More on the Rugby Canada High Performance Program Review: Letters from Chris Le Fevre and John Lecky

[ed. I’ve added another letter from John Lecky, his comments can be viewed in this .pdf document.]

Not that I particularly wanted to resurrect this as, I think, most have given up on Rugby Canada and just want to concentrate on grassroots rugby, club rugby and supporting provincial rugby. However I did say I would publish this open letter from Chris Le Fevre to the Chair of Rugby Canada, Sally Dennis. Chris Le Fevre is a former Rugby Canada board member and was also on the iRB (World Rugby) Executive Council. The letter is posted below (as an image).

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Spain Qualify for World Cup: A Reflection on Canada’s Failed Campaign

Spain last qualified for the World Cup in 1999, congratulations to them. It prompts some self reflection for Canada who won’t be at the World Cup in 2023 for the first time in history.

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Pat Kay Announces Retirement; Shanda Assmus Selected as World Cup Qualifier Match Official; Julianne Zussman Selected as Six Nations U20 Match Official

Pat Kay Retires

Pat Kay made a brief announcement on social media about his retirement from rugby. We understand he will focus on a career moving forward. We wish him all the best in his new endeavour.

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Updates on Malaga 7s – NZ, Samoa, Fiji Drop Out; Matt Mullins Retires from National 7s Team; Canada 7s in Doubt; More on Tait Investigation Report

Malaga 7s

The news keeps getting better for Canada’s women’s team at Malaga, first NZ were replaced by Poland in their pool, then Fiji dropped out and weren’t replaced so it’s an automatic 3 points for the bye. It now comes down to Canada v USA for top of Pool B and 2nd place. The men haven’t been as fortunate as none of the changes affect Pool D. Jamaica replacing Samoa go into Pool C and Fiji were in Pool A.

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Trying to Figure Out Canada’s Rugby Woes: Analyzing Common Responses

[editor’s comments below]

I had started this article in 2021, shortly after the men’s XVs program exited the World Cup qualifying with a loss to Chile. There were a lot of comments on where the solution lay. When I say “Canada’s Rugby Woes”, it’s specifically referring to the national men’s XVs demise. The national women’s XVs program is doing quite well.

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New Year, New Hope for 2022: Four to Watch in Canadian Rugby

2021 was not a good year for Canadian rugby, there’s little doubt about that. The women’s 7s program imploded, shrapnel from that implosion took out a couple of national coaches who were expected to lead Canada forward, the men’s XVs failed to make the World Cup for the first time in its history. COVID crushed everything around it, in particular the national U20 programs and local club rugby. It wasn’t a good year at all.

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Year in Review – A Look Back at November/December 2021 Headlines: Vancouver Wave Win Coastal Cup, National Men’s XVs Lose to Portugal but Beat Belgium, National Women’s XVs Win 3 of 4 Matches on Tour, UBC Win National Men’s University Title, 2021/22 World Rugby 7s Series Kicks Off in Dubai

The Vancouver Wave won the inaugural Coastal Cup over the Pacific Pride in November. The BC clubs had an abbreviated fall season with hopes the spring would bring back some return to normalcy. It’s still wait and see on that front as even though the schedule was announced to start January 22nd there’s still uncertainty around the BC Health Authority policies in the new year.

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Year in Review – A Look Back at September/October 2021 Headlines: Canada Starts World Cup Qualifying Well with +13 Win Over USA in St. John’s But Lose Subsequent Games to USA & Chile to Exit World Cup Qualifying, Coastal Cup Kicks Off in BC, Abbreviated Vancouver 7s & Edmonton 7s Tournaments Held in September

September started well with Canada taking a +13 lead over USA in the World Cup qualifier in St. John’s. Unfortunately a week later Canada would lose 38-16 to USA to lose the series. They would play Chile next.

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Year in Review – A Look Back at July/August 2021 Headlines: LA win MLR Title, 3 Canadians Make All-Star Team, Canada Announce 30 Player Squad for Men’s XVs RWC Qualifiers, Olympic 7s Wraps Up and Controversy Continues, Coastal Cup Competition Introduced

The MLR wrapped up with LA winning the title. Three Canadians were selected on the MLR All-Star team for the season, Lucas Rumball and Ben LeSage from Toronto and DTH from LA.

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Year in Review – A Look Back at May/June 2021 Headlines: Sally Dennis Takes Over for Tim Powers as Chair of Rugby Canada Board, Men’s XVs Prepare for England/Wales Tests, MLR Reaches Week 15, Olympic 7s Teams Announced

[ed. previous articles are here: January, February, March, April]

As spring and summer rolled across the Canadian landscape there was some optimism that boots would be on the field soon. In BC that would mean outdoor non-contact rugby could begin. There were some high-performance matches involving the Pacific Pride and the Canada 7s team as they looked to remain sharp ahead of the Olympics. Jamie Cudmore was still coach of the Pride.

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