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).
Will Percillier Top 14 Try
Former Canada U20 scrum half Will Percillier scored a try for Stade Francais Paris in his first run out with the senior team. He subbed in off the bench and showed strong support work to claim his first Top 14 try. Percillier played his high school rugby at Brentwood and then went on to UBC.
Internationals This Weekend
Some top matches coming up this weekend and we’ll have them available for download in our members area.
Interview with Tyler Ardron on Rugby World
Rugby World recently posted an interview with Tyler Ardron, where you find out things like his best bud who is Jeff Hassler and his hidden talents, he’s a yoga teacher. Article link is below.
https://www.rugbyworld.com/in-the-mag/30-minutes/canada-no-8-tyler-ardron-114286
We ran an article last September explaining the issue, Rugby Canada had changed its insurance so that players over 77+ were no longer eligible to be insured, therefore couldn’t practice or play with their Over 40 teams. The exact wording from the insurance policy was, “”A persons coverage will end on the earlier of, the date he or she is no longer in an eligible class, on the date that the policy is cancelled, or on the date he or she attains 77 years of age.”
Nathan Abdelnour Leaves Rugby Canada
Nathan who was the Manager, Match Official Development at Rugby Canada is leaving Rugby Canada. Yesterday he put this out on social media.
While rugby is in a bit of a holding pattern in many parts of the world there are some updates with organizations planning for rugby to come back online in the near future. Some of it positive, using the time to update programs, some of it negative with funding being lost to programs.
Pacific Pride
I touched base with Jamie Cudmore over the phone to find out what’s happening there. They’re doing as much as they can while conforming to provincial health regulations. That means they’re focused on fitness and skills work in small groups, both inside in the gym and outside on the field.