There were 33 Canada-eligible players in action on the weekend in Week 4 of MLR, 24 starting which is the highest number this season. Houston remains the only undefeated side in the competition.
There are 3 weeks left in the regular season with 7 teams battling for 6 playoff spots. The Caps and Bays have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, the Ravens and Lomas look on track to capture the top two quarter-final byes (pending this weekend’s Burnaby v Lomas result) and home field semi-finals. Burnaby look safe in 3rd with CW, Westshore, UBC and UVic battling for the 3 remaining spots.
Now that the week 12 scores are in, not much has changed except the race for the final 3 playoff spots tightens up, CW, Westshore, UBC, UVic continue to be locked in a battle with one team destined to lose out. The Lomas and Ravens look assured of quarter-final byes and home field semis and Burnaby are now locked in for at least 3rd place and a home field quarter-final.
The Highlanders have been moving along in announcing their roster and reserves, they have 21 players named and 6 reserves to date. Their website now has the team lists and the schedule.
World Rugby has outlined the next steps in the process of reimagining rugby’s entertainment factor, part of a wider mission to grow audience share over the next decade.
On a sunny, warm, late winter day at Windsor Park the Ravens surprisingly proved too much for the host Castaway Wanderers. Apart from an early Raven try, where centre Ethan Berry put away left winger Aga Ligamy, it was the expected hard-fought game in which two strong packs duked it out evenly… until the 20 minute mark.
Thanks to Peter Muirhead who put together these league tables for the weekend ending March 17th 2024.
There were 32 Canada-eligible players in action in Week 3, 18 starters and 14 reserves. Some of the highlights, Ben Lesage scored a try in his third successive match for New England. Mitch Richardson, Nic Benn, Dewald Kotze scored in the Dallas win over Anthem. Mason Flesch was top ball carrier for Chicago and Matt Heaton topped the tackle stats in the LA match.
Only four weeks left in the BC Premier regular season with teams jostling for playoff positions. The top 6 get in the playoffs with the Pacific Pride not eligible, 1 and 2 get quarter-final byes and 3 v 6 and 4 v 5. Currently that would see the Lomas and Ravens get byes, Burnaby host UVic and CW host Westshore but a lot can change after the weekend. Indeed it did change, now with 3 weeks left it would be Burnaby hosting UBC in the quarter-finals with the other positions remaining unchanged.
Jack Hanratty will leave his position as Head Coach of the national women’s 7s team after the Paris Olympics which ends mid-August. The Rugby Canada press release indicates he will take a short break and start his university role in 2025 which would mean he would miss the 2024 USports rugby season which runs from September to November. The 2024 championship will be hosted by UPEI.
Don Burgess was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 2000, in the Builder category. He was well recognized for his contributions to rugby as a player, coach and inventor but it was his research and writing contributions that are highlighted in this article.