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Ebb Tide with 3 generations of players (including ball boy)
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| © Hugh Jervis |
Abbotsford Join Over 40 Rugby League with 'The Originals'
[ed. have to put a plug in here for the Ebb Tide Over 40 team in Victoria, we need more "young" guys in their late 30's early 40's this year. Too many over 50s like me slowing the team down... Windsor Park - 5:30pm - Thursdays]
from David Hull
posted Aug 7 2009
Rugby has now become a lifelong sport in Abbotsford with the addition of an old boys’ side to the Abbotsford Rugby Football Club.
The Originals will begin play in the Pacific Northwest Over 40 Rugby League this September competing against teams from the Lower Mainland, Okanagan, Vancouver Island and Seattle.
“We are really pleased that The Originals will round out our rugby program in Abbotsford”, said ARFC president Ryan McWhinney. “Our club now offers rugby from age five, with our mini program, right through to age 70. - plus making it truly a lifelong pursuit.”
The formation of The Originals was spearheaded by long time club member Todd Di Guistini. “With the club operating very successfully in Abbotsford for over 35 years we have a long storied history and a sizable core of players in the over 37 age group qualifying for the league and looking to continue playing rugby.”
The Originals will draw on players from Abbotsford, Mission and Chilliwack. “We are an eastern valley team”, said Di Guistini, “Our friends at the Valley Vintage, based out of Langley, draw from the western valley and we anticipate some good friendly competition in the years to come.”
The Originals will begin practicing on Thursday evenings in early August with the first game scheduled for Sunday, September 13th. The old boys’ league plays on Sunday freeing up players to participate, coach, or assist in club rugby on Saturdays.
Old boys’ rugby is full on rugby played in the true spirit of the game. Unlimited substitutions and a game divided into four quarters, providing additional breaks, makes the competition appropriate for players regardless of age or acuity of skills.
If you turn 38 sometime in this calendar year or are older and are looking to continue or re-start your rugby carer contact Di Guistini at 604-859-0699 or via email to : todd1969@telus.net
For More Information
Please Contact David D. Hull,
Media Liaison, The Originals RFC
604 302 7212 24/7
Victoria-Based Over 40 Team Touring to NZ in April - Looking for Four Players
[ed. comments below]
posted Oct 13 2008
If you’re over 40 and play rugby what are you doing for the month of April 2009? The Ebb Tide from Vancouver Island are heading on tour to New Zealand for the month and have 6 games lined up in 20 days. They have four playing positions left that are open to over 40 players anywhere. The team is travelling with a contingent of 53 and 35 of those will be players. It’s a diverse bunch with players from 40 to 60 years of age. The land costs are $2,245 which includes hotels and ground transportation. You’re responsible for your airfare there and back. The main tour party arrives in Queenstown on Tuesday April 7th with games in Christchurch (Apr 9); Wellington (Apr 13); Napier (Apr 16); Rotorua (Apr 18); Auckland (Apr 20); and finally against the Navy in Auckland on Apr 23. There are a few players (including myself) going down a few days early and staying a few days later. Like all over 40 tours this is a mix of rugby and socializing, with strong friendships forged over the 20 days and good connections made in New Zealand rugby at the club levels.
The tour itinerary is below and to make further enquiries and book your spot contact Glen at glenok@shaw.ca
Sun Apr-05 - Leave Victoria for New Zealand - In Air
Tue Apr-07 - Day 1 - Arrive Queenstown Airport - Bus from Airport - Tour shot over - Hotel
Wed Apr-08 - Day 2 - Bus to Christchurch - Team Training - Hotel
Thu Apr-09 - Day 3 - Christchurch - (game day bus required to game and back) - Hotel
Fri Apr-10 - Day 4 - Christchurch - City Tour - Hotel
Sat Apr-11 - Day 5 - Bus to Hanmer hot springs - Team Training - Hotel
Sun Apr-12 - Day 6 - Bus to Picton (walk on ferry to Wellington) - Bus pickup - Motel
Mon Apr-13 - Day 7 - Wellington - (game day bus required to game and back) - Hotel
Tue Apr-14 - Day 8 - Wellington Tour - No bus required - Hotel
Wed Apr-15 - Day 9 - Bus travel to Napier (Sister City to Victoria) - Team Training - Hotel
Thu Apr-16 - Day 10 - Napier - (game day bus required to game and back) - Hotel
Fri Apr-17 - Day 11 - Bus travel to Rotorua - Sight seeing - Hotel
Sat Apr-18 - Day 12 - Rotorua - (game day bus required to game and back) - Hotel
Sun Apr-19 - Day 13 - Bus travel to Auckland via The Mount - (Marae stay)
Mon Apr-20 - Day 14 - Auckland - (game day bus required to game and back) - Hotel
Tue Apr-21 - Day 15 - Auckland -(Kawau Kat ferry ride to Waiheke Is.) - Hotel
Wed Apr-22 - Day 16 - Bus travel to Northland tour - (over night stay Waitangi) - Hotel
Thu Apr-23 - Day 17 - Bus travel to North Shore - Game day Navy - Hotel
Fri Apr-24 - Day 18 - Free day North Shore sight seeing - Hotel
Sat Apr-25 - Day 19 - Free day to tour around Auckland/North Shore - Hotel
Sun Apr-26 - Day 20 - Bus to Auckland International Airport to Victoria Canada - Home
Over 40 Season Starts Sept 6th with 10-a-Side Tournament at Burnaby
by Leigh Shelley
posted Aug 12 2008
PNW Over-40¹S RFU
2008/2009 Season Opener
10-a-Side Tournament
Hosted by Twilighter RFC
Saturday September 6, 2008
Burnaby Lake East, Burnaby, BC
ENTRY FEE:
$150 - PNW RFU clubs
$250 - All other clubs ($100 rebate/club @ beer garden)
For further information or to register:
Leigh Shelley (leighshelley@gmail.com) or Chuck Jung (chuckjung@telus.net).
