NSMT
Monday's Musings
U14 Boys: CW welcomed JBAA to the VIRU Junior league yesterday in their first (ever?) age grade U14 match. This is the Bays first attempt at this age level as far back as can be remembered and no doubt, in traditional James Bay fashion, will grow into a force to be reckoned with. It is great...
Bits & Pieces
Community Volunteers Recognition and a tip of The Ruggernut’s cap to CW U16 boys who lent some elbow grease to last weekend’s Victoria Marathon. The lads received kudos from the organizing committee and the club adds its “two bits”. ‘onyas, guys, that’s the Ceedub style! NSMT News –...
Pyker Hangs 'Em Up
SYDNEY Swans premiership ruckman Mike Pyke has announced his retirement, ending one of the most extraordinary stories in the game. On Friday, the always-understated big man tweeted a photo of his boots hanging up inside his locker at the SCG, signaling his career was over. The former...
You Be The Judge
Has rugby become “over-officiated”? In days of yore it could be said that if a player “made as few errors as the ref”, he was doing okay. Then came the AR, miked to the ref; then the TMO and now, the Citing Commissioners, to reduce officiating errors to virtually nil, so much so, that even the...
RWC and 'The Minnows'
Well, after looking at point differentials in the RWC, one notes that over 13 games there was an average of 40.6 in differential spread. Announcers were regularly heard to applaud the IRB with the "narrowing of the gap" but really? Rumour of quality salaries for coaches in Tier 2 countries...
A Painful Canadian Implosion
No doubt, all readers of this blog would have watched the Canada/Romania match and have their own opinion regarding the outcome, maybe even being able to propose reasons for it. The writer will leave it at that as the clichés and comments will be many. It is only fair to mention noted efforts....
Canada Vs Romania
Well, the campaign comes to a close tomorrow for Canada and despite some excellent play against Italy, with a rather unlucky result and long stretches of what might arguably be deemed, best ever Canadian rugby, against France, the campaign will be judged solely on the outcome of this match. We...
Dream Team Week Two
Congratulations to DTH (aka 'TAG') Van de Merwe announced today on the Week #2 RWC Dream Team. DTH's tally, initiated by a sparkling, lengthy run and a combo with Hearn, thence getting the pass returned Vs Italy was debatably, the try of the tourney to date....
Les Rouges Allez-ed Pretty Good
Although it probably was a foregone conclusion, the French victory was a mere touch of icing for this pundit after two weeks of meandering in Belgium and Normandy where I experienced the genuine honesty and respect of the French people for Canadians who fought in the two wars. The French...
Monday's Musings
We start this week's article on the positive note especially on the verge of the start of the RWC (which will see high viewership from youth) and the kickoff for many club youth programs around the province. As professional sport is always front and centre in our news in North America, we...
Tiedemann Performance Lauded "Outstanding"
Pictured here is Andrew Tiedemann scoring another try against his old club, UVic. Tieds scored his first try for the Nats yesterday, after 33 caps. His try was the lone Canadian tally in a 16 – 15 “upset” victory over higher ranked, Georgia. Canada, ranked #18 got the better of Georgia,...
Thus Endeth the Drought
Glasgow’s, Fraser Lyle, circa 2012/13 Well, it will be a happy group of bandits wending their way across the Atlantic today, nursing bumps and bruises but travelling first class, compliments RWC! Although this writer did not get a download, with the original plan by RC going awry when the...
Cudmore Duly Honored
This pundit likes the looks of the squad selected to do battle against Glasgow Warriors tomorrow. It is the first time the coach has had an opportunity to look at some possible combinations for upcoming RWC matches. Highlights are DTH playing against his "old" club; Cudmore deservedly as...
Monday's Musings
Professional Rugby Former Australian sevens coach Michael O’Connor, says coaches will be “knocking the door down” to take the team to the Rio Olympics following Geraint John’s shock resignation on Monday. It’s a setback for the Australian sevens program with less than three months before...
"It Just Wasn't Good Enough"
Blevins Sniffs the Line Wished it was as good as R.C’s Twitter feed made it out BUT the above quote from the coach after another Canadian, error-filled performance against a better drilled and skilled and sized, opposition on Saturday at Twin Elms in Ontario, sums it up. This match could...
Pritch Packs It In
PRITCH HANGS THEM UP. We bring readers the following quote from a class guy, in case you have not already seen it. Pritch has brought much to the Canadian scene over a period of twelve years, ending with over 600 “International points”. “Looking back on my time spent in a Canadian jersey...
Dust 'Em Off!
Late-breaking but bring your cleats for a game......Sunday @ Windsor. 11:20 – 11:45 Game 1 – Velox vs. CW (U35) 11:45 – 12:10 Game 2 – Ebb Tide vs. CW Masters (Over 35) 5 minute break 12:15 – 12:40 Game 3 – Velox vs. JBAA (U35) 12:40 – 1:05 Game 4 – Ebb Tide vs. Barbarians (Over 35) 5...
Wednesday's Ruck & Maul
Scholtzie Returns @ Limerick Sevens This weekend, The Maple Leafs have been drawn into a pool with Munster, Wellington and San Francisco at the Limerick Sevens. “The main thing is the quality of opposition which will really challenge all of our players,” Coach Middleton said. “We’re looking...
....A Good Show It Was.
This site wants to be amongst the first to congratulate the boys on their performance Vs Samoa. Canada still remains on a five game losing streak to #9, Samoa but it was the closest they have come to a W. The Ruggernut beat the 71/2 points spread, won money and waxed lyrical about many...
Wholesale Changes for Tomorrow's Tussle.
Coach Crowley has made twelve starting alterations to the team that lost to Tonga, in preparation for the highest ranked P.N. opponent, Samoa. The teams will do battle at BMO Field, To., tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. (PST), televised live on TSN #5. This will be another test to see just who can do...
Tonga Topples Canucks
Featured is one shining moment in last night’s game for the hosts. Canada started well and finished okay however from about 35 minutes in, when Underwood was inexplicably yellow carded (my opinion according to laws), offered little. It was a match which was not controlled well by the M-I-M...
Monday's Musings: Memories from World Cups Past.
Memories from World Cups Past. (Cardinal’s – First ever RWC, Canadian Try) ……and so another four years have passed and the boys are in camp again, a select group will earn the honour of representing Canada with the plethora of nations at the acme of our game. Canada has played in every RWC...
PAC NATIONS CUP OPENER
After watching Australia’s Wallabies nip RSA’s Springboks as a curtain-raiser, it was certainly anti-climactic, sticking out the Japan/Canada match, won by Japan, 20 – 6 with a lone try. It was a frustrating game for Canadian players; the ref (who was short of his “A” game); one assistant ref...
Representative Action Ramps Up
Our Man in the Middle - Raymondo Barkwill Canada, the lowest ranked of a “mid-group” of nations (#17), embarks on an ambitious RWC build up tomorrow when they take on #13 ranked, Japan in San Jose in Pacific Nations Cup action. The game can be viewed at www.worldrugby.org. Kick-off 5:00 p.m....
Monday's Musings
Medal Mania at Pan Am's. Canada’s Women’s Sevens second home-soil appearance for this season, was pure gold as they routed the U.S., 55 – 7 to win the first-ever Women’s Pan Am title. The side surrendered only a mere nineteen points over six games in the competition. One simply cannot find...