Author Archive: BCRN

In Memory Of – May 2020

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Co-Founder of Canadian Rugby Foundation, Lawyer, Rugby Player, Women’s Rugby Advocate George Jones Passes at Age 86

Obituary from Times Colonist

Sports-loving lawyer George Jones ‘marched to his own beat’

Canadian Rugby Foundation Article from 2013

Founding Father: George Jones Profile

George Jones Q.C. is well known in both athletic and legal circles. His resume is lengthy and legendary and includes appearances and successes at virtually every court level, fundraising, coaching, refereeing in many sports and at many levels. Blessed with fine oratorical skills, legal judgment, an innate sense of wrong and right together with a complete lack of financial sense and generosity to all regardless of circumstances dictates that George is still working hard after 50 years at the bar.

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Return to Play Updates – May 2020

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New Zealand Prepare for Return of Community Rugby – World Rugby Publishes Online Courses for COVID-19 Return to Play Awareness

As New Zealand start to think about the return of rugby with professional rugby starting mid-June and now Community Rugby on the horizon, it’s timely for BC clubs to think about the steps they may need to complete when the BCRU gives the green light. No doubt the situation won’t be exactly the same in BC and Canada as it is in NZ, we’ve already seen liability and insurance issues are going to be a hurdle to overcome when looking at other amateur sports coming to grips with Return to Play in BC. It’s also likely municipal facilities will have their own guidelines to adhere to which will be another limiting factor.

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Rugby in History

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Rugby in Victoria During the Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918-19: Part 4 – Outdoor Sports Continued Even Though Churches, Theatres, Schools Closed

This is part four in the series covering the first half of November 1918. Rugby had started its league games, the influenza continued although health authorities believed it had hit its peak, the war was winding down.

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Global Aligned Season – May 2020

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SANZAAR, Six Nations, World Rugby Issue Statements on Aligned Global Calendar

It may be a while before International Rugby gets going again but the powers that be are putting that time to good use in working out a contentious issue, a global season.

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National Men’s Rugby

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Kingsley Jones Updates Neil Davidson on Status of National Men’s Programs

from Canadian Press

TORONTO — With July internationals already called off due to the global pandemic and the likely cancellation of the Americas Rugby Championship later this summer, Canada’s top rugby players may not see action until October at the earliest.

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Players in the News

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Evan Olmstead Signs with Biarritz Olympique

from Canadian Press

TORONTO — Canadian rugby international Evan Olmstead has signed a new contract with Biarritz Olympique of the French second division.

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Super Rugby Aotearoa – May 2020

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Super Rugby Aotearoa Starts in 25 Days – YouTube Channels for All Five Teams with Ratings

We’re counting down the days to actually seeing live rugby again, June 13th, 25 days to go. We took a look at the team offerings on YouTube to get an idea of how the organizations are synced early on, the media departments, coaches, players and how they’re engaging their fans.

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Rugby Canada Financials 2018

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Rugby Canada Release 2018 Financials – Slight Deficit; Centre of Excellence Terms Detailed; Admin Costs Still High; Canada 7s Figures

Rugby Canada released their 2018 financials this week, the 2019 financials will be released later this summer. Even though late Rugby Canada have been able to keep their head above water unlike USA Rugby who had to file for bankruptcy protection.

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Canada 7s Update May 2019

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McGrath Farewell Bittersweet as 7s Players, Family and Friends See Off Well-Liked Coach: PHOTOS

[ed. photo credit to BC Rugby News if using for other than personal reasons]

Damian McGrath started coaching Canada in December 2016 at the Dubai 7s and hit a high point with a World series title at the Singapore 7s in 2017. Slowly Rugby Canada management began to dismantle his support structure by dismissing his assistant coach Lee Douglas in 2018. Rugby Canada continued to press the issue by renegotiating the 7s players contracts which initiated strike action by the players at the beginning of the 2018-19 season. Rugby Canada finalized putting the nail in the 7s coffin by dismissing McGrath earlier this month. It puzzles Canadian rugby supporters why head office is trying to meddle in a successful program which looks certain to qualify for the 2020 Olympics. It’s been put down to personality conflicts and a power struggle between the XVs group at Rugby Canada led by Kingsley Jones and Gareth Rees and the 7s group led by Damian McGrath. Rugby Canada CEO Allen Vansen sided with the XVs group and appointed Kingsley’s right hand man, Henry Paul, as the new 7s coach.

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A Brief History of Women’s Rugby in Vancouver

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A Look at the 70s & 80s in Vancouver Women’s Rugby from Dave Pearcey’s Book

[ed. thanks to Dave Pearcey who shared Chapter 4 of his book on the 35 years of the Douglas Rugby Club. Douglas were very prominent in women’s rugby on the mainland in the early years. You can contact Dave at dougie69fiu@dccnet.com for more information or to inquire about his book.]

Days of Wine and Roses

“I prefer rugby to soccer. I enjoy the violence in rugby, except when they start biting each other’s ears off.” – Elizabeth Taylor

The Adventure Begins

The first ever women’s rugby in B.C. apparently involved Douglas College and Capilano College. During the Totem Conference men’s 7-a-side tournament in 1974, these two institutions fielded women’s teams for a one-off match, playing nine against nine. Douglas won this historic contest, 36-4.

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