A Review of the 1st Quarter of 2023: BC Premier, Canada U20, MLR, Coaches, National 7s/XVs, CanWest, Hall of Fame, Youth Rugby
We reflect on the first 3 months of 2023, from January to March, selecting 20 stories that highlighted what was happening in local, national and international rugby news from a Canadian west coast perspective.
January
January had a lot of news about coaches, Eddie Jones was hired by Australia, Warren Gatland stated he wanted Robert Howley back, Nathan Bombrys started hiring offshore coaches with Scottish coach Iain Monaghan given an assistant coach role in 7s, the USA made Scott Lawrence Interim men’s XVs coach and a Canadian coach had their contract extended in Japan, Lesley McKenzie. We also put together a list of men’s 7s coaches from 1980 to present.
Rugby Canada Hires Hong Kong Women’s 7s Coach: Background at Glasgow
More Coaches Sacked and Hired: Dave Rennie Gone From Australia and Eddie Jones Hired
January was when we found out where the 2023 JWRT U20 championship would be held, in Kenya. Hopefully we’ll get news of the 2024 hosting soon. The NZ 7s tournament wrapped up for the last time, it’s not on the circuit this season, the Canadian men finished 14th and the women finished 11th.
February
The BC Premier kicked off the second half of the 2022-23 season. The BCRU announced its Hall of Fame Inductees for 2022 and the CanWest women’s 7s tournament started. MLR got their 2023 season off to a start, and the men’s U20 program held a camp at Shawnigan. Rugby Canada announced their Hall of Fame Inductees for 2022 which included the 1991 men’s XVs team and we revisited the booklet put out by the BC Sports Hall of Fame when they inducted the 1991 team in 2018. The LA 7s wrapped up, it was a men’s only tournament, Canada finished in 11th/12th place.
BCRU Announces 2022 Hall of Fame Inductees: Ed Fairhurst, Bruce Kuklinski and Julia Sugawara
UBC Win Round Two of CanWest 7s – Day 2 Match Results
Canada U20: Canada Red Win Intersquad Match Over Canada Black: Match Photos (41)
LA 7s: Canada Finish in 11/12th Place and Gain 5 Series Points: Match Videos
March
The Vancouver 7s wrapped up, the women finished 6th, the men 15th/16th. Rugby Canada bid to host the Olympic qualifying tournament at Langford. Westshore ran a youth 7s tournament during March break, Claremont won both Boys and Girls titles. Shawnigan Lake School attended a prestigious 7s tournament held at Rugby School in the UK and Upright Rugby Academy toured the UK with a XVs team. The BC Premier wrapped up Week 10 of the 2022-23 season. The national women’s XVs team defeated South Africa 66-7 in Spain. MLR were into Week 6 of their schedule.
Vancouver 7s Final: Women Finish 6th; Men Finish 15th/16th
Rugby Canada Bidding to Host Olympic Qualifier Event in Langford in August
Westshore 7s: Claremont Wins Boys & Girls Senior Titles: Photos and Results
Upright Rugby Academy Win First Match in UK – Tour Update
Canada Defeats South Africa 66-7: Face USA Next Saturday