2014 Canadian Rugby Championship and General Canadian Rugby Chat.

[Draggs]

Another try for Hassler, and he was close to getting a second (crossing).
Unfairly penalised by the ref, putting the Os in a dangerous position, and Munster kicked to him from the restart a few times. First time pushing him into touch and getting the lineout, next time he did better. A few little slips from him, but overall plays positively and certainly on the standout backs that has helped the Ospreys to a good start. Ardron was injured so excluded from the 23.

 

[poopiepeople]

Jesse Lumsden, Olympic bobsledder and former CFL star is training at the Canadian Rugby Center of Excellence. So that's pretty cool. Will probably be the first Canadian Rugby player with an endorsement contract with Molson...

 

[Beerfalo]

Lumsden training with Canada 7s was just a publicity stunt, or at least I hope it was despite adoring Lumsden. He's in his early 30's and his body would not hold up anymore, it barely held up during his Football career. Though it could be good publicity as Lumsden is a popular/well known name amongst Canadian Football fans and Rugby Canada is looking for cross over athletes. Lumsden endorsing rugby could make some players consider giving 7s, and maybe 15s, a go. Especially with it being an Olympic sport now and the Canadian government "pumping" money into Olympic sports. I do wish Rugby Canada had got a hold of Lumsden when he was in his teens. I think he would have made an awesome Loose Forward.

 

[Draggs]

Three year extension for Hassler with the Ospreys

 

[LittleGuy]

Lumsden training with Canada 7s was just a publicity stunt, or at least I hope it was despite adoring Lumsden. He's in his early 30's and his body would not hold up anymore, it barely held up during his Football career. Though it could be good publicity as Lumsden is a popular/well known name amongst Canadian Football fans and Rugby Canada is looking for cross over athletes. Lumsden endorsing rugby could make some players consider giving 7s, and maybe 15s, a go. Especially with it being an Olympic sport now and the Canadian government "pumping" money into Olympic sports. I do wish Rugby Canada had got a hold of Lumsden when he was in his teens. I think he would have made an awesome Loose Forward.

When Lumsden was playing for the Ti-Cats I saw him have some of the best games I've EVER seen a running back have, he was unstoppable at times, too bad his body was made of glass. Great to see he hasn;t given up on athletics though, and his bobsled career has been mildly succesful.

Great news on Hassler, not unexpected as he's been a force at Ospreys in the last season plus.

 

[Beerfalo]

http://www.rugbycanada.ca/leagues/newsletter.cfm?clientID=3817&leagueID=0&page=82632

Rugby Canada says they are hosting a training camp for Canada hopefuls at Shawnigan Lake School starting today and that the Canada A roster will be announced next Monday. No mention of who's been invited though which kinda bugs me. They're probably still working out who's going to stay here and rep Canada A and who's getting to go to Australia for Gold Coast 7s.

 

[Beerfalo]

Due to injuries this is definitely not the strongest team Canada could send and you don't want to go into a group with England, Argentina and USA while fielding a weakened squad. They could still make some noise but I'd be happy with a 3rd place finish in the group. The good news is there's like two months between Gold Coast and the South Africa/Dubai tournaments. Kinda ****** they took Jordan Wilson-Ross as Canada 'A' could really have used him IMO. What backs do you think will make it now?

Canada squad for the Gold Coast Sevens - (Club, CRC Team) Hometown, Province:
Justin Douglas - (Abbotsford RFC/BC Bears) Abbotsford, BC
Sean Duke - (UVIC Vikes/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
Mike Fuailefau - (Castaway Wanderers/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
Lucas Hammond - (Toronto Nomads/Ontario Blues) Toronto, ON
Ciaran Hearn - (Castaway Wanderers /Atlantic Rock) Conception Bay South, NL
Harry Jones - (Capilano RFC/BC Bears) North Vancouver, BC
John Moonlight - (James Bay AA/Ontario Blues) Pickering, ON
Jack Smith - (James Bay AA/Ontario Blues) Lakefield, ON
Conor Trainor - (UBCOB Ravens/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
Jake Webster - (James Bay AA/Ontario Blues) Lindsay, ON
Jordan Wilson-Ross - (James Bay AA/Ontario Blues) Alliston, ON
Adam Zaruba - (Capilano RFC/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC

Unavailable due to Injury:
Admir Cejvanovic
Nanyak Dala
Nathan Hirayama
Phil Mack
Mike Scholz
Sean White

 

[canadafan]

It is not a bad squad, but we definetly are missing some flair in the backs. Can't wait to watch Jack Smith play, heard that he could be our future 7 in the NSMT.

