...
Monday's Musings
Exciting CRC MacTier Cup Finals. Oh well, exciting for some, as the Wolf Pack edged The Rock, 21 – 20 and Ontario pasted B.C. 50 – 21. The bonus point enabled The Blues to end up one point ahead of the Wolf Pack and reclaim the Cup for the fifth occasion. CW had Woolridge, Dingwall and...
Wednesday's Ruck & Maul
Reflections (Or, where the heck is Gavin Kratz?) As CW announces LIVE connection for registration for another season, it is easy to take time to reflect on sixteen years of Mini Rugby, players the likes of Luke McClosky, Sophie De Goede, Caroline Crossley, Morgan Tate, Fergus Hall to mention...
Monday's Musings
PRO RUGBY LEAVES US IN THE COLD The U.S. ProLeague is well into its schedule (Week 14), yet it is difficult to get game reports although scores can be obtained from Facebook but standings would be interesting. Took some time to scan last weekend’s games and noted only one Canadian in...
Saturday's Smorgasbord
Women’s Super Series: Hats off to the NSWT, winners of Super Series II after their victory over France, 29 – 10. Laura Russell and her team mates came up with a very inspirational victory for our Women’s Sevens who were presented to fans at Bullen Park, Esquimalt. CW’s Zussman and Waters...
Go for the Gold, Canada
Rugby Canada, in partnership with Canadian Olympic Committee, is pleased to announce its 12 athletes and staff that have been nominated to represent Canada at the inaugural rugby sevens competition at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Edmonton’s Jen Kish will captain a side...
Wednesday's Ruck & Maul
What a difference a year makes! This time last year in Red Deer, our women lost to England, 15 – 14 and to the U.S., 36 – 28. Yesterday, the women convincingly handed the U.S. a spanking, 33 – 5, bookended by tries from CW’s Britt Waters who opened affairs at seven minutes and Julianne...
Monday's Musings
ZUSSMAN BAGS A BRACE CW’s Julianne Zussman led the parade to the posts for Canada’s NSWT in their marvellous victory over world #2 ranked, England women on Canada Day, (rather fitting). The Nats chalked up 52 points, 39 in the first half which was pure money. Described by R.C. as; “one of the...
The True North Strong and FREE
A RECESS FOR THE RUGGERNUT....... A week off from scribing as ‘catch-up’ around the home has been on the agenda. Not a totally idle week for CW Ruggers, particularly our women. We brought you news about the Island’s Tide successes at last week’s PRC’s. CW had one sibling pair playing on...
Monday's Musings
Weekend InternationalsUpsets- Georgia d. Fiji, 14 – 3; France d. Argentina, 27 – 0To form; Samoa d. Tonga, 30 – 10; N.Z. d. Wales, 46 – 6; England d. Australia, 44 – 40; Scotland d. Japan, 21 – 16; South Africa d. Ireland, 19 – 13; U.S.A. d. Russia, 25 – 0 and Italy d. Canada, 20 – 18. To add a...
Wednesday's Ruck & Maul
Even the Best Need a Rev Up! The following poem was read to the English team by an assistant coach prior to their kick-off Vs Oz in the second test last weekend;THE GUY IN THE GLASS When you get what you want in your struggle for selfAnd the world makes you king for a dayJust go to the mirror...
Bravo, Espana!
Thanks, John. Spain, a country that failed to qualify for the RWC Sevens circuit for the 2016/17 season and in fact has not been a regular member of “the show” for two years, has won the Repecharge and will be off to the Rio Olympics. Arguably, the slightly better side in the Final, they...
NSMT Vs Russia
Changes to the team are minor for tomorrow's game Vs Russia. Mozac Samson has earned a starting spot in the centers and Pierce, Wilson-Ross and Underwood have been added to the bench. It looks like Hubert 'Moose' Buydens is out with torn ACL - info cleverly searched out by BCRN from...
Wednesday's Ruck & Maul
Canada Women’s XV’s Senior women’s head coach Francois Ratier has named a 26-player squad for the Women’s Rugby Super Series in Salt Lake City, Utah next month. Additionally, Ratier has also selected a 23-player Maple Leafs team that will also compete in Utah against the USA All-Americans....
A Huge Dose of Crow!
Well, the prognostications did not go too well and that’s to put it mildly! Tonga managed to get within five of Fiji in Suva, 23 – 18. Samoa managed to eke out a tie with Georgia, 19 – 19 at home, rather an upset from this writer’s pov. Argentina won but it was close and not the spread...
Wednesday's Ruck & Maul
Saturday is ‘Internationals’ Day Around the rugby playing world a series of International encounters will take place this weekend. The Ruggernut thought it might be fun for readers to match their prognostications with his, so here we go! In Suva, Fiji takes on Tonga – I go for Fiji by more...
Monday's Musings
Fun Facts: Giving Back – CW in the Community Tip of the Ruggernut’s cap to; Women’s Prem, Marlene Nedved who organized Chloe, Maelle, Adrienne, Amelia and the Knaggs party of four, to volunteer at the Oak Bay Tea Party this past weekend. This group worked with Ocean...
Monday's Musings
Seven’s Heaven: The Sevens Show for both genders again proved it’s ‘never over ‘til it’s over'! What an epic finish for our Canadian Women. Where does one come up with enough superlatives for this magical 29 – 19 win over the Aussies? Canada, after dropping a pool game, 17 – 19 to N.Z....
Wednesday's Ruck & Maul
CW Men on Tour Last weekend, CW Men T.O.T’s (Tricolours On Tour – TOT’s of brandy, single malt and Mount Gay), squad made their first timid venture forth for many a moon when they mustered some troops, supplemented from the West Shores (of all places), under the guidance of The Chaplain and...
London Sevens - Saving the Best 'til Last!
This site must give the brave Scots a HUGE shout out after they came from behind to score their winning try over RSA in "no time" and a 27 - 26 victory. This match for the second Final in a row was all that is magical about the game of sevens. A #11 ranked team beating the #2 ranked...
A Triad of Tests
“Party of Ten (…to the snack bar, please!)” It takes an army of support for the modern day National Rugby team. As a preview to the upcoming triad of tests; vs Japan at BC Place, June 11th; vs Russia, Calgary, June 18th; vs Italy BMO Field, Toronto, June 26th , R.C. has announced the coaching...
Canada Women's Maple Leafs get Nutted Out in Final.
Hat's off to the Women's Maple Leafs, losing a close Final in London to the U.S., 12 - 19. This came after the scalps of Spain, France, Ireland, Japan and Great Britain had been taken. This is a very satisfying achievement for the ladies as they now only have one final tournament next week...
Down but not Out!
The Jones Boy Back in Action Just when it all seemed doom and gloom, Canada's NSMT 7's have provided a 'Phoenix', arising from two dismal recent outings on the circuit. The boys opened against The Blizbokke and came up with a respectable, 7 - 21 score line. Game#2 was HUGE as they showed...