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.
As we try to calculate when rugby might return in BC we’ll take a look at what’s happening around the world and closer to home.
On the positive side, New Zealand are way ahead of the pack, with good COVID-19 numbers and a national insurance that covers liability issues they’re ready to roll. Professional rugby kicks off this weekend with Super Rugby Aotearoa and Community rugby kicks off June 20th with preseason warmups happening this weekend. The Super Rugby competition in NZ will be the first in the world to let the fans back in the stadiums. A couple of story links below.
We had a chance to record a candid conversation between two top Canadian coaches this week at Shawnigan Lake. We were there shooting some skills videos with Gilbert Canada and Canada 7s star Kayla Moleschi which will be shared at a later date.
from stuff.co.nz
Dan Carter is on the verge of a stunning New Zealand comeback, joining the Blues for Super Rugby Aotearoa as injury cover.
Amateur sports in BC have been waiting for viaSport’s Return to Sport guidelines in order to progress with their individual Return to Play plans.
Graham Brown who was CEO of Rugby Canada from 2002 to 2015 has parted ways with U SPORTS. He left Rugby Canada to take the CEO position with U SPORTS in 2015.