 

[Beerfalo]

I'm looking through the rugby app on my phone and I follow some of the teams(the options are limited to big league teams) with Canada players on it. Jebb Sinclair looks to be making his third start as a Lock this season for London Irish tomorrow. Maybe Canada should give him a go alongside Cudmore despite our need for Back Row? Also Phil MacKenzie has yet to see any action with Sale and I don't think he's injured. He's one of our better backs and he should be getting playing time.

 

[canadafan]

Sinclair at lock is a decent Idea IMO, and one that should be considered based on how guys are going in other positions. Mackenzie is playing for the B side at Sale.

A group like that could be decent, IMO:

4. Cudmore
5. Sinclair
6. Blanchett/Gilmour
7. Moonlight
8. Ardron

Heaton or Pierce at 6 are also options. With all the 6s we have coming up, I am open to the idea of moving Sinclair to lock, especially since, none of our locks are really standing out IMO.

 

[Beerfalo]

Ya I'd like to see the pairing of Cudmore and Sinclair from now until Cudmore retires. It would be explosive and powerful pair and then you could have one of Hotson, Phelan and Beukeboom as reserve where they are probably better suited for coming in late for a boost when the other Pack is tired. I think a Tight 5 of Buydens, Carpenter, Marshall, Cudmore and Sinclair would give the Italians and Romanians all they could handle.

As for Sinclair's replacement on the Flank, Crowley has some options but none quite as good as Sinclair. Gilmour is a pretty good player but I think he should be a reserve instead of a starter. Would Olmstead be able to play at 6? He's not quite big enough to be an International Lock right now but he's a talented kid and could be an asset for an aging Pack. Pierce and Blanchet are also good potential options despite their youth. I know the RWC is coming upon us soon but I think Crowley should definitely be looking for youth next year instead of falling back to the likes of Dala and Kleeberger(I think he's pretty much done anyways).

 

[canadafan]

Olmstead is another good option too, can't believe I forgot about him. It is a tricky one, I agree with your tight five right now. I do think Ilnicki is going to rise up the ranks fast at 3.

As for 6, if Sinclair goes to lock the depth order probably is:

1. Gilmour
2. Olmstead
3. Pierce
4. Banchett
5. Heaton

 

[canadafan]

I do know that Heaton is a potential 8 as well. Wouldn't be surprised if Pierce could go there too. Also, I think Flagg could be an 8 for us as well.

 

[Beerfalo]

Naming all these players makes me really frustrated we don't have a better system for them to develop in. The CRC is cool and a decent level but it's only 6 games a season. If only we could see a return of the RCSL even if it was only regional.

Something like a Western League with a BC Conference of Vancouver Island(Victoria), Vancouver, Fraser Valley(Abbotsford), Okanagan/Kootenays/Interior(Kelowna) and a Prairie Conference of Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatchewan(Regina) and Manitoba(Winnipeg). Travel costs definitely favor BC over the Prairies in this scenario though.

The East league could have an Ontario Conference with three Southern Ontario teams and Ottawa and an Eastern Conference with Quebec(Montreal), New Brunswick/PEI(Fredericton), Nova Scotia(Halifax) and Newfoundland(St. John's). Or maybe Four Southern Ontario teams in one conference and then Eastern Ontario(Ottawa), Quebec(Montreal), Maritimes(Fredericton/Halifax) and The Rock(St. John's) in the other? Just like in the West with BC, Ontario would have the travel advantage.

