NSMT
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...
Monday's Musings
CRC’s MAC TIER CUP CHAMPS Prairie Fire and CW’s, Adam Bontus Hoists the Trophy High Despite it being “old news” we will offer our two bits on the recent CRC Championship. Congratulations to the Prairie Fire who knocked off four time winners of the MacTier Cup, Ontario Blues, 33 – 25. Under...
Wednesday's Ruck & Maul
Growing the Game Photo, CW’s, 'Yak' (Nanyak Dala) and 'Puck' (Derek Daypuck) pictured, “giving back”. Rugby Canada recently posted the fact that the game of rugby is growing in leaps and bounds, although this may be hard to fathom when clubs are having trouble (CW included) finding numbers...
Wednesday's Ruck & Maul
CW Women Show the Way This past weekend, CW women created club history when they entered in the Abby Sevens, not only playing but taking top honors with convincing wins over Burnaby, Meralomas and Bobcats, a Velox amalgam, in the 1st/2nd place match! Wow! Heady stuff! Following this triumph,...
Wednesday's Ruck & Maul
Mack Makes Miraculous Return Rugby Canada has announced its fourteen for Charlotte this weekend at the NACRA Sevens Olympics Qualifying Tourney. The return of Phil Mack is ever so heartening and we all hope that his rehabilitation is permanent and secure. What an athlete this man is, despite...
Moonlight's Men
Captain, John Moonlight will lead the following team in the NACRA Sevens Tournament, Saturday and Sunday upcoming. Tyler Ardron, Connor Braid, Justin Douglas, Sean Duke, Mike Fuailefau, Jeff Hassler, Ciaran Hearn, Nathan Hirayama, Harry Jones, Phil Mack, Taylor Paris, Conor Trainor and...
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...
Monday's Omission and Apology
We mentioned Parish's game winner yesterday but failed to mention a terrific winger's finish, following a two-man "miss" pass and eight hard yards to pull a massive upset for Glasgow Warriors over a heavily favored Ulster. DTH was the culprit, coming off the bench and adding to a very...
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...
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...
Where Will The Fates Fall?
Burnaby Put The Throttle on Things! Yesterday, at Windsor, The Tricolors had their fate in their hands but did not get the job done. The day started out with a rambling Laker lead in The Ones, 27 – 7 at the half. The second stanza was nothing short of incredible as a bunch of hard workers,...
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”...
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...
Wednesday's Ruck & Maul
– Interview with Captain, “Moose” Bydens who proffers his ever articulate take on things. NSMT NEWS. The boys take a rest and spend time with former CW player, Mesa in Fiji – bula, all. Canada’s NSMT wailed on Junior Japan/Japan A in Suva on Monday. It is hard to know what the goals of...