I'm sorry if this has been discussed before, but how much rugby is played in Canada at school level? ie. Is it becoming a popular sport or is it still relatively unknown?
Find TRF at:
I'm sorry if this has been discussed before, but how much rugby is played in Canada at school level? ie. Is it becoming a popular sport or is it still relatively unknown?
It is played frequently at high school level, which is where I got to play the game, it's also growing at University/College level a lot of schools like it because Rugby is a much cheaper team to field rather than Gridiron or Ice Hockey. Rugby is a well known game in Canada and is growing but gets hardly any exposure on TV. Participation numbers are now stronger here than they are in Italy and Scotland.Originally Posted by Sker
The network I get to show most games is a subscription channel and only the odd national team match is shown on mainstream TV. This season I haven't even heard announcments about any of the CRC games being streamed online, everyone I know who watches the game starts to like it but it seems it's the world cup and than only one or two games a year for most casual fans.
That's awesome, the fact that it's played frequently. Hopefully a way will be found that you guys will be able to watch more matches, some network needs to wake up.
Agreed Sker, the other result is in as well and once again the Wolf Pack with a big win over the Tyee, 45-19, a slightly better performance from the Tyee but things do not look good for them this season.
This years season kickoffs with:
Pacific Tyee vs The Rock at 6 PM and Wolf Pack vs Blues at 6:30 PM
<div align="center">http://www.therugbyforum.com/uploads/TRFsig.jpg </div>
The season is well under way, on Saturday the Tyee played a lot better and pulled out a win against Ontario, while the Wolf Pack eeked out a win vs. The Rock.
Yeah, I'm a bit behind. Just moved and only got the internet up a couple days ago. My apologies everyone.
<div align="center">http://www.therugbyforum.com/uploads/TRFsig.jpg </div>
Good games tonight rebound by the Blues and the Rock finally pulling out a win, I'll add some details later.
whats the level of talent in the leagues in canada, moving over next year so just wondering what its lik, il be going to calgary so whats the league like there, im lookin at calgary saints or calgary canadian irish athletic club, just from the above posts i see the wolfpack is picked from players in that league so what would the comp that they play in b lik, would it be the same as AIL in ireland which is semi pro or better.... or worse??
Sorry for a dead quote revive but I felt I could add a bit more.
Canada is excellent at developing hockey players. Our best talent usually plays this sport.
Canadian Football is much less popular but has a very strong developmental setup and attracts a lot of top talent that can't skate. The sport has been growing at a grassroots level because some rugby clubs specifically target schools with strong football programs.
A good club now sends some of their best coaching to these schools. This exposes these top athletes to the sport. Even if they leave to play university ball and professional level, they still can still come back to the game because they have the fundamentals. Perfect examples are Hubert Buydens and Jason Marshall.
I imagine the long term goal is to use the money from the Rugby 7s to attract the top level athletes and make so the current crop can earn a living playing rugby.
Glad to see the Tyee doing well.
Sorry I fell behind on the updates guys the CRC takes place at a time of year that is very busy for me, the final game goes today between Ontario and The Atlantic Rock with the Mactier cup on the line and any one of three teams could claim the title at the end of the day due to a complex series of circumstances. The match will be streamed live(might be for Canadian viewers only not sure on this) at www.bellaliant.net, under the “Community One” tab. The game takes place at 3 p.m. local time(Newfoundland time) at Swilers Rugby Park.
Here are the standings and scenarios leading into today, it looks like Ontario and the Wolf Pack have a much more likely cup winning possibilities.
Current Standings:
Wolf Pack 16 pts
Blues 15 pts
Rock 11 pts
Tyee 5 pts
The Ontario Blues win if:
• They defeat The Rock on Saturday
• They tie The Rock on Saturday
• They lose to The Rock but earn a bonus point, and The Rock do not earn a bonus point
The Rock win if:
• They defeat the Ontario Blues by a margin larger than 50 points, due to point differentials with the Wolf Pack*, and earn a bonus point
The Wolfpack win if:
• The Rock defeats the Ontario Blues by a margin less than 50 points but greater than 7 points (due to bonus point scenario), due to point differentials with the The Rock*
*If The Rock win by exactly 50 points, then the winner will be determined by basis of difference in tries scored vs. tries against.
Here are the lineups for the deciding game.