Play all the teams in your Conference Home and Away and then two Home and two Away games with the other conference. So Edmonton Gold would play Calgary, Saskatchewan and Manitoba home and away and then host Vancouver and Kelowna while traveling to Victoria and Abbotsford. The next year they'd host Victoria and Abbotsford while traveling to Vancouver and Kelowna. That would give 10 games against the best players the other Unions have to offer. Playoffs would start with 1vs 4 and 2 vs 3 in each conference and go from there. That would give a minimum of 11 games against the best players the other Unions have to offer. I wouldn't do cross league play except for a home and home final between the two champions. OF COURSE THE LACK OF MONEY RUINS MY AWESOME PLANS ONCE AGAIN AND I'M NOW SAD AT WHAT CAN'T BE!!! I'd definitely offer TSN broadcasting rights and only request some help with travel costs. IF a competition could get on TV and hyped up then I could see sponsors wanting to get involved but it's nothing but an unrealistic dream of mine .

 

[Kempistry]

Naming all these players makes me really frustrated we don't have a better system for them to develop in. The CRC is cool and a decent level but it's only 6 games a season. If only we could see a return of the RCSL even if it was only regional.

Something like a Western League with a BC Conference of Vancouver Island(Victoria), Vancouver, Fraser Valley(Abbotsford), Okanagan/Kootenays/Interior(Kelowna) and a Prairie Conference of Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatchewan(Regina) and Manitoba(Winnipeg). Travel costs definitely favor BC over the Prairies in this scenario though.

The East league could have an Ontario Conference with three Southern Ontario teams and Ottawa and an Eastern Conference with Quebec(Montreal), New Brunswick/PEI(Fredericton), Nova Scotia(Halifax) and Newfoundland(St. John's). Or maybe Four Southern Ontario teams in one conference and then Eastern Ontario(Ottawa), Quebec(Montreal), Maritimes(Fredericton/Halifax) and The Rock(St. John's) in the other? Just like in the West with BC, Ontario would have the travel advantage.

Play all the teams in your Conference Home and Away and then two Home and two Away games with the other conference. So Edmonton Gold would play Calgary, Saskatchewan and Manitoba home and away and then host Vancouver and Kelowna while traveling to Victoria and Abbotsford. The next year they'd host Victoria and Abbotsford while traveling to Vancouver and Kelowna. That would give 10 games against the best players the other Unions have to offer. Playoffs would start with 1vs 4 and 2 vs 3 in each conference and go from there. That would give a minimum of 11 games against the best players the other Unions have to offer. I wouldn't do cross league play except for a home and home final between the two champions. OF COURSE THE LACK OF MONEY RUINS MY AWESOME PLANS ONCE AGAIN AND I'M NOW SAD AT WHAT CAN'T BE!!! I'd definitely offer TSN broadcasting rights and only request some help with travel costs. IF a competition could get on TV and hyped up then I could see sponsors wanting to get involved but it's nothing but an unrealistic dream of mine .

It isn't JUST money it's also time. How many players, even if it was free, want to travel 4-10 hours for a single game, particularly when you are a player far from having a shot at making the national team? This is coming from a player travelling 4 hours each way to play rugby tomorrow. It sucks.

 

[Beerfalo]

Warning: I'm gonna ramble a lot and I'm kinda stubborn and crazy. These are just thoughts and I know they are highly unlikely to happen, especially anytime soon.

You raise a good point with players and the amounts of travel. Traveling on a bus does suck and flights get pricey. I've bused to Vancouver before and that was not fun hahaha. Though if I was with guys I liked it might have been bearable. Who doesn't like a road trip with buddies. I don't know how the guys in Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray and Cold Lake handle that much travel on the road(4-6ish hours one way depending on roads and stops) with like half their games being in Edmonton.

I don't know how to fix that but Canada needs a better way to develop talent even though the size of our country really limits what is viable and realistic. Club levels are getting better and the CRC offers high quality games but player spots are extremely limited. If they spun it as similar to the CHL or CJFL then maybe they could get Canada hopefuls from each region/union. It would showcase A LOT more players than the CRC can. I just look around and see the different leagues and levels in Europe, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia and it makes me frustrated.

