2013 America's Rugby Championship

[LittleGuy]

After last year's considerably succesful ARC event Canada will once again be hosting the tournament at Westhill Stadium in Langford, British Columbia. Last year the event played to sellout crowds on all days and featured some quality rugby. The event will take place between October 11-19th and should be a good lead in for many of these sides before their November schedules.

Canada "A", United States "A" and the Argentina Jaguars will all be a part of the tournament, while the higher ranked of Chile and Uruguay will send their full national team(to be determined this month).

Tickets will go on sale in July.

http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/mediazone/pressrelease/newsid=2066253.html#canada+host+americas+rugby+championship

Broadcast All games will be streamed live officially, I will add the details later as I'm not sure who is hosting the feed, last year's broadcast was OK better than the usual Rugby Canada streams since I think it was outsourced.

Schedule

All games are at Westhills Stadium, Langford, British Columbia, Canada.(Just outside Victoria.)

Fri, Oct. 11
6:00P PDT USA vs. Argentina
8:00P PDT Canada vs. Uruguay

Tue, Oct. 15
6:00P PDT Argentina vs. Uruguay
8:00P PDT USA vs. Canada

Sat, Oct. 19
3:00P PDT Uruguay vs. USA
5:00P PDT Argentina vs. Canada

 

[Superalexmarket]

Agustín Pichot has confirmed the continuity of Argentina in the Americas Cup and Nations Cup.
He also talked about a possible participation Puma in the Pacific Rim Cup. I'll talk about this soon...

 

[LittleGuy]

Tickets have gone on sale for this, three double header nights of Rugby, prices look fantastic for General admission seats as well. Uruguay are also the confirmed 4th participant.

 

[LittleGuy]

(Courtesy of Canadafan) Canada's ARC squad

Kyle Baille, (Castaway Wanderers/The Rock) Charlottetown, PEI
Ray Barkwill, (Niagara Wasps RFC/Ontario Blues) Niagara Falls, ON
Nick Blevins, (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
Alistair Clark, (Baystreet RFC/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON
Zac Coughlan, (Swilers RFC/The Rock) St. John's, NL
Joe Dolesau, (Burnaby Lake RC/BC Bears) Burnaby, BC
Jack Fitzpatrick, (Dublin University Football Club) Dublin, Ireland
Aaron Flagg, (Abbotsford RFC/BC Bears) Abbotsford, BC
Kyle Gilmour, (St. Albert Rugby Club/Prairie Wolf Pack) Edmonton, AB
Micha Gorvorchin, (Burnaby Lake RC/BC Bears) New Westminster, BC
Matt Heaton, (SABRFC/The Rock) Godmanchester, QC
Jake Illnicki, (Williams Lake Rustlers/Auckland Colts) Williams Lake, BC
Adam Kleeberger, (Castaway Wanderers/BC Bears) White Rock, BC
Jamie Mackenzie, (UVIC Vikes/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON
Duncan Maguire, (St. Albert Rugby Club/Prairie Wolf Pack) St. Albert, AB
Ryan March, (Abbotsford RFC/BC Bears) Abbotsford, BC
Adam McQueen, (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Canmore, AB
Henry (Hank) McQueen, (Balmy Beach/Ontario Blues) West Vancouver, BC
Callum Morrison, (UBCOC Ravens/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
Mike Scholz, (Castaway Wanderers/Ontario Blues) London, ON
Andrew Tiedemann, (Castaway Wanderers/Prairie Wolf Pack) St. Albert, AB
Conor Trainor, (UBCOB Ravens/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
Sean White, (James Bay AA/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
Jordan Wilson-Ross, (James Bay AA/Ontario Blues) Alliston, ON
Doug Wooldridge, (Lindsay RFC/Ontario Blues) Lindsay, ON



United States Squad

Forwards

Derek Asbun
Danny Barrett
Trevor Cassidy
Cam Dolan
Cam Falcon
Graham Harriman
Will Haydock
***i Lamositele
Liam O Murphy
Shawn Pittman
Chris Sullivan
Phil Thiel
Tai Tuisamoa
Nick Wallace

Backs

Chris Chapman
Joe Cowley
Max D'Arachaval
Shaun Davies
Toby L'Estrange
Tim Maupin
Ed Mills
Peter Moala
Mile Pulu
Mark Roberts
Chris Saint
Adam Sidda

 

[Superalexmarket]

The Jaguars lost their last training match vs Tucuman 18-0. Warning lights ON, in the argentine team.

