The list continues to grow. Damian McGrath dismissed because he supported the men’s 7s team strike. John Tait fired because he pushed the women’s 7 team too hard and was accused of bullying and abuse. Now Jamie Cudmore shot himself in the foot, with anger built up over the way his friend, John Tait, was treated by Rugby Canada and the women’s 7s team.
What is the prognosis of Canada making it through the RWC 2023 qualifying process after the weekend action? It’s too early to tell but the weekend results didn’t alter the opinion held by many, and backed by the ranking statistics, that Canada are ranked 3rd in the Americas qualifying process. A 3rd place ranking in the Americas (Argentina excluded as they’ve qualified already) would mean the repechage again, a repeat of the 2019 RWC qualifying.
[ed. this story seems to be lingering in the news, I’ve had a number of messages and calls with a common theme. Release the report and redact the names for privacy. John Tait has already publicly given his permission, now time for Rugby Canada and the players to follow suit.]
Article submitted by BCRN 7s Correspondent
Its difficult to sit by without a response as turmoil surrounds Canadas most successful rugby program. Rugby fans, followers and participants have never been shy about expressing their view points when issues confront the public domain and certainly this is the case presently.
[editor’s comments below]
I have to admit when I started BCRN in 2005, I occasionally got the spellings mixed up. Which was Tait and which was Tate again? It didn’t take me long to figure it out. They were (and are) two of my favourite rugby people to meet along the sidelines. They both exuded an honesty and warmth and I was usually met with a wry smile as they anticipated some questions from the “press”.
High School Rugby
We’ve heard that the OFSSA, the Ontario Federation of School Sports, has cancelled spring sports, so no rugby for a second year. There’s been no decision, as far as we know, about BC School Sports. Under current BC Health regulations, sports wouldn’t be possible, there’s the hope that the BC Health authority will loosen up regulations as the weather warms up and COVID numbers go down. It’s a wait and see situation at the moment.
[ed. comments below]
When I first heard about this my first thought was, only Rugby Canada can create a rugby drama when there’s no rugby. People were messaging and texting, what’s with the women’s rugby 7s program?
Although we’re a ways away from full contact rugby in BC, perhaps April, the discussions going on in Europe now may give a hint of what’s in store. The European discussions may actually be more pertinent to MLR as a pro league than amateur club rugby in BC but it’s a place to start.
An article by Bryan Ray was featured in CBC Halifax. Bryan is better known in the rugby community as one of the Editors of Americas Rugby News but is now listed as an Associate Producer with CBC Halifax, congrats Bryan.
This is the Christmas message we used in 2017, the part thanking sponsors and supporters, not much has changed in that regard. We’ve added Gilbert Canada to the sponsorship family, so a special shout out to them in 2020 and their Sales Manager, Robin MacDowell.
There has been a lot written lately about transgender athletes in sports and particularly in rugby as World Rugby recently presented guidelines that recommended transwomen were not to play women’s contact rugby at the international level based on safety concerns. They also stated that national unions could apply their own guidelines on contact rugby below the international level. Rugby Canada did this and have a policy that allows transwomen to participate in women’s contact rugby at all levels (below international level).