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Sluggo, Shane, Spencer
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Sevens – Return of the Canuck Knights
by BC Rugby News 7s Correspondent
posted April 3 2009
The National Sevens Team arrived home earlier this week after their direct flight from Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific Airlines.
After a close encounter in the Plate Final with Tonga the players seemed fairly up-beat despite the heartbreaking loss in the final minute of play.
Earlier in the week Canada had practiced against the islanders and tempers had escalated quickly during the session when one of the Tongan players planted Phil Mack on his head.
The tackle which was absolutely outside the traditions of practice sessions between iRB Sevens teams caused a direct response from Mack’s team-mates who came to his rescue and made due restoration.
Regardless – the final had a gut-wrenching outcome for the players and staff alike - and several players commented that while there had been far too many close calls in recent years – this one was particularly hard after reaching the Plate Final at the major venue on the circuit.
The final Plate game is the second last game before the 20 minute Cup Final on day three in Hong Kong - and all that third day the excitement would have been building as the final few games were determined.
For the new players on the circuit who have not reached that stage of advancement in a tournament it must have been a major thrill and one to savor for many years.
With the Adelaide Sevens already under way in Australia without us – Canada must now wait until late in May before another iRB Sevens venue is on the horizon.
There are many unanswered questions at this point and these should be addressed quickly so some stability can be brought to the program and to the players who need to make plans as summer approaches.
One step has been made already and a manager for London and Scotland leg is in place - but there is still the question of a coach and of course player selections.
The days of a non-professional volunteer at the coaching helm are long gone. And now with the circuit fully professional it is essential that a specialized coach-specific person is in-charge.
At this point we are a team on an invitation list only – namely – New Zealand, United States, Hong Kong, London and Scotland. And it is ironic that just as we appear to be on the upward turn in terms off performance outcomes - we are also on the edge of losing most of our international invitations.
The world economy not withstanding – there are significant expenses at moving Canada from our hub in Victoria to the international sevens venues around the globe. Already we are off the invitation list in Dubai and South Africa. We went to Hong Kong but were sent home afterward and did not participate in Adelaide.
The Americans have our core position on the circuit and do not look like they are going to give it up anytime soon as they advance all their programs with hefty budget monies and sponsorship deals.
What will occur next is anyone’s guess but history dictates that favorable outcomes are not part of our history. We have left far too many fine people in a wake of grim dismissal and agonizing futility.
The present coach had a contract which expired after Hong Kong – yet there are two tournaments still to be played, a team to be coached and players to be selected. It is not an assignment for the inexperienced, nor can it be improvised in anyway whatsoever.
The silence from Rugby Canada is disturbing. On the face of it this would seem to be a fairly simple task – the manager is appointed already. So why not name the coach and post a squad of players in the mix for selection so planning and preparations can be made.
Despite our improved results of late – there has not been the sort of sevens preparation necessary to overcome some of the circuit teams on a regular basis. If the goal is just to get an invite and compete as best we can then it is time to make a statement to that effect and let those involved move forward.
At issue first and foremost is funding and available money for the professional staff and the preparation necessary for competition.
Money from Dublin is in short supply now that we are no longer a core member – that is a huge chunk of development money gone.
Money from elsewhere appears to be in short supply – in short - there is none and despite extensive sevens budgets submitted to Richmond Hill the fact remains that they have come to a dead-end financially.
Blame is easily assigned and pointing is a specialty of those who work away from the field – so between now and departure for London don’t expect a glass slipper and a prince at the end of the rainbow – more like a horned toad with bad breath!
Sevens – Day Three at Hong Kong
by BC Rugby News 7s Correspondent
posted March 29 2009
When the sun comes up over Hong Kong this morning sixteen teams will board flights southward to Adelaide and begin another week of preparations before that iRB tournament starts next weekend.
Canada on the other hand will head home after what must be considered their most successful tournament in several years.
Canada not only went to the Plate Final but also gained some points in the overall iRB standings.
The results in Hong Kong were impressive right from the start on Friday evening where we ran Manu Samoa right to the edge of defeat. It was the same story the next day against Fiji where slightly more possession might have seen us past the eventual Cup winners.
Canada’s results on Days One & Two sent us into the Plate Quarters where we started the final day with a decisive win over Hong Kong 26–5.