 

[psychic duck]

(Courtesy of Canadafan) Canada's ARC squad

Kyle Baille, (Castaway Wanderers/The Rock) Charlottetown, PEI
Ray Barkwill, (Niagara Wasps RFC/Ontario Blues) Niagara Falls, ON
Nick Blevins, (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
Alistair Clark, (Baystreet RFC/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON
Zac Coughlan, (Swilers RFC/The Rock) St. John’s, NL
Joe Dolesau, (Burnaby Lake RC/BC Bears) Burnaby, BC
Jack Fitzpatrick, (Dublin University Football Club) Dublin, Ireland
Aaron Flagg, (Abbotsford RFC/BC Bears) Abbotsford, BC
Kyle Gilmour, (St. Albert Rugby Club/Prairie Wolf Pack) Edmonton, AB
Micha Gorvorchin, (Burnaby Lake RC/BC Bears) New Westminster, BC
Matt Heaton, (SABRFC/The Rock) Godmanchester, QC
Jake Illnicki, (Williams Lake Rustlers/Auckland Colts) Williams Lake, BC
Adam Kleeberger, (Castaway Wanderers/BC Bears) White Rock, BC
Jamie Mackenzie, (UVIC Vikes/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON
Duncan Maguire, (St. Albert Rugby Club/Prairie Wolf Pack) St. Albert, AB
Ryan March, (Abbotsford RFC/BC Bears) Abbotsford, BC
Adam McQueen, (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Canmore, AB
Henry (Hank) McQueen, (Balmy Beach/Ontario Blues) West Vancouver, BC
Callum Morrison, (UBCOC Ravens/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
Mike Scholz, (Castaway Wanderers/Ontario Blues) London, ON
Andrew Tiedemann, (Castaway Wanderers/Prairie Wolf Pack) St. Albert, AB
Conor Trainor, (UBCOB Ravens/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
Sean White, (James Bay AA/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
Jordan Wilson-Ross, (James Bay AA/Ontario Blues) Alliston, ON
Doug Wooldridge, (Lindsay RFC/Ontario Blues) Lindsay, ON



United States Squad

Forwards

Derek Asbun
Danny Barrett
Trevor Cassidy
Cam Dolan
Cam Falcon
Graham Harriman
Will Haydock
***i Lamositele
Liam O Murphy
Shawn Pittman
Chris Sullivan
Phil Thiel
Tai Tuisamoa
Nick Wallace

Backs

Chris Chapman
Joe Cowley
Max D'Arachaval
Shaun Davies
Toby L'Estrange
Tim Maupin
Ed Mills
Peter Moala
Mile Pulu
Mark Roberts
Chris Saint
Adam Sidda

Canada's squad has several players with PNC experience and full caps. USA's squad is a bunch of nobodies. USA I feel are more reliant on overseas based players than Canada. The Canucks depth and domestic player base certainly showed up better from the PNC, which they played in difficult circumstances.

 

[LittleGuy]

It was relatively the same last year, the States sent a poor side(probably even worse than this year's team which at least has 4 or 5 in the mix players) and they ended up finishing dead last and lost to Uruguay. I don't think they can expect to compete with Canada and especially the Jaguars with the squad they have got together for 2013 either, and will liikely be battling Uruguay again for 3rd place.

