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.
There hasn’t been a lot of local rugby news and we’ve been focusing lately on where rugby is actually being played, in Super Rugby Aotearoa, NZ. But it’s time to catch up on some local news and what’s happening outside of NZ.
A couple of questions we’ll look at in this article. How much will it cost to play touch rugby in BC, will there be contact in any provinces and where is rugby currently being played in the world.
Rugby Hive Podcast
The Rugby Hive Podcast was founded by World Rugby commentator Dallen Stanford and international 7s coach Robin MacDowell in July 2020. The two co-hosts played against each other on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series with Stanford representing the USA and MacDowell, Canada.
Everyone has a unique view of what it means to be Canadian on Canada Day and today I thought I’d reflect on what it means to me from the perspective as editor of BC Rugby News.
The website rugbyleagueplanet.com released an article “Canadas suspended season could end sooner in west” in which they’ve identified opportunities in BC and Alberta for Rugby League to grow at Rugby Union’s expense.
Recently a reader from Ontario, posting anonymously in the comment section, suggested that our four person panel for the Super Rugby Aotearoa predictions wasn’t diverse enough. They suggested the addition of a woman and a person of colour, it was pointed out that one person was Maori, but it made me realize we need to publish our position on social issues currently occupying the headlines, consider it our statement on diversity.
As we try to calculate when rugby might return in BC we’ll take a look at what’s happening around the world and closer to home.
On the positive side, New Zealand are way ahead of the pack, with good COVID-19 numbers and a national insurance that covers liability issues they’re ready to roll. Professional rugby kicks off this weekend with Super Rugby Aotearoa and Community rugby kicks off June 20th with preseason warmups happening this weekend. The Super Rugby competition in NZ will be the first in the world to let the fans back in the stadiums. A couple of story links below.
Amateur sports in BC have been waiting for viaSport’s Return to Sport guidelines in order to progress with their individual Return to Play plans.