I was going to write a lengthy article on the McKechnie Cup history today but the hours ran out so I’ll post this article I wrote in 2016 and add to it later in the week. The article, although over 6 years old, has some relevance to today.
[ed. if you’re interested in the history of women’s rugby in Vancouver in the 70’s and 80’s check out this article by Dave Pearcey.]
written by John Langley
The last 20 years of Capilano Womens Rugby is quite a story. What a success story it has been! The Women have made the Capilano Club and their fans very proud. Also what a contribution our players have made to the success of the Canadian National Team. Placing three starters in Andrea Burk, Hilary Leith and Mandy Marchak on the Womens World Cup of Rugby Silver Medal winning Canada team and the Dream Team in 2014, was remarkable. This silver medal was the highest finish of any Canadian Rugby team, Women or Men, in International 15s competition and was an amazing feat.
The VIRU celebrated their centenary (1876-1976) in 1977 as part of the 1976-77 season. They created a program for the occasion that provides a compact historical record of the event. The event took place between May 17th and May 28th and featured four games, three played on the Island at Royal Athletic Park and one on the Mainland.
I was delighted to get a message from John Lyall and Mark (McRugby) Bryant about a request to write a portion of the Crimson Tide history, both from a players and coachs perspective.
I had a chance to meet Doug Sturrock the other day and chat about history and rugby. He is the BCRU official historian and was author of the book “It’s a Try! The History of Rugby in Canada”.
Jason Beck, the curator of the BC Sports Hall of Fame, tweeted out a reminder this morning that today was the anniversary of possibly the greatest victory in BC rugby history.
The first Canadian rugby tour to the UK took place in December 1902, it lasted 56 days and during that time 22 matches were played. We call it the forgotten tour as it hasn’t been celebrated and recognized by either Rugby Canada or World Rugby. It predates the famous 1905 All Blacks tour to the UK.
The Canadian rugby tour of 1902-03 to the UK isn’t well documented. It’s a tour that deserves some recognition, it was the first Canadian rugby tour overseas, it even predates the famous All Blacks 1905 tour to the UK.