The RWC champions, Wales were next and Canada posted a determined victory over the Welsh team 19–10 and moved onto the Plate Finals.
Against Tonga it was much the same story as Day One & Two – the short game is just inches and seconds between winning or losing - and once again holding on in the last precious seconds of the final game proved fatal as we lost 14–12 to the islanders who scored at the end of the match.
As Canada heads home across the Pacific later today it seems clear that what the coach has been saying all along is starting to become a reality – that is – it takes time, patience and effective experience to build a team which can compete on the iRB Sevens circuit.
The circuit is now fully professional in its core and finding an opening is not easy for Canada. However, this team is performing better now and while we are still short in some games – the progress is obvious. Going to the Plate Final in the expanded 24 team Hong Kong tournament is no easy task and everyone involved should feel some measure success.
Since 2005 our talent pool has not expanded enough. Without exception most of this team will have fifteen’s commitments upon their return home and the consequence will be a very inexperienced team for London and Scotland later on in early June.
It’s a terrible dilemma as Canada must improve their flag-ship team in order to secure the delicate iRB funding. Our international ranking is directly related to our funds from Dublin. And yet at no other time or place can we consistently play the top rugby nations on the planet than on the iRB Sevens circuit.
Without question – the London tournament is under the watchful eye of the iRB hierarchy who attend the event in numbers.
So doing well at the London Sevens tournament is important and sends a clear message to those in attendance. Yet with most of our talent pool involved in the expanded summer fifteens rugby program it has historically been difficult for us to move above the Bowl competition after Day One.
At this point there is some time available for preparation but getting the essential playing time is in very short supply. Which ever way you look – the London and Scotland tournaments will challenge our resources once again.
HONG KONG TEAM
Nanyak Dala Castaway Wanderers
Sean Duke University of Victoria
Ciaran Hearn Castaway Wanderers
Adam Kleeberger University of Victoria
Tony La Carte Bayside Sharks
Phil Mack JBAA
Neil Meechan University of Victoria
John Moonlight University of Victoria
Chauncey O’Toole Castaway Wanders
Gordie Sawers University of Victoria
DTH van der Merwe JBAA
Sean White JBAA
Staff
Shane Thompson – Coach
Kieran Crowley – Manager
Physiotherapist – Timberley George
Sevens – Day Two at Hong Kong
by BC Rugby News 7s Correspondent
posted March 28 2009
The stage is set for the final day at the famous Hong Kong Sevens.
Canada will play host Hong Kong who seem to have improved their game considerably since last season.
37 29-03-2009 09:45 Japan - Sri Lanka HKG 1/4 final Bowl
38 29-03-2009 10:07 China - Portugal HKG 1/4 final Bowl
39 29-03-2009 10:29 West Indies - Uruguay HKG 1/4 final Bowl
40 29-03-2009 10:51 Chinese Taipei - Zimbabwe HKG 1/4 final Bowl
41 29-03-2009 11:13 France - Korea HKG 1/4 final Plate
42 29-03-2009 11:35 Tonga - Scotland HKG 1/4 final Plate
43 29-03-2009 11:57 Hong Kong - Canada HKG 1/4 final Plate
44 29-03-2009 12:19 USA - Wales HKG 1/4 final Plate
45 29-03-2009 12:41 South Africa - Australia HKG 1/4 final Cup
46 29-03-2009 13:03 Samoa - Argentina HKG 1/4 final Cup
47 29-03-2009 13:25 New Zealand - Kenya HKG 1/4 final Cup
48 29-03-2009 13:47 Fiji - England HKG 1/4 final Cup
The eventual winner of the Plate competition will have their work cut out for them with RWC winner Wales in the mix. Also in the Plate are – Scotland, France, Tonga and the USA. It is not an easy draw.
However, Day Two for Canada was a good one and once again we played Fiji right until the final whistle – reports from Hong Kong suggest that Canada might have won this game as Phil Mack and DTH were prominent throughout.
Certainly if this type of form is maintained on Day Three then Canada has a good chance to come away with some hardware.
Latest results
36 28-03-2009 18:56 South Africa 26 - 12 France HKG Pool A
35 28-03-2009 18:34 England 26 - 19 Wales HKG Pool B
34 28-03-2009 18:12 New Zealand 17 - 5 Australia HKG Pool C
33 28-03-2009 17:50 Argentina 22 - 14 Portugal HKG Pool D
32 28-03-2009 17:28 Fiji 12 - 12 Samoa HKG Pool E
31 28-03-2009 17:06 Kenya 19 - 12 USA HKG Pool F
30 28-03-2009 16:44 Uruguay 10 - 35 Korea HKG Pool A
29 28-03-2009 16:22 Japan 21 - 17 China HKG Pool B
28 28-03-2009 16:00 Zimbabwe 33 - 14 Sri Lanka HKG Pool C
27 28-03-2009 15:38 Tonga 12 - 14 Hong Kong HKG Pool D
26 28-03-2009 15:16 Canada 22 - 7 Chinese Taipei HKG Pool E
25 28-03-2009 14:54 Scotland 19 - 17 West Indies HKG Pool F
24 28-03-2009 14:32 South Africa 53 - 0 Uruguay HKG Pool A
23 28-03-2009 14:10 England 50 - 0 Japan HKG Pool B
22 28-03-2009 13:48 New Zealand 52 - 0 Zimbabwe HKG Pool C
21 28-03-2009 13:26 Argentina 22 - 17 Tonga HKG Pool D
20 28-03-2009 13:04 Fiji 26 - 17 Canada HKG Pool E
19 28-03-2009 12:42 Kenya 31 - 7 Scotland HKG Pool F
18 28-03-2009 12:20 France 24 - 5 Korea HKG Pool A
17 28-03-2009 11:58 Wales 19 - 17 China HKG Pool B
16 28-03-2009 11:36 Australia 56 - 12 Sri Lanka HKG Pool C
15 28-03-2009 11:14 Portugal 7 - 24 Hong Kong HKG Pool D
14 28-03-2009 10:52 Samoa 50 - 0 Chinese Taipei HKG Pool E
13 28-03-2009 10:30 USA 17 - 7 West Indies HKG Pool F
Presently Canada’s Phil Mack is second in the try scoring race with four tries and forth in the total point’s race with 24 – an impressive two days for the James Bay player.
Good luck Canada on Day Three!
HONG KONG TEAM
Nanyak Dala Castaway Wanderers
Sean Duke University of Victoria
Ciaran Hearn Castaway Wanderers
Adam Kleeberger University of Victoria
Tony La Carte Bayside Sharks
Phil Mack JBAA
Neil Meechan University of Victoria
John Moonlight University of Victoria
Chauncey O’Toole Castaway Wanders
Gordie Sawers University of Victoria
DTH van der Merwe JBAA
Sean White JBAA
Staff
Shane Thompson – Coach
Kieran Crowley – Manager
Physiotherapist – Timberley George
Sevens – Day One at Hong Kong
[ed. someone sent me this link http://www.justin.tv/live24rugby which appears to be a live TV rugby feed. I think they even show the iRB 7s, check it out.]
by BC Rugby News 7s Correspondent
posted March 27 2009
Day one at the Credit Suisse/Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sevens may have gone as the pundits had suggested it would, but our evening game versus Manu Samoa was a close encounter and gave the island Rugby World Cup semi-finalists a real scare.
Final score: Canada 10 – Manu Samoa 14
Two tries by Phil Mack – both unconverted kept the Samoans struggling right until the end.
The coach must be wondering if just once this season some of these close games might fall Canada’s way.
The Samoans are the real deal when it comes to Sevens – especially lately where they reached the RWC semi-final in Dubai last month and only lost by a try to eventual champions Wales 19 – 12.
Up next for Canada is Fiji and then Chinese Taipei on Day Two. With scores being relatively low thus far Canada are not out of the Cup round yet – certainly wins over Fiji and Chinese Taipei tomorrow would help significantly.
