Wednesday's Ruck & Maul

July 24, 2024 Posted in Sevens / Canada Rugby / CW Rugby / Rugby Club / News / B.C. Rugby / Community / Fifteens / NSMT / NSWT / Senior Women / Senior Men

Photo credit - Photosport

A Long Way From Home.

Last Saturday a crowd of some 34,000 gathered to watch the All-Black Vs Fiji game at San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium (beers - $26NZ!!). The All Blacks proved superior by a score of 47 - 5. Just a brief mention, adding great kudos from NZ coach, Scott Robinson; “America, they sure know how to do sport well, man!” And for many Fijians, perhaps on a first visit to the USA, it was a long way from home and possible humble rugby beginnings back in Viti Levu!

Speaking of Fiji, they opened their Olympic 7’s medal campaign with a win over Uruguay in Pool play yesterday. NZ, Ireland, Australia, Argentina also won their matches and home favorites, France battled to tie the US. It is a pity that this action will be apparently difficult to view. The writer hopes it might be different with the women as Canada is in the mix for medal contention.

And, speaking of France, they lost their second test to Argentina, 25 – 33 last weekend for the series to be squared. Les Bleus are having a horrendous tour, fraught with very serious incidents off the field, one player being sent home for racial postings and two players under house arrest. Along with mediocre rugby on the docket it sounds like it is a good thing they are a long way from home, where the Olympics are front and center!

Bowd bows out as Old Glory are done and dusted in the MLR Playoffs.

CW’s, Grady Bowd was on the bench as an impact player last weekend. His club, Washington Old Glory gave the titleholders, New England Free Jacks a good run for the money, going down 29 – 33. Grady ended what this writer gleaned to be a mixed season, with a couple of starts and a number of bench appearances. It will be interesting to see the choices this young man will make, with him seemingly being out of the picture with NSMT’s Coach Jones.

Finally, on the home front, the newly minted Highlanders had a 30 – 26 victory over the German NSMT last weekend at Burnaby Lake. It would appear that the Lakers have stepped forward as “home field”, with two home games hosted and no doubt, topping the coffers with good crowds. CW’s Jacob Bossi started in this one and Ollie Nott came off the bench. UBCOB Ravens and recent NSMT debutante, Takoda McMullen, contributed twenty points to the winning cause.

Well known JBAA stalwart, Lew Madley passed away this week at the age of 102. Madley was born in Wales and came to Canada in 1952, hanging his sporting hat with the Bays and Presiding over the club in the 80’s. Madley, a writer of six published titles, is best recognized for two notable rugby history contributions, “A History of JBAA” and “Rugby Football in BC – 1876-1989.” A gathering to celebrate Lew’s life will be held at the James Bay Athletic Club noon, Wednesday, July 31st.