The Rock
Starters
1 Frank Walsh - Vandals RFC St. John’s, NL
2 Owen Parfrey - Swilers RFC St. John’s, NL
3 Bob Rogers - Dogs RFC Mt. Pearl, NL
4 Brad Lester - Dogs RFC Mt. Pearl, NL
5 Jon Phelan - St. Anne-de Bellevue Montreal, PQ
6 Toni Wodzicki - Castaway Wanderers RFC Montreal, PQ
7 Chauncey O’Toole – Belle Isle RFC, Victoria BC
8 Zac Coughlan - Swilers RFC St. John’s, NL
9 Mike Simpson - Swilers RFC Sudbury, ON
10 Patrick Parfrey - Swilers RFC St. John’s, NL
11 Kyle McGuirk - Swilers RFC. St. John's NL
12 Tyler Wish - Swilers RFC St. John’s, NL
13 Ciaran Hearn - Castaway Wanderers RFC Conception Bay, NL
14 Shane Stratton – Dogs RFC Goulds, NL
15 Robert Wilson © - Swilers RFC St. John’s, NL
Bench
16 Steve Cutliffe - Dogs RFC Mt. Pearl, NL
17 Benoit Piffero - St. Anne-de Bellevue Montreal, PQ
18 Justin Meyers - Swilers RFC St. John’s, NL
19 Mike Hansom – Tars RFC Halifax, NS
20 Scott Forrest - Tars RFC Halifax, NS
21 Llyr Morris - Mudmen RFC Charlottetown, PEI
22 Patrick McNicholas - Swilers RFC St. John’s, NL
23 Alex Rogers - Dogs RFC Mt. Pearl NL
Ontario Blues
Starters
1 Doug Wooldridge, Lindsay
2 Ray Barkwill, Niagara/Oakville
3 Tom Dolezel, London
4 Tyler Ardron, McMaster U
5 Scott Dunham, Balmy Beach
6 John Moonlight, Ajax
7 Alistair Clark, Oakville
8 Seb Pearson, Lindsay/London
9 Jamie Mackenzie, Oakville
10 Derek Daypuck, London
11 Ryan Macsween, Balmy Beach
12 Dan West, Oakville
13 Jordan Wilson-Ross, Barrie
14 Dan Moor, Balmy Beach
15 Liam Underwood, Balmy Beach
Bench
16 Creag Johnston, Toronto Scottish
17 Mike Blakey, Oshawa Vikings
18 Rob Brouwer, Lindsay/Aurora
19 Andrew Crow, Balmy Beach
20 Kyle Armstrong, Ajax
21 Ryan Tomlinson, Barrie
22 Rory Tomlinson, Barrie
Last edited by Little Guy; 22-09-12 at 02:24 PM.
The Ontario Blues have claimed the Mactier Cup once again with a big 40-16 win over the Rock, the scoreline is a little misleading as the game was quite close through 60 minutes until the Blues busted it open late.
... Jeez, I was going to cheer for the Rock, by a margin of 8-49 points... congrats to the Ontario Blues
Follow the TRF Official International Shield Holders -for more about our trophy
http://www.therugbyforum.com/forum/showthread.php?8033-The-Official-TRF-International-Shield
SA - NZ - SA - Aus - NZ - France - NZ - SA - Aus - NZ - Aus - England - SA - Aus - NZ - SA - NZ - England Current Holders - Wales
Without a bonus point and with Saturn in line with Aquarius LOL. I think the Blues were the deserved champion though the Wolf Pack had a good season. I think the Wolf Pack are growing especially with Jeremy Kyne and Ryan Smith running things I think they will win the trophy soon.... Jeez, I was going to cheer for the Rock, by a margin of 8-49 points
Onto the ARC next month will be interesting to see the squad selection.
What chances there are to create a pro league with Canada and Usa teams? I think it would be very attractive to mass audiences and sponsors (who put the money for this).
Also could make some kind of North Americans Lions (or Bears in this case) with players form Canada, States, and why not Mexico, Jamaica, Bahamas, etc.
They could tour Europe, and South America. That would be nice...
Hi superalex, this does get brought up from time to time, and I really think the only way for the pro league to move forward is indeed for it to be a combined effort. There are some big obstacles especially cost and transit factors, but I don't think an 8 team pro league is an impossible endeavour. Suggestions have even crept out of the woodwork about an NA side in Super Rugby or the Rabodirect, though I think these are more pipe dreams. It's a very crowded sports market place here, but if some corporate dollars can be brought in these difficulties can be overcome.
The Lions(South African team) are touring here in the spring and I have heard rumours of a combined USA/Canada side facing them in May. This would actually be a pretty damn good side. The Loose forwards would be fantastic and a decent backline as well. I would have loved to see the British and Irish Lions pop in on their Oz tour to face such a side next year rather than play a warm up game in Hong Kong.
A combined USA/Canada team would be pretty interesting. What do you think the lineup would be in that case?
<div align="center">http://www.therugbyforum.com/uploads/TRFsig.jpg </div>
Just local based players + Todd Clever considered I think.
1. Mike MacDonald (USA)
2. Chris Biller (USA)
3. ?????
4. Jon Phelan (Canada)
5. Brian Doyle (USA)
6. Tyler Ardron (Canada) or Taylor Mokate (USA)
7. John Quill (USA)
8. Todd Clever (USA)
9. Mike Petri (USA)
10. Toby L'Estrange (USA)
11. Luke Hume (USA)
12. Andrew Suniula (USA)
13. Conor Trainor (Canada)
14. Jeff Hassler (Canada)
15. Madison Hughes (USA) or James Paterson (USA) *
* Hughes is the most talked about young player coming out of the USA system. An American, who went to school in London, he was a star who showed some great natural flair and talent at the JWRT much is hoped from him to become the USA's star creative back over the next decade. On the otherhand, James Paterson has now packed in any ambition of ever going back to pro rugby and is working with his dad in the USA and missed November because of that, not sure whether we will see much of him in the future at international.
#3 might be Buydens playing slightly out of position in that lineup, both teams are weak at prop especially when the overseas pros are counted out.
On a side note Connor Braid won MOTM honours in his first game with Doncaster over the weekend good to see him keep up the form.
Reply With Quote