12 27-03-2009 21:00 France 17 - 5 Uruguay HKG Pool A
11 27-03-2009 20:38 Wales 14 - 5 Japan HKG Pool B
10 27-03-2009 20:16 Australia 33 - 5 Zimbabwe HKG Pool C
9 27-03-2009 19:54 Portugal 5 - 17 Tonga HKG Pool D
8 27-03-2009 19:32 Samoa 14 - 10 Canada HKG Pool E
7 27-03-2009 19:10 USA 17 - 19 Scotland HKG Pool F
6 27-03-2009 18:20 South Africa 29 - 7 Korea HKG Pool A
5 27-03-2009 17:58 England 54 - 0 China HKG Pool B
4 27-03-2009 17:36 New Zealand 59 - 0 Sri Lanka HKG Pool C
3 27-03-2009 17:14 Argentina 28 - 0 Hong Kong HKG Pool D
2 27-03-2009 16:52 Fiji 33 - 0 Chinese Taipei HKG Pool E
1 27-03-2009 16:30 Kenya 17 - 10 West Indies HKG Pool F
HONG KONG TEAM
Nanyak Dala Castaway Wanderers
Sean Duke University of Victoria
Ciaran Hearn Castaway Wanderers
Adam Kleeberger University of Victoria
Tony La Carte Bayside Sharks
Phil Mack JBAA
Neil Meechan University of Victoria
John Moonlight University of Victoria
Chauncey O’Toole Castaway Wanders
Gordie Sawers University of Victoria
DTH van der Merwe JBAA
Sean White JBAA
Staff
Shane Thompson – Coach
Kieran Crowley – Manager
Physiotherapist – Timberley George
Sevens – Selection for Hong Kong
by BC Rugby News 7s Correspondent
posted March 15 2009
Canada has selected for the Credit Suisse/Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sevens which kicks off at the end of this month.
Followers of the short game maybe surprised to read that Canada has selected John Moonlight from the University of Victoria for the iRB Sevens event in Hong Kong.
However, the young university player has been in sensational form since September and recently has been training out at the new elite centre at the Camosun campus.
It has been no secret that the team needs more speed, size and enhanced power at the breakdowns and Moonlight certainly fits the bill in all categories.
The 6 foot 3” and 220 lb. loose forward has blazing speed and recently proved his fitness scores were at the top of the carded players scale by rattling off a 13.0 at a testing session.
Except for the two European players and skills coach Morgan Williams – the team for Hong Kong has the same core group with the addition of Moonlight, White and LaCarte.
However after Friday night’s game between the University of Victoria and Castaway-Wanderers - there will most certainly be changes to this announced team.
Specifically – Jordan Kozina left the game with a concussion, and Gord Sawers also left earlier with an injury in the should area.
Obviously this will be a huge disappointment to both players on the eve of their pending departure for Hong Kong. Sawers appeared to be in considerable discomfort and Kozina was in obvious distress while been seen to by the University medical staff at Centennial Stadium.
Either way there will be some last minute scrambling around for new players, visas and airline tickets – the latter two having already been issued by the authorities in Hong Kong. Add to that the special visa required for Dala to enter the former colony and the new manager will be burning some serious midnight oil in the days before departure.
If in fact Kozina and Sawers cannot travel then the selections could be interesting. There has already been concern made by team officials that Beep scores are well outside the acceptable range for the short game so who will be inserted next could bring our selection down to a fast crawl.
Regardless – there is a week long camp prior to departure – something the coach has wanted and asked for months going back as far as January.
Pool E will challenge Canada.
Fiji – despite being in selection turmoil have some sevens specialists returning for Hong Kong with the hopes of gaining some valuable points at this tournament.
Manu Samoa has returned to their best form. They had a sparkling Rugby World Cup in Dubai and eventually lost to Cup winners Wales in the semi-final 19-12 in a very tense affair. Along the way they disposed of Australia 19-0; Portugal 20-7; Ireland 35-5 and finally England in the Cup quarter-finals 31-26.
Chinese Taipei should not be close.
Having another tournament so close to Dubai should help Canada despite the travel issues. Everything is fresh and relearning the structures and responsibilities should not be an issue. The loss of James Pritchard is however significant – the Bedford player is a legitimate sevens specialist and played extremely well in Dubai. He has all the skills and poise required for the short game so replacing him is an issue.
HONG KONG TEAM
Nanyak Dala / Castaway Wanderers / Saskatoon
Ciaran Hearn / Castaway Wanderers / Conception Bay
Bryn Keys / Velox Vallhallians / Abbotsford
Adam Kleeberger / University of Victoria / Victoria
Jordan Kozina / University of Victoria / Brantford
Tony La Carte / Bayside Sharks / White Rock
Phil Mack / JBAA / Victoria
Neil Meechan / University of Victoria / Victoria
John Moonlight / University of Victoria / Pickering
Gordie Sawers / University of Victoria / West Vancouver
DTH van der Merwe / JBAA / Regina
Sean White / JBAA / Victoria
Staff
Shane Thompson – Coach
Kieran Crowley – Manager
Physiotherapist – Timberley George
Sevens – Hong Kong Sevens Pools Announcement
by BC Rugby News Correspondent
posted Feb 25 2009
Just when you thought things were getting intense on the Sevens front – the situation got that much better as the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union announced their pool assignments yesterday for the Credit Suisse/Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sevens at the end of March.
Canada will arrive home from Dubai and in less than two weeks head out again – this time across the Pacific – to the former British colony.
As tournaments go Hong Kong is the place to play and to watch. The event continues to be by invitation-only and it is the only 26 team venue on the circuit. Certainly Wellington and Dubai are close behind on the excitement-meter but the traditions and the atmosphere of Hong Kong still hold firm.
This year Canada finds itself in Pool E with Fiji, Manu Samoa and Chinese Taipei. And while this does seem like a very ‘unfriendly’ pool there are still opportunities for success.
Fiji has selected 5 players from their 2005 RWC Team for their World Cup challenge in Dubai next week – those five players will return to their clubs in Europe following the Emirates event so there could still be a ‘Serevi cloud’ hanging over their camp particularly if they fail to win the Cup in Dubai.
In March 2004 Canada made history in the Hong Kong Stadium by defeating Fiji 14-12 in pool play. The excitement was captured on the front page of the South China Morning Post the next day with the headline “Canada gives Fijians the Jitters.” With a local circulation of some 12 million people it wasn’t hard to see that Canada was the talk of the town after Day One.
With two minutes to go before full-time Christoph Strubin barged his way into the Fijian in-goal area and touched down for a try and the stadium erupted. A victory was at hand and as the next two minutes of the game dissolved and our players continually looked for a final whistle from the referee you had to be there to fully appreciate the moment.
Former Sevens Coach Ric Suggitt was quoted in a front page headline in one of his more tame reviews stating, “We just played out of our skins and fully deserved the victory.” Indeed we did.
But that was 2004 and this is 2009. Canada plays Fiji in their second game in the middle of the afternoon on Saturday at 13:04 local time.
Manu Samoa’s form this year has been strangely amiss and they have struggled - plus there appears to have been some discontent when their playmaker Uale Mai was dropped for Wellington and then recalled for San Diego. Selection in the Pacific Islands is always a very delicate affair as there is no shortage of talent – in fact there were some 90 teams at the Fiji National Trials so one can only imagine the job set out before selectors with that type of volume and that kind of talent base.
Canada plays Samoa first in an evening game at 19:32 local time in game #8 – we must beat Samoa in order to advance.
Chinese Taipei rounds off our pool and is extended an invitation to Hong Kong as they are part of the far-east alliance of rugby nations which continue to play each other and maintain the good traditions fostered in the game. Canada should not lose to Taipei under any conditions.
Rebounding after a world cup – especially with so little turnaround time – is always a difficult and challenging endeavor. Historically, following such an event, several players step away from the game after so many years of unparalleled commitment.
In 2005 after the RWC in Hong Kong five players stepped down for the next venue in Singapore. And Singapore would be the last trip for former sevens coach Ric Suggitt. It would begin a period of indecision and turmoil for Canada’s most successful team and did not stabilize until a contractual arrangement was finalized with our present coach some months later.
In terms of selection – we should expect the European based players to return to their clubs after Dubai as it would seem that another week away won’t be in the cards. Also the end of March is the pre-examination period for the students on the squad, so depending on what year they are in and their course load - then there might be a few less players from that domain.
What will transpire after Dubai is pure speculation at this point. There is, however, a huge sevens fund raiser planned for Hong Kong where sensational amounts of cash are raised for the program. Obviously it is no place for Canada to turn up unprepared and without their best on-field talent. People who give generously to programs expect results, not chat so expect us to select well and play hard in Hong Kong.
Selections will be made in due course – but most likely after the team returns from the United Arab Emirates.
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