Author Archive: BCRN

Capilano Updates – January 2022

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HISTORY OF THE CAPILANO RFC WOMEN’S PROGRAM by John Langley

[ed. if you’re interested in the history of women’s rugby in Vancouver in the 70’s and 80’s check out this article by Dave Pearcey.]

written by John Langley

The last 20 years of Capilano Women’s Rugby is quite a story. What a success story it has been! The Women have made the Capilano Club and their fans very proud. Also what a contribution our players have made to the success of the Canadian National Team. Placing three starters in Andrea Burk, Hilary Leith and Mandy Marchak on the Women’s World Cup of Rugby Silver Medal winning Canada team and the Dream Team in 2014, was remarkable. This silver medal was the highest finish of any Canadian Rugby team, Women or Men, in International 15’s competition and was an amazing feat.

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Malaga 7s – January 21-23 2022

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Men Lose to USA to Finish 7th/8th of 15 teams; Women Defeat Poland, Lose to Ireland to Finish 6th of 11 Teams: FULL MATCH VIDEOS

MEN’S TEAM

Canada lost to USA in the 5th place semi-final and ended up in a 7th/8th place tied with Ireland for 10 series points. South Africa won their 3rd straight tournament and remain top of the standings. Canada are in 11th place and closed the gap on Spain (10th) to one point and on Kenya (9th) to two points.

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Canada 7s in Vancouver – Updates

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Canada Sevens in Vancouver Resurrected on Easter Weekend – LA Sevens Moves to August

The Canada Sevens in Vancouver have changed their dates, gone is the February 26-27 date, due to COVID concerns. The tournament has been moved to April 16-17, the Easter long weekend.

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BC Rugby Schedule Updates – Spring 2022

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BC Rugby Updates Schedule: Men’s Premier Start Moved to January 29th

The BCRU have updated their schedule page. The men’s Premier schedule has been rejigged with the start now January 29th instead of January 22nd and the February 26th weekend, formerly reserved for the Canada 7s, has now been filled.

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From the Editor’s Desk – January 2022

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Updates on Malaga 7s – NZ, Samoa, Fiji Drop Out; Matt Mullins Retires from National 7s Team; Canada 7s in Doubt; More on Tait Investigation Report

Malaga 7s

The news keeps getting better for Canada’s women’s team at Malaga, first NZ were replaced by Poland in their pool, then Fiji dropped out and weren’t replaced so it’s an automatic 3 points for the bye. It now comes down to Canada v USA for top of Pool B and 2nd place. The men haven’t been as fortunate as none of the changes affect Pool D. Jamaica replacing Samoa go into Pool C and Fiji were in Pool A.

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Rugby Canada Updates – January 2022

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Rugby Canada Select London Based Executive Search Firm to Find Next CEO

[editor’s comments below]

Rugby Canada have announced their search for a new CEO to replace Allen Vansen who ends his term at the end of January. They’ve hired SRI a company based out of London who also boasts World Rugby as one of their clients. Already the result is sounding predictable. There’s the worry they’ll “find” a Nigel Melville type of CEO who knows rugby in his home nation and thinks he/she knows about Canadian rugby, but in reality doesn’t have a clue. Just ask our neighbours to the south how the Nigel Melville years went (2007 – 2016), big plans, big deals, eventually bankruptcy.

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World Rugby 7s Series Updates – January 2022

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NZ Teams Pull Out of World Rugby Sevens Tournaments: Canada 7s on the Horizon in February, What’s Its Status

NZ officially announced it’s withdrawing from the upcoming World Rugby 7s tournaments in Spain due to domestic COVID MIQ (Managed Isolation and Quarantine) regulations. World Rugby has made changes to the tournament in Malaga January 21-23 with Germany replacing NZ in the men’s competition and Belgium replacing NZ in the women’s competition.

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MLR Updates – January 2022

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Seattle Seawolves Sign Burnaby Lake Scrumhalf Reid Watkins

Reid Watkins first shows up in our database in 2017 when the BC Bears won the national title over the Ontario Blues, the precursor to the Toronto Arrows. Reid Watkins was the backup #9 behind player/coach Phil Mack. Phil Mack would go on to be player/coach for Seattle in their two championship seasons. There’s a MLR/Seattle connection already.

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Editorials – January 2022

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Trying to Figure Out Canada’s Rugby Woes: Analyzing Common Responses

[editor’s comments below]

I had started this article in 2021, shortly after the men’s XVs program exited the World Cup qualifying with a loss to Chile. There were a lot of comments on where the solution lay. When I say “Canada’s Rugby Woes”, it’s specifically referring to the national men’s XVs demise. The national women’s XVs program is doing quite well.

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