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Dog River Howlers RFC
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Howlers Return from Caribbean Tour With 2 Championships
from Karl Fix
posted Dec 14 2012
After going 6 - 0 in the preliminary games the Dog River Howlers's women's team defeated the Cuban National Women's team 29-0 to claim the top prize at the Havana Howlers Rugby 7's on December 1 and 2, 2012. The men also won 5 games including beating the Mexican National team in the semi final game before losing to the Trinidad and Tobago Enthusiasts 27 - 7 in the championship .
Besides the rugby, we witnessed the world renowned Tropicana show, the 1998 Grammy Award winning Buena Vista Social Club and had our traditional visit to the local orphanage that the Howlers support.
The men went undefeated in the 14 team, 6 country men's division on the International Tobago Rugby 7's Tournament culminating with a 27 - 15 victory in the championship game over Harvard RFC (Trinidad) who had not lost a game all year. The women lost a squeaker(14-12) to a fellow Canadian team the Beavers RFC (invitational select side from Ontario) in the semi final of the 10 team, 6 country women's division but then went on to defeat the Atlanta Harlequins (USA) for 3rd place by 20- 10. The tournament championship was won by Rugby Eccosse (37- 0 over Beavers), a very high level team made up of international players from Scotland, Wales, England and Sweden.
The Tobago tour/tournament has a few things to remember besides the actual rugby, there was goat racing, boat racing, mud wresting and sliding competitions, sunset cool down swims, Xmas Carol sing songs, Paul van Wyck "Juice" turned local DJ and a 55 year old player named John Law (father of fellow teammate Rob Law) who had players from all teams on their feet and cheering for his amazing performance.
Pictures by Judy Teasdale on the below facebook page.
www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151134704471254.432785.514726253&type=1
Howlers Havana Howlers Rugby Sevens Men's Side
1. # Thomas Aponte - CRUM , Venezuela (Venezuela cap)
2. Jorden Best - UBC Thunderbirds, BC
3. Liam Burke - UBC Thunderbirds. BC
4. # Jered Douglas - Abootsford Rugby Club , BC
5. Connor Hunter - Abbotsford Rugby Club, BC
6. # Wade Lavalle - Regina Campion Grads, Saskatchewan
7. Jeff Nish-Miller - University of Victoria, BC
8. Cole Mosychuk - Kelowna Crows, BC
9. # Shane Thompson - Montreal Barbarians, Quebec
10. # Patrick Young - Regina Rogues/Saskatoon Badgers, Saskatchewan
11. # Sean Young - Regina Rogues, Saskatchewan
@ - denotes Canadian senior cap (7's or 15's)
# - denotes Howlers cap
Manager - Leo Lane
Head Coach - Shane Thompson
Assistant Coach - John Thompson
Havana Howlers 7's Women's Team:
1. # Davine Burton - Toronto Scottish RFC (Toronto, ON / St. Thomas, Jamaica)
2. # Julia Folk - Regina Rogues RFC (Regina, SK)
3. Taylor Hawkins - Regina Rogues RFC (Regina, SK)
4. Robin Hunter - Town of Mount Royal RFC (Montreal, QC)
5. @ # Shannon Kane - Velox Valkyries Rugby Club (Victoria, BC)
6. @ # Andrea Letal - University of Lethbridge / Calgary Hornets RFC (Calgary, AB)
7. # Marlene Nedved - University of Alberta / Strathcona Druids (Edmonton, AB)
8. Miranda Seifert - Queens University (Regina, SK)
9. # Danielle Spice - Oakville Crusaders RC (Oakville, ON)
10. Amanda Thompson - Regina Rogues Rugby Club (Regina, SK)
11. Angela Thompson - Regina Rogues Rugby Club (Regina, SK)
@ - denotes Canadian senior cap (15s and/or 7s)