Canada has players like, Kleeberger, Trainor, Scholz, Barkwill, White, Blevins, Tieddemann and Wooldridge who are all capable of slotting into the match day lineup of the full national side...add in guys like Flagg, Mackenzie and their is tons of peripheral national team players on here, along with some guys who've just come off some great CRC campaigns. I think we have a solid side out espeically considering the guys who are missing due to 7's, overseas contracts, injury and other commitments. Think we will be weakest at FH for this comp though.

 

[canadafan]

What would be your starting XV from that list LG?

 

[CDN_Rugby]

Pretty solid lineup for Canada, there are a lot of decent players in that squad. Given that the ARC is purely developmental, choosing the match day squad is probably impossible. In any case, here are some things on my mind going into the ARC...

-Hopefully Gorvorchin getting a strong look at hooker. He's young, has experience in the French academy system, and from all accounts has looked really good. We know what we're getting with Barkwill, lets see what else we have in the cupboard.

-Same for Jake Illnicki. He's big and young and along with Sears-Duru could find himself on the bench of the full national side given the massive drop off in props after Buydens, Marshall, and to a lesser degree Tiedemann.

-If Trainor and Kleeberger are at 100%, try and showcase them. They're both capable of playing for top tier clubs and if they have a good showing could find themselves with short term contracts should a club face injury trouble (like Phil Mack has done).

-Hopefully Scholz has a good tournament. I think he can be an effective player.

-The Yanks might be in for a tough ARC. In the event that they bomb, hopefully they can at least take consolation in the fact that their "most professional, best in North America rugby administrators" will probably fire Mike Tolkin. Lord knows their coaching is subpar.

-If last year was any indication, the attendance should be fantastic.

 

[LittleGuy]

1. Wooldridge
2. Barkwill
3. Tieddemann
4. Henry(Hank) McQueen
5. Flagg(Can play backrow as well)
6. Kleeberger
7. Glimore
8. Coughlan
9. White
10. Adam McQueen(slim pickings here I honestly have no idea who to go with)
11. Jordan Wilson-Ross(slightly out of position but I want him on the field..maybe he switches around with the CT's)
12. Blevins
13. Scholz
14. Trainor
15. Fitzpatrick

16. Govorchin
17. March
18. Illnicki
19. Baille
20. Clark
21. Mackenzie
22. Heaton
23. Dolesau


Edit: On a related note Crowley has already said they expect most of the pro's won't be available for the Moari match which sucks since the game will get national exposure and casuals will read more into the result than they should. Buydens might be available since the ITM Cup is done by then, and hopefully some of the crossover 7's guys like Braid and Dala will be available otherwise things could get ugly on Novermber 3rd.

 

[canadafan]

Fitzpatrick is a FB, he played there in our under 20s squad this year.

 

[LittleGuy]

Fitzpatrick is a FB, he played there in our under 20s squad this year.

Yeah at the World Junior Trophy I forgot about that..... LOL I guess we are raiding Ireland right now.

 

[Canadian_Rugger]

1. Wooldridge
2. Barkwill
3. Tieddemann
4. Henry(Hank) McQueen
5. Flagg(Can play backrow as well)
6. Kleeberger
7. Glimore
8. Coughlan
9. White
10. Adam McQueen(slim pickings here I honestly have no idea who to go with)
11. Jordan Wilson-Ross(slightly out of position but I want him on the field..maybe he switches around with the CT's)
12. Blevins
13. Scholz
14. Trainor
15. Fitzpatrick

16. Govorchin
17. March
18. Illnicki
19. Baille
20. Clark
21. Mackenzie
22. Heaton
23. Dolesau


Edit: On a related note Crowley has already said they expect most of the pro's won't be available for the Moari match which sucks since the game will get national exposure and casuals will read more into the result than they should. Buydens might be available since the ITM Cup is done by then, and hopefully some of the crossover 7's guys like Braid and Dala will be available otherwise things could get ugly on Novermber 3rd.

