Author Archive: BCRN

Josh Thiel Vancouver Highlander #6

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Josh Thiel Announced as 6th Signing for Vancouver Highlanders

The Vancouver Highlanders have announced Josh Thiel as their 6th signing. Josh has been capped for Canada at the senior level and at the U20 level. He’s also represented Canada on the 7s circuit and played for the San Diego Legion of the MLR. He’s plays both #10 and inside centre, although his first senior cap was at fullback.  He’s was part of a talented group of BC U19 players that won Gold at the National Championships in 2016, also on that team were Michael Smith, Callum Botchar, Elias Ergas and Noah Bain.

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Doug Tate Selects 2024

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Island U18 Team Named as Doug Tate Selects to Face UVic Jutes in Two Match Series – Weekend Match Postponed

[note due to snow in Victoria the January 20th matches have been postponed, Vikes vs CWU is postponed until Tuesday, January 23rd at 1pm, Jutes vs DTS is postponed until Saturday, January 27th at 1pm]

This UVic initiative looks like a keeper and hopefully will become an annual event. UVic coaching staff were looking for extra games for their Jutes team, that’s their 3rd squad, made up of first year players, basically the 18 year old age group.

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BOOK REVIEW – Throwing The Book: The Strife and Crimes of a RUGBY Referee

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BC Referee Saro Turner Reviews Wayne Barnes Book: Throwing The Book: The Strife and Crimes of a RUGBY Referee

Wayne Barnes refereed more international tests than anyone else in the history of rugby, including at five Men’s World Cups where he held the whistle in the 2023 Final. His autobiography – Throwing the Book: The Strife and Crimes of a RUGBY Referee – is particularly relevant for understanding the psychological pressure on referees, the values and integrity of the game, and his insight into how the game ought to be played.

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Rugby Canada’s National Training Centres Overview

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Rugby Canada National Training Centres to Focus on Women’s XVs

When the Rugby Canada Strategic Plan for 2024-2027 was announced there was some excitement around the National Training Centres initiative. In the plan it states the goal as “Develop high performance rugby centres of excellence in different cities or regions across the country to address the training and competition gap in women’s and men’s high performance rugby ensuring quality alignment with Rugby Canada’s national team strategic objectives.” There were thoughts of Pacific Pride type of programs in other regions of the country.

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Canada U20 Updates – January 2024

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Adam Roberts Resigns as U20 Head Coach; Scotland to Host 2024 JWRT

It’s difficult to get any answers out of Rugby Canada on the men’s U20 program, a critical link to the men’s XVs program. Stephen Aboud was announced in May 2023 as the head of the High Performance programs but 9 months later he’s doing his best impersonation of the invisible man.

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