Former Concordia Stingers coach, Jocelyn Barrieau, has been announced as the successor to Jack Hanratty when the Olympics are completed. Barrieau has been with the women’s 7s team as Assistant Coach since May 2023, Hanratty is moving on to a coaching position at the University of Ottawa.
We had a chance to chat with Aaron Takel about the new venture, Gainline Sport Coaching, he and Scott Manning have started. Links to their website and the SMUS summer camp they’re partnering with are included in the article. Also profile information for Aaron and Scott are appended below the interview.
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.
The former Meraloma coach who hails from South Africa has been appointed to the dual role of Head Coach of the Pacific Pride and the Canada U20 team.
Nominations are open for the 2024 Gerald McGavin Coaching Award!
This is a fantastic opportunity for BC-based Coaches, with the recipients selected to attend 14-day program at the home of Crusaders Rugby in Christchurch, New Zealand, on May 20-31, 2024.
Earlier in the week Phil Mack was announced as the Attack Coach of the men’s XVs program, in that article it stated Phil would remain with the Pride program as “Technical Lead”. We thought that would mean head coach but later Rugby Canada came out with a job opening for the Pacific Pride Pathway Coach that would include being “Head Coach” of the Pride and “Senior Coach” of the men’s U20 program. The deadline for applications is Feb 4th.
Phil Mack the iconic Canadian scrum half has been named as the Attack Coach for the men’s XVs team. Currently acting as head coach of the Pacific Pride, the Rugby Canada Academy, he’ll continue in that role while taking on this new role.
Kudos to the Canadian Rugby Foundation for investing in Canadian coaches. Curry Hitchborn, Scott Manning and Andy Evans are the three university coaches from BC. Jamie Mackenzie and Pat Parfrey are former Canadian national team players who are currently coaching at Laurier and Memorial respectively. Ian McLeod played at Western and now coaches there, Ian Baillie grew up in Ontario and coaches at McGill. Congratulations to all.
The BCRU seem to have their act together this year with a top notch slate of coaches. Leading the senior men’s team is Curry Hitchborn. It’s a no-brainer to have him in charge of the Provincial men’s team as he leads the most successful university program in the country and his UBC team are perennial contenders for the BC Premier title. Phil Mack and Jake Ilnicki are assistant coaches.
Congratulations to Lesley McKenzie on having her head coach contract renewed by the Japan Rugby Union. McKenzie who is from Fort Nelson, BC, a small community of just over 3,000 near the Yukon and NWT borders, was first hired by the Japan Rugby Union in 2019 to coach the women’s XVs program. During that time she’s taken them from ranked 16th in the world to ranked 12th in the world, an impressive accomplishment.