# - denotes Howlers cap
Manager - David Thompson
Head Coach - Andrea Letal
Assistant Coach - Shannon Kane
Assistant Coach - Bill Folk
Tobago 7's Women's Team :
1. Emily Belchos - Barrie Central Collegiate (Barrie, ON)
2. @ Arielle Dubissette-Borrice - Toronto Scottish RFC/Western University (Toronto, ON)
3. # Davine Burton - Toronto Scottish RFC (Toronto, ON / St. Thomas, Jamaica)
4. @ # Michele Helmeczi - Calgary Hornets RFC (Calgary, AB)
5. Lori Josephson - Western University / Aurora Barbarians RFC (Beaverton, ON)
6. @ # Shannon Kane - Velox Valkyries Rugby Club (Victoria, BC)
7. @ # Andrea Letal - University of Lethbridge / Calgary Hornets RFC (Calgary, AB)
8. Natasha Loucks - University of Calgary / Calgary Hornets RFC (Calgary, AB)
9. Janine Martin - Leprechaun Tigers RFC (Edmonton, AB)
10. # Marlene Nedved - University of Alberta / Strathcona Druids (Edmonton, AB)
11. Emily Ricketts - Mississauga Blues / McMaster University (Hamilton, ON)
12. Natasha Smith - Carleton University / Barrhaven Scottish RFC (Ottawa, ON)
Head Coach/manager- Andrea Letal
Assistant coach /manager - Shannon Kane
Assistant coach/manager - Michelle Helmeczi
@ - denotes Canadian senior cap (15s and/or 7s)
# - denotes Howlers cap
Tobago 7's Men's Team:
1. # James Acker - Montreal Irish RFC ( Montreal, Quebec)
2. # Thomas Aponte - C.R.U.M. RFC , Venezuela (capped)/Regina Rogues RFC
3. @ # Derek Daypuck - London St. George's RFC ( London Ontario)
4. # Matthew Heaton - St. Anne - de - Bellevue RFC (Ormstown, Quebec)
5. Rob Law - Montreal Irish RFC/Regina Camion Grads(Regina, Saskatchewan)
6. John Law - Regina Campion Grads ( Regina Saskatchewan)
7. Jeffery Lohse - West Kelowna Grizzlies RFC (Kelowna, BC)
8. # Gord McRorie - Calgary Hornets RFC ( Calgary, Alberta)
9. Conrad Rybkowski- Abottsford RFC ( Abottsford, BC)
10. Daniel Smith - Regian Rogues RFC (Regina Saskatchewan)
11. Jordan Wilson - Barrie RFC ( Alliston, Ontario)
12. # Paul van Wyck - Montreal Irish RFC ( Montreal, Quebec)
Head Coach - Derek Daypuck
Manager - Leo Lane
@ - denotes Canadian senior cap ( 7's and or 15's)
# - denotes Howlers cap
Howlers Win Havana 7s - Rugby, Embargoes, and Official Recognition
[ed. comments below]
posted Dec 8 2011
This is an interesting story that has a rugby aspect to it but also a political aspect. The Dog River Howlers, the invitational side organized by Karl Fix, won the tournament, as they had done the year before. This year was a little more difficult as they were down to 7 players due to injury by the second day. On Day 2 they defeated Atlantis 31-0, Mexico 26-12 and Santa Monica 26-7 in the final. The team roster as listed by the Howlers is as follows:
1. Zach Coughlan - James Bay (BC and Newfoundland)
2. Matt Jarvis - St. Albert (Alberta)
3. Robin MacDowell - Regina Rogues (Saskatchewan)
4. Duncan Mcguire - St. Albert (Alberta)
5. Kyle Mcguirk - St. John's Swilers (Newfoundland)
6. Sean Mercier - Vancouver Meralomas (BC)
7. Clay Panga - Calgary Hornets (Alberta)
8. Patrick Parfrey - St. John's Swilers (Newfoundland)
9. David Poettcker - Vancouver Rowing Club (BC)
10. Mosac Samson - Calgary Saints (Alberta)
11. Shawn Young - Regina Rogues (Saskatchewan)
There are a few names familiar to the BC rugby community. Zach Couglan plays for James Bay this year; Robin MacDowell is a Cowichan product but has also played for UVic, Burnaby and the UBCOB Ravens; Clay Panga played for Velox for many years; David Poettcker is from the Rowers; Shawn Mercier is a long time Lomas player.