Make cheques payable to Twilighters RFC and mail to Leigh Shelley, 6063 Ewart Street, Burnaby, BC, V5J 2X3
Ebb Tide - Otago Road Trip 2008: Cardinals visiting from Richmond, Virginia on Saturday
[ed. The game has been moved to the upper field at Topaz Park (Blanshard between Topaz and Finlayson)]
by Shane Muldrew
posted May 7 2008
Seventeen red jerseys made the long journey from Victoria to face the blue & white Otago horde in Powell River Saturday. The long awaited sun beat down in all its glory as a soon-to-be nineteen year old woman with whistle in hand stepped onto the green unlined field and called the captains together. Her primary instruction to both sides… no talking back… ah, the naivety of youth.
Otago claimed first blood on the score board within the first 20 minutes. Ebb Tide mounted attack after attack with its forwards and Otago defended well. Karl 'It's Been Awhile' Klashinsky carried the ball in from outside centre and upon seeing a definite line etched in the field in front of him, dove across it to score… wrong line… anyone's guess why it was there. Ebb Tide continued to press in the second half and held virtually all the play inside Otago's forty metre. Eric 'Let's Crush'em, Boyos' White picked the ball from the base of the scrum and it quickly found itself in the hands of Dave 'Shooters? No Thanks' Knox to score on a rush up the blind side. The battle for possession went back and forth with great defensive play on both sides that left few holes to exploit. The sweet sound of the final whistle ended the game in a one-all tie, which reflected how well matched both sides were that day.
The boys from Otago hosted us superbly afterwards at the Church - young club members came out to man the BBQ and kitchen while the vets relaxed. Oysters, scallops, prawns, steaks… it was a great feed! The bar staff saw no rest either! Man-of-the-Match honours went to Otago's centre, Fred, and Ryan 'The Pulverizing Prop' Matthews. The not-so-coveted-at-the end-of season Red Jacket went to Rick 'Kyle's Turn To Play Now' Kotzian for his excellent support throughout the game. Jack Beardmore and Eric both spoke about the importance of the 'third half', reminding all present that our game is like no other for camaraderie. Shane 'The Bard' Muldrew then presented Otago's president, Bill Broughton, a plaque in recognition of the strong friendship between our clubs. The plaque included a quote from Shakespeare's 'Henry V', "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers." Shane explained its background and then delivered the King's famous St. Crispen's Day' speech… with some slight changes to reflect our road-warriors. He brought down the 'Church' and left poor Bill to reply!
Bar staff throughout the town were not left standing idle as the night continued and... no more can be told: 'Road Code'! Thanks to Otago for a great game and hosting; to Eric, Ryan, Murk and Gord for driving; and to the road-warriors: Ryan Matthews, Shane Muldrew, Glen Okrainetz, Murk Toorenburgh, Bob Love, Steve Neish, Beau Beauchamp, Bryan Holmes, Eric White, Rick Kotzian, Jim Turner, Harold Butler, Karl Klashinsky, Gord Oliver, Ian Cameron, Jack Handgraaf & Dave Knox! The last road trip of the season, well done boys!
Touring side
The game against the Virginia Cardinals is this Saturday, May 10, at MacDonald Park. Kick-off will be at 2:00 p.m. The game will be followed by a supper at the JBAA clubhouse. The dress code is casual (#2), but Ebb Tiders are asked to wear something Ebb Tide. Please, no jeans and T-shirts. The club will be providing a little something for each player to give to the visiting players. Here is the link to the Cardinals' website: http://www.richmondrugby.net/cards.html
Meeting the Cardinals
For those who are interested, we will be meeting the Cardinals at the Strathcona Hotel on Friday from 7:30 pm. on. It would be nice if we had fairly decent numbers to meet them.
Ebb Tide Host Burnaby with Dr. Phil Still Playing at 83 - The Oldest Active Player in Canada?
[ed. comments below, match report by JP Lussier]
posted March 19 2008
I received the following match report from the Ebb Tide but the real interesting story is that Dr. Phil Narod is still lacing up the boots for the Burnaby "Twits" at 83. Over 40 rugby has a code of contact based on the colour of your shorts, white means you're 40-49 and you can be whacked, black means you're 50-59 and you can be whacked, red means you're 60-69 and you should be held up in the tackle (although you're free to whack whomever you want), yellow means you're 70-79 and you're finally at the age to be treated with some respect on the field, purple shorts means you're 80-89 and you get an ovation for just showing up. I'm not sure what happens at 90 but I think you should automatically get a try if you can make the distance. Bruce McFarlane, himself a robust red short, took the photo and asked whether Dr. Phil is the oldest active player in Canada, I would say yes unless someone out there knows differently. So here's to Dr. Phil [raise a glass of your favourite beverage] may we all be reaching the gain line at 83. An interesting note on the photo above is that Dr. Phil is running into the Ebb Tide's Eric White, who also props for one of the local 1st Division sides, so either Dr. Phil has incredible moxie or really bