2014 Canadian Rugby Championship and General Canadian Rugby Chat.

[LittleGuy]

Added Tieddemann to the list, there might be one or two other guys in National Division 1 in England but that really isn't that high of a level probably around CDI and Marshall certainly lower than CRC(though with longer schedule).

The 7's guys are effectively semi-pro with the carded money and "on the podium" funding, but that's only a limited group of players none of them in the front five where we are desperately short of depth.

Can't remember fewer guys in France or it's been a VERY long time. Cudmore will probably play out his career in the next season or two there, Paris has been great at Agen, Pierce has done almost nothing at Pau, and Piffero is a spot starter and bench guy playing when he has free time from his kick ass aerospace job.

 

[canadafan]

Evan Olmstead is playing with the Wolf Pack this season. Don't know what his plans are for after the season though.

 

[Beerfalo]

The Wolf Pack also has a prop, James Smith, who's club is listed as Shoalhaven RFC in Australia. I'm not sure what level that is though. What Olmstead and Smith are gonna do after the CRC season I haven't a clue. Maybe they are gunning for a shot at a Canada A spot in the ARC?

 

[canadafan]

Yes, that is both of their goals.

 

[LittleGuy]

Yes, that is both of their goals.

I hope we send out a better squad for this year's ARC, last year's side had an aroma to it and played VERY poorly in all but the Argentina game. Not fielding a 12th choice FH picked out of the crowd might help to.

 

[canadafan]

So do I, I should've mentioned that to Crowley when I met him a few weeks ago.

 

[LittleGuy]

So do I, I should've mentioned that to Crowley when I met him a few weeks ago.

Did you threaten to expose some secrets if Hirayama plays again? LOL. Hope it went well was he a decent guy?

Also some more bad news, that network that took the Six Nations rights away from Sportsnet World has also acquired the Aviva Premiership. Apparently they actually do have a TV station now in Canada but it's only available to Rogers Cable or Bell satellite. I have Shaw and I don't feel like paying more for just Aviva Premiership. That being said the Sportsnet World subscription is becoming less valuable by the day. I was worried that this would happen the Rugby rights would start to become split oer two networks, Sportsnet World hasn't been the greatest but at least the rights were all in one place.

Does anyone know who has Top 14 rights? I haven't seen it anywhere except for some French language TV stations, I also don't know who has the Pro 12 rights. If Sportsnet World has neither of those I'll probably cancel my subscription over the winter once the Rugby Championship and the few other summer seasons are over.

 

[Beerfalo]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/sportsnet-world-sports-rugby/

I don't know how accurate this is as it still lists Heineken Cup but that lineup of rugby leaves a lot to be desired once the SH competitions are done. Why would a network limit themselves to just Rogers and Bell while excluding all the Shaw/Telus customers? I don't know anyone with Bell? And as far as I know Rogers is like Ontario exclusive. I hate Rogers and Bell(though TSN is cool) and they aren't doing anything to change my mind. With more EPL coverage maybe Sportsnet just doesn't care about Saturday rugby coverage during the winter anymore?

Last year I thought Sportsnet World had the Pro 12 rights as well as Aviva so I hope the Pro 12 isn't following Aviva to the blackhole of Canadian television.

 

[LittleGuy]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/sportsnet-world-sports-rugby/

I don't know how accurate this is as it still lists Heineken Cup but that lineup of rugby leaves a lot to be desired once the SH competitions are done. Why would a network limit themselves to just Rogers and Bell while excluding all the Shaw/Telus customers? I don't know anyone with Bell? And as far as I know Rogers is like Ontario exclusive. I hate Rogers and Bell(though TSN is cool) and they aren't doing anything to change my mind. With more EPL coverage maybe Sportsnet just doesn't care about Saturday rugby coverage during the winter anymore?

Last year I thought Sportsnet World had the Pro 12 rights as well as Aviva so I hope the Pro 12 isn't following Aviva to the blackhole of Canadian television.

Yeah I haven't seen Top 14 anywhere except the French international feed of TV5 I think it is. Not sure if someone holds the rights and isn't showing them or whether Sportsnet World has negotiations underway, If they don't get that and Pro 12 either, I'll cancel my sub in mid October when all the southern Hemisphere and League stuff is over. It could be they are negotiating Pro 12 as well with the new strtucture in place. Heineken and Amlin is pretty limited if that's the only Northern Hemisphere stuff they have.

I have no idea why BelnTV isn't available excpet on Rogers and Bell( I completely agree with you that both are horrible, Rogers even more so). I know that network has been really sketchy ever since it came here and had to join the "ethnic channels" group in order to get CRTC approval. Chances are I wouldn't buy their service anyway since the way they've gone about their buisness practices from what I've read really ****** me off.

 

[canadafan]

Crowley is actually a very nice, quiet man. Took a picture with me, very humble and friendly. I wished him the best during the ARC and November Internationals, and he said, "thank you."

Also met Kleeberger, Dala and Smith. They are all very nice men and got pics with all of them.

 

[LittleGuy]

Have heard from everyone who's met him that Dala is an awesome guy, full of fun and very positive.

I emailed Sportsnet World about the broadcast rights for the NH club competitions, they got back to me about the Six Nations in the winter so hopefully they'll respond to this query, though with the long weekend I'm not expectign a reply for some time(Tuesday-Thursday ish seems likely) I'll let you guys know if/when they reply.