Personally I don't even want us to play the Maori, would rather we play a country like Georgia, Romania, Japan, Fiji or Tonga at home during the test window then play these stupid one off's that don't mean anything. Sure the Maori will bring a little buzz but if we can't even field our best team then what is the point?

 

[LittleGuy]

Personally I don't even want us to play the Maori, would rather we play a country like Georgia, Romania, Japan, Fiji or Tonga at home during the test window then play these stupid one off's that don't mean anything. Sure the Maori will bring a little buzz but if we can't even field our best team then what is the point?

Yeah I think it's more a corporate shin dig from what I've heard since AIG now sponsor the New Zealand national sides and they wanted to come to North America. I would have even rather seen something like our last tour in 2010 where we played a country like Belgium with a lesser strength side. Surely they could have been available again or even a Germany, that would help to grow the game in those markets while giving some of our depth players a run out.

 

[Jaguares]

I like the new Uruguay Kit:

Cheers

 

[norcalbuff]

Canada's squad has several players with PNC experience and full caps. USA's squad is a bunch of nobodies. USA I feel are more reliant on overseas based players than Canada. The Canucks depth and domestic player base certainly showed up better from the PNC, which they played in difficult circumstances.

Huh? Full caps on the USA squad include L'Estrange, Siddall, Dolan, Thiel, Lamositele, Murphy, Asbun, Harriman, Pittman and Wallace. A number of others were in the ARC squad last year and Pulu has 7s caps. The only real unknowns who haven't come through the pathways (age grade, college AAs, previous ARC/NA 4 etc.) are Tuisamoa, Mills, Moala and Roberts. And of course, it's meant to be a development side so a number of domestic Eagles aren't selected. Canada's domestic base is stronger and deeper for now but your post is just strange.

 

[norcalbuff]

Yeah I think it's more a corporate shin dig from what I've heard since AIG now sponsor the New Zealand national sides and they wanted to come to North America. I would have even rather seen something like our last tour in 2010 where we played a country like Belgium with a lesser strength side. Surely they could have been available again or even a Germany, that would help to grow the game in those markets while giving some of our depth players a run out.

The Maori will probably draw 15k+ for Rugby Canada (which means a decent profit) and raise the profile of the game in Canada. Why would you pass that up to play a nothing team away from home? The ARC provides plenty of opportunity for depth players to get a run out against better competition than Belgium or Germany.

 

[canadafan]

The Maori will probably draw 15k+ for Rugby Canada (which means a decent profit) and raise the profile of the game in Canada. Why would you pass that up to play a nothing team away from home? The ARC provides plenty of opportunity for depth players to get a run out against better competition than Belgium or Germany.

I have to agree with the yank here, I can't understand why you guys wouldn't want to play the Maori here. My only complaint is that it is outside the test window so we will probably not have our strongest possible line up. Also, I have read on another forum, that tickets sales have gone very well and it could be a sell out.

 

[Canadian_Rugger]

The Maori will probably draw 15k+ for Rugby Canada (which means a decent profit) and raise the profile of the game in Canada. Why would you pass that up to play a nothing team away from home? The ARC provides plenty of opportunity for depth players to get a run out against better competition than Belgium or Germany.

Because it is outside the test window and it doesn't mean anything. I never said anything about playing the game away, just bring a Tier 2 country to Canada to play the match, or heaven forbid one of the Tier 1 nations comes and plays us during the test window. Sorry for being a true rugby fan and caring about actual test matches

 

[rusty_lock]

...Think we will be weakest at FH for this comp though.

There isn't a single player on that team who regularly starts at FH. I've got a suspicion that they are going to use Sean White at Fly half. Ive seen him there for JBAA at times so he has some experiecen there. It goes to show how important RC takes the start of the 7's season that they have gobbled up all the FH for Adelaide. OTP money seems to be driving the bus.

Also, the lack of depth in the second row is very concerning and is a concern from club level on up. To many tall skinny kids who don't have enough edge.

EDIT: Sorry my bad McQueen is a regular starter at 10. For both Queens Uni and the Prairie wolf pack.