MLR 2025 – Round One
Holiday Message 2025
Message of Hope Over the Holiday Season
There’s been some gloom in the rugby community going into the holiday season, especially around the hope that Jamie Cudmore would be the new Canadian coach, that Canadians would take back the men’s XVs program going into 2025. It wasn’t to be this year however there are some positive thoughts to share over the holiday season.
England Premiership Women’s Rugby – December 2024
Round Eleven Results from English Premier: 11 Canadian Players in Action
There were 11 Canadian players in action in the English Premier league Round 11. Exeter with 5 Canadians in the roster experienced their first loss but remain top of the standings.
Rugby Canada Updates – December 2024
Steve Meehan Named as Canadian Men’s XVs Head Coach
I have to admit, most of the Canadian rugby community feels sucker punched by Stephen Aboud right now. Instead of hiring Jamie Cudmore, who was the Canadian choice, he went for Australian Steve Meehan. I’ve had a few messages from Canadian rugby fans but as I’ve explained when you hire an American CEO and an Irish High Performance Director, you can’t expect a Canadian solution. Thank the current and previous Rugby Canada Board for that.
In The News – December 2024
RugbyPass Article Delves into Canadian Men’s Rugby, Jamie Cudmore’s Desire to Return, Cancel Culture at Rugby Canada That Prevents His Return
Great article on RugbyPass (owned by World Rugby) about Jamie Cudmore, the state of men’s rugby in Canada and the cancel culture at Rugby Canada that’s preventing his return… “is there no forgiveness?”
Vancouver 7s – Canadian Men
Canada Men to Play Trinidad & Tobago and Japan at Invitational Tournament at Vancouver 7s
It’s not what was wanted from last year’s perspective. Ideally the men’s team would still be on the World Rugby 7s series and, with the women, drawing in the crowd. Will the crowds still come without the men in the main tournament or do people just want to party and rugby is the extra bonus. We’ll find out in February.
From the Editor’s Desk – December 2024
Aboud Back to Italy?? Who Will Be Canada’s Next Head Coach
A couple of recent topics merit some attention as the year winds down. There’s been rumours circulating out of Italy about Stephen Aboud’s return, we’ll keep an eye on that. Of course everyone wants to know what is happening with Kingsley Jones replacement, at least what’s the process, again something to keep an eye on. We post some thoughts on those topics below.
Global Youth Sevens 2024
Finals Results at Global Youth 7s: BC Bears Girls Finish 17th, Boys 19/20; MacDowell Academy Girls Finish 21st Place, Boys 32nd
The BC Bears boys won their Bowl quarter-final over Belmont Shore from California, 19-7 but lost the semi-finals to Saracens 33-5. Saracens would go on to win the Bowl final and claim 17th place. That would put the boys ranking as 19/20 place at the tournament. The boys tournament was won by the Australia U18 team.
SPONSORS
