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” from qualifiers are in and then the other spots will be filled with “repecharge games”. So, we go into Tokyo, beginning tomorrow.

Canada has Underwood, Duke and Scholtz out and Hearn is possibly not 100%. Take the remainder into a pool featuring South Africa, U.S.A. and Kenya! Although there is plenty of time to go, some countries are getting their ducks in line. The likes of U.S.A., Argentina, France, Scotland and most recently, Samoa have all made strong statements at some stage or another this “season”. With resources at “bare bones”, much will be on the backs of the core group of Moonlight, Jones, Trainor, Douglas, Hammond, Fuli and Whitey.

Canada is suffering some of the effects of the recent Pac Nations foray, that being, our players having to front for both XV’s and VII’s. There seems to be no other glaring example of countries playing as many players at both levels. This will be compounded with decisions to have to select a sevens group that can qualify for Rio and then represent Canada at RWC in September. One step at a time and once again, we know that the boys will give of their best this weekend and we at CW wish them well and trust the Easter Fairy might pay a visit. Go, you good things!

Ryan Hamilton calls it a Day.  Capilano’s, U.Vic’s, CW’s and Canada’s, Ryan Hamilton has made the call to hang up the cleats after seventeen International Canadian Caps. Ryan started playing Minis at Capilano at age eight. He played with their junior program where he was selected for Canada’s U17’s. Ryan then “crossed the pond” to attend UVic and fall under the mentorship of Canada’s Captain, Pat Riordan. He received his first cap in 2010 and in 2011 he played in all four of Canada’s RWC games in N.Z. Ryan has certainly been a committed player who worked very hard at his game. His decision to focus on his Law degree and life away from rugby has not been an easy one. We wish Ryan all the best and we know he is the kind of guy that someday will find a way to “give back”. ‘ònya, Ryan.

CW’s U12’s & U14’s Go International.  In what will be a “first ever” for this age grade group, The Mini Tricolors will take on Rokeby Prep School from Thames, Surrey, U.K. tomorrow @ The Park at 1:00 p.m. The lads have been training extra hard for this one and coach, Shane Muldrew will have them well prepared. It will be interesting to see how our boys stack up against kids who have been born with a rugby ball in their hands! No other matches on the horizon. Take it in! Happy Easter to all of our site’s readers and fans of CW and friends of rugby.