A young player in Edmonton would be a lot more likely to get playing time and noticed by Rugby Canada by playing for the Gold instead of just their club team. We might even be able to retain talent if Rugby Canada payed attention here instead of seeing player after player leave for BC in a hope to be noticed. I know we have the Wolf Pack for the Prairies but there was only 6 Edmonton based players chosen this year and a lot more want to play at a higher level. And I'm sure there are Saskatchewan and Manitoba players who would like a realistic chance to show what they have to offer since they are seemingly after thoughts for Wolf Pack. As rugby continues to grow country wide I think it may be a lot more realistic. Like a decade down the road, at least for player numbers and depth. But I think you're right, right now it's just a pipe dream.

There are rep teams fighting it out in the Western provinces, I guess I just want to see the format grow and expand. Of course travel and costs for in-province rep competition is a lot easier and cheaper. Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island and Vancouver already face off in a three team series for the McKechnie Cup with each team playing at home once and away once as far as I know. Edmonton Gold vs Calgary Mavericks is still kinda a thing though it's taken a lot less seriously than it was in the past. Saskatchewan has the North Saskatchewan Wolverines and Regina Prairie Fire that play each other from what I've heard. Maybe starting with baby steps with try getting competition between Edmonton Gold, Calgary Mavericks and Saskatchewan Prairie Fire going. Then maybe if that's a hit the winner could have a game against the McKechnie Cup winner in a location like Kelowna at the Apple Bowl to decide a Western Champion and it can grow from there?

 

[LittleGuy]

http://www.rugbyontario.com/AboutUs/NewsStories/LatestNews/tabid/15402/sni[20577]/4317/language/en-US/Default.aspx

Really exciting news for Ontario Blues fans!!! The Blues will be travelling to Scotland to take on Edinburgh on October 27th.

 

[canadafan]

was just going to post that, now I am really ****** that the Wolf Pack didn't win the ARC, but great news for the Blues and Canadian Rugby. There are a couple guys on the Blues that could probably get try outs over in Europe if they play well enough.

By the way, Braid is starting at 12 this weekend for the Scottish, he is going very well over there, should get a full time contract out of all of this, but I think that will mean we won't see him this November. If that is the price we pay for him staying pro, I can accept it.

 

[Beerfalo]

I am so soooo sooooooooooo happy for Ontario and all the awesome cool things the Blues get to do seemingly every year....It is good for Canada though if the Ontario guys leave an impact with the Europeans. Might open the doors for some more Canadians.

And good on Braid for making a name for himself across the pond. I really hope he gets a starting spot full-time even if he's in the RFU Championship instead of Pro 12. He's a key player for Canada but I'm sure we'll be fine without him next month. If he can't play it'll give some other players a chance to show what they got.

 

[Beerfalo]

So Canada won the Gold Coast Shield. Definitely not the hardware we wanted but I guess it's something. Losing THREE games by TWO points and then losing to England by seven was just so frustrating. Harry Jones was second in tournament scoring, too bad it all came against American Samoa and Kenya. Also the Pools for Dubai 7s have been announced.

Pool A: Fiji, Argentina, France and Brazil
Pool B: Samoa, New Zealand, Scotland and Japan
Pool C: England, Australia, USA and Kenya
Pool D: South Africa, Wales, Canada, Portugal

At least this time our group should be a lot more manageable, especially with a hopefully healthy lineup including Dala, Scholz and Mack(the team really missed him I think). I think the Blitzboks take the group easy but Canada could upset Wales and should beat Portugal, though I'd still be worried about facing them. Definitely need to finish better than they did in Australia. Dubai will also mark the Canada coaching debut of recent hire Liam Middleton.

Also Canada 7s is hosting those tryout camps in Ontario and Quebec this month and next. If you know anyone who could be good at 7s(male or female) and lives in the area you should push them to give it a shot. http://www.rugbycanada.ca/leagues/newsletter.cfm?leagueID=11332&clientID=3817&link=RugbyCanada