 

[canadafan]

We really should be getting on TSN, with 5 channels, they should be buying up the rugby rights for Canada.

 

[LittleGuy]

We really should be getting on TSN, with 5 channels, they should be buying up the rugby rights for Canada.

Yeah they need content badly, rugby has drawn low to moderate numbers so far but that can be built upon if it's marketed correctly. I wonder if Sportsnet is getting out of Rugby entirely and is just playing out the string on their contracts with the Southern Hemisphere and League comps. I'll get more of a clue when they get back to me via e-mail.

 

[canadafan]

I am pretty sure they could probably get the rights for pretty cheap, rugby ain't that popular here.

 

[LittleGuy]

I am pretty sure they could probably get the rights for pretty cheap, rugby ain't that popular here.

It's possible that BelNTV is buying "North American" rights to these competitions and has no plans of airing them in Canada(or treating the rights poorly and showing games once ina blue moon) that's what happened with the 6N last year which was unavailable in Canada since BelN bought continent wide rights and had no channel to air them on in Canada.

 

[poopiepeople]

Well Wolf Pack is kicking ass this year. I just moved to Saskatchewan, so I guess their my new team (hah).

 

[Beerfalo]

It's possible that BelNTV is buying "North American" rights to these competitions and has no plans of airing them in Canada(or treating the rights poorly and showing games once ina blue moon) that's what happened with the 6N last year which was unavailable in Canada since BelN bought continent wide rights and had no channel to air them on in Canada.

That makes no sense to me though? Why would they buy rights to something with no intention of using them? That seems like a bad business. Also I was able to watch the 6N last year at the Irish bar in town will I be able to do that again?

Also welcome to the Prairies poopiepeople. You'll be smart to invest in a thick wind and cold resistant coat and a good set of boots and gloves. And welcome to the Prairie Wolf Pack. Can't wait to see the Wolf Pack host Ontario on Thursday in Edmonton. Hopefully it's better to watch than the Wolf Pack/Bears games. I do wish I could go down to Calgary next Sunday to catch the Wolf Pack hosting the Atlantic Rock.

Also does anyone know where I can find a list of clubs in Saskatchewan and their locations? I can't find anything on the SRU website. The only clubs I can find are the two SRU rep teams, Regina Prairie Fire and North Saskatchewan Wolverines.

 

[canadafan]

Interesting about the clubs in Saskatchewan, there website doesn't seem to have been updated for a while, I'll do some digging and see if I can find something. I am usually pretty good at that.

 

[LittleGuy]

That makes no sense to me though? Why would they buy rights to something with no intention of using them? That seems like a bad business. Also I was able to watch the 6N last year at the Irish bar in town will I be able to do that again?

Also welcome to the Prairies poopiepeople. You'll be smart to invest in a thick wind and cold resistant coat and a good set of boots and gloves. And welcome to the Prairie Wolf Pack. Can't wait to see the Wolf Pack host Ontario on Thursday in Edmonton. Hopefully it's better to watch than the Wolf Pack/Bears games. I do wish I could go down to Calgary next Sunday to catch the Wolf Pack hosting the Atlantic Rock.

Also does anyone know where I can find a list of clubs in Saskatchewan and their locations? I can't find anything on the SRU website. The only clubs I can find are the two SRU rep teams, Regina Prairie Fire and North Saskatchewan Wolverines.

Bar's(and other clubs) have different licensing deals than just home owners, it's entirely possible you'll be able to do that again.

BelNTV could be buying the North American rights since that could be how some of these boards are offering the rights, and they can't be bothered to go through the hassle of figuring out channels and air time to use them in Canada a market the 10th the size of the states. It could also be a sort of scorched earth type deal, grabbing those rights denies them to Sportsnet World, if they've taken the Top 14 and Pro 12 rights for example I'll be cancelling my sub over the winter so I guess it hurts their competitors.

It's already happened to soccer fans in Canada with this network.......http://worldsoccertalk.com/2013/07/12/no-la-liga-or-serie-a-in-canada-bein-sports-alienation-of-canadian-viewers/

 

[poopiepeople]

That makes no sense to me though? Why would they buy rights to something with no intention of using them? That seems like a bad business. Also I was able to watch the 6N last year at the Irish bar in town will I be able to do that again?

Also welcome to the Prairies poopiepeople. You'll be smart to invest in a thick wind and cold resistant coat and a good set of boots and gloves. And welcome to the Prairie Wolf Pack. Can't wait to see the Wolf Pack host Ontario on Thursday in Edmonton. Hopefully it's better to watch than the Wolf Pack/Bears games. I do wish I could go down to Calgary next Sunday to catch the Wolf Pack hosting the Atlantic Rock.

Also does anyone know where I can find a list of clubs in Saskatchewan and their locations? I can't find anything on the SRU website. The only clubs I can find are the two SRU rep teams, Regina Prairie Fire and North Saskatchewan Wolverines.

Thank you, I have lived in the Yukon before and brought all my cold weather gear with me haha.


http://www.saskrugby.com/leagues/links.cfm?leagueID=0&clientID=4324


Most of them are based in Regina and Saskatoon.