The Howlers first visited Cuba in 2007 to play XVs rugby, they returned in 2009 to take part in Rugby 7s as part of the ALBA Games. They've returned every year since to defend their title. The iRB took notice and now the Havana 7s is an iRB sanctioned event.
The history of the Havana 7s however goes back further. It was Emil Signes from the Atlantis club who was instrumental in starting the Havana 7s in 2000. It involved Atlantis and several Cuban clubs, there was also a match between Atlantis and the Cuban National team. After 2001 the tournament became dormant until the Howlers brought new energy to the Cuban rugby scene.
It's fairly easy for Canadians to travel to Cuba but a different story for the two American teams (Atlantis and Santa Monica). The US still has an embargo against Cuba meaning there are no direct flights from the USA to Cuba so often they have to fly through other countries, like Canada. It's not illegal for Americans to travel to Cuba as Emil Signes mentions in his articles on Atlantis Rugby: "It's not illegal to visit Cuba, it's simply illegal - without a license - to spend any money to visit Cuba or during a visit to Cuba. Therefore, licenses to visit Cuba must be granted, not by the State Department, but rather by the Treasury Department."
So it was interesting to read a story about the Havana 7s tournament on the the U.S. Interests Section (USINT) website. The USINT represents US interests in Cuba and is staffed by United States Foreign Service personnel. Since there are no formal diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States it's the closest thing there is to an official embassy. The story on the their website reads as follows:
"Friday, 2 December, 2011 - The Atlantis Rugby Club and the Cuban National ‘A' teams kicked off the second annual Havana Howlers Rugby Sevens Tournament this morning with an animated game that saw many attempted tries by both sides but with a final result of 10-0 to the visitors. Later in the day, the Santa Monica Rugby Team faced the Dog River Howlers Rugby Club from Canada, and the Atlantis Rugby Club Women's side played the Venezuelan National Women's Team. Other teams participating in the friendly tournament include the Mexican National Team, the Trinidad and Tobago Enthusiasts, the Marista Rugby Club (from Mendoza, Argentina), and the Hanover Selects (from Germany).
The Havana Howlers Rugby Sevens Tournament is jointly organized by Cuban Rugby and Dog River Howlers Rugby Club and is an IRB-sanctioned tournament. The inaugural 2010 Havana Howlers Rugby Sevens featured 10 men's sides from five countries, including three national teams: Cuba, Mexico and Venezuela. The 2011 tournament sees the introduction of women's teams from several countries, including the United States and Cuba.The Cuban women's team made up of high level athletes from other sports which only started training this year will make history when they play in their first ever tournament.
Of the two U.S. teams playing in the tournament, the Atlantis Rugby Club is an invitational side whose specialty is sevens. Begun in 1986 as an Eastern US venture, Atlantis is now a nation-wide enterprise for both experienced players as well as novices. Many Atlantis players have represented the United States at top international tournaments. The Santa Monica Rugby Team, known as the Dolphins, was founded in 1972 by university graduates of UCLA rugby, USC rugby, and St. Mary's College rugby teams. Twenty Santa Monica Rugby players have represented the United States in international competitions."
We have a copy of the iRB report authored by Miguel Carner who represented NACRA (North American Caribbean Rugby Association) at the event. The report has the details on scores and teams participating.
Read NACRA Report
Another milestone in 2011 was the inclusion of a Women's tournament for the first time. There were three teams participating: the Howlers, Atlantis and Cuba. The Howler Women won the tournament with a 14-12 victory over Atlantis.
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