It was sad news to hear of the passing of Gudy yesterday. Anyone who has visited Cowichan Rugby Club knows Gudy, always there with a smile and a welcome, getting things done behind the scenes from president to coach to barman when required. He was Canada cap #86 according to our records, earning his cap in 1973 against Wales in Toronto. Condolences to the family and club.
Callum Botchar and Dewald Kotze saw their MLR season come to an end on Sunday when Seattle fell to California 43-34. They’ll no doubt figure in Canada’s matches in July. Chicago hosted Old Glory DC. Chicago have Mason Flesch playing blindside flanker, Lucas Rumball has been moved from his usual #8 to openside flanker and Brock Webster continues his role at fullback. Matt Oworu is not in the roster. Cali Martinez will be starting loosehead prop for Old Glory DC.
Chicago dominated the game leading 59-10 until the last 5 minutes when Old Glory scored two tries to make the game a bit closer at 59-22. Mason Flesch (52′) and Lucas Rumball (61′) scored second half tries as part of the rout. It will be Chicago hosting California in the final next Sunday.
There were fourteen Canadian players in action in the PWR semi-finals on Sunday. Ealing Trailfinders upset last season’s champions Gloucester-Hartpury in one semi-final 29-26, the Trailfinders had four Canadians in the roster, Gloucester had none. In the other semi-final Saracens, with six Canadians, came from behind to edge Exeter (four Canadians) 40-38 with PWR Player of the Year, Olivia Apps, scoring two tries. The links to the match videos are below.
Nine Canadian players in India will kick off their thirteen day 7s tournament on Tuesday, June 16th, in Hyderabad, a city of about 10 million in the state of Telangana. The weather forecast for Tuesday afternoon is a warm 34° C. The men will play 10 matches in that time period, plus playoffs, the women will play 6 matches plus playoffs. Last year it was just a men’s tournament but they’ve added four women’s teams to the existing six men’s teams. There are five Canadian women participating and four men according to our latest information. Of particular interest will be the Chennai Bulls woman’s team which has four well known Canadian players, Adia Pye, Savannah Bauder, Carmen Izyk, Larah Wright.
Olivia Apps was named the PWR Player of the Season, quite an honour for a Canadian player playing in the top women’s league in England. Apps has become the top Canadian player this year leading both the national 7s and XVs team.
As we wait for Canada’s extended roster announcement for their summer tests against Spain, Portugal and Zimbabwe we look at Canada’s last rosters from November 2025. We’re also collecting the rosters of the teams they’re playing against. Spain and Zimbabwe have released their extended rosters and we’ve appended those below. We’ll add Canada and Portugal when they’re released.
We’ve put together a list of summer rugby camps, we’ll keep updating the list throughout the summer. If you know of a summer rugby camp in BC, tag us on social media with the poster, Instagram is the best choice, @bcrugbynews – or add a link and description in the comment section.
We haven’t covered MLR much this season, there are only 6 teams left in the league and only 4 with Canadian players. The regular season has ended and the team with the most Canadians in the roster, Chicago Hounds, just finished the 10 game season with a perfect, 10-0, 50 point record, the first for the MLR. The Chicago Hounds have three Canadians who regularly start Mason Flesch, Lucas Rumball and Brock Webster. Matt Oworu is also on the Hounds but his appearances have been irregular, he’s only played 3 matches this season, the last on May 10th. Mason Flesch has played 9 games and scored 8 tries, Lucas Rumball 8 games and 3 tries, and Brock Webster 9 games and 6 tries.
Canada claimed 3rd place in the tournament in Bordeaux and in the process caught USA in the standings and claimed 3rd place overall in the championship standings. Australia won the women’s tournament and series, NZ came 2nd, USA 4th. In the men’s tournament France won the tournament but South Africa won the series.
Rugby Canada announced that Stephen Meehan will be given an extension on his contract until the end of 2028. It’s strange timing that has some rugby pundits questioning what’s happening behind the scenes. The official reason suggested in the Rugby Canada release is that he’ll oversee the men’s 7s journey to the 2028 LA Olympics. As the Rugby Canada release states, “subject to qualification”. The Olympics are in July 2028. Even though Canada men’s 7s program failed to qualify for the SVNS 1 series, they have a decent chance of making the Olympics since USA as host get an automatic spot and are taken out of the regional qualifying process.