viaSport which is the province’s voice on Return to Sport guidelines has published a list of Provincial Sport Organizations that have submitted Return to Sport Plans (RTSP).
Blues 24 – Chiefs 12
The Blues and Crusaders continue on as favourites after Week 2. The Chiefs again had a man advantage situation and were unable to fully capitalize. The Blues were able to score one first half try through pick and go from the forwards and added a penalty, The Chiefs kicked three penalties, for a 10-9 HT score.
from Rugby Canada
As Rugby Canada and all Provincial Member Unions continue to move towards a return to play, the working group provided further updates on the process:
He won two MLR championships as a player/coach but wasn’t given the head coach’s job, a mystery to many, now he’s parted ways with Seattle and looking for the next opportunity.
The website rugbyleagueplanet.com released an article “Canadas suspended season could end sooner in west” in which they’ve identified opportunities in BC and Alberta for Rugby League to grow at Rugby Union’s expense.
Recently a reader from Ontario, posting anonymously in the comment section, suggested that our four person panel for the Super Rugby Aotearoa predictions wasn’t diverse enough. They suggested the addition of a woman and a person of colour, it was pointed out that one person was Maori, but it made me realize we need to publish our position on social issues currently occupying the headlines, consider it our statement on diversity.
Highlanders 28 – Chiefs 27
Our “experts” all got this one wrong although both Clay and AaronT were minutes away from claiming 2 points for the winning team plus correct differential as they had both called Chiefs +2. It was Chiefs +2, 27-25, when Bryn Gatland dropped a goal with just over a minute and half remaining. The fact that Bryn is the son of the opposing coach, Warren Gatland of the Chiefs, makes it even more amazing. He wasn’t even listed to play in the match until the starting #10 Josh Ioane was pulled with a late injury. Mitch Hunt was moved from fullback to #10 and Bryn Gatland was brought onto the bench. As AaronF remarked, “Gatlands son wasn’t in the lineup when I made the pick, re draw!”
Yesterday the BC Government made a huge announcement, that they were going to remove one of the roadblocks worrying amateur sport organizers, liability claims based on COVID-19. The BC Government announced that the “Government has created a ministerial order that protects amateur sport organizations, their employees and volunteers from liability.” It’s a first in Canada as far as we know.
World Rugby announced it’s qualification for the men’s World Cup in 2023 in France. Their media release is appended below.
From a Canadian perspective, the teams Canada traditionally have to get by to qualify as America 1 or 2 are USA and Uruguay. During the previous World Cup cycle Canada lost to both teams and had to head to the repechage which they won to qualify.
One of the interesting studies during the pandemic is how each sport is handling the Return to Play at the national and provincial level.
Rugby Canada quickly went into the committee phase and are now at the survey phase with a decision promised for the end of the month. The national suspension of activity remains in effect. Their latest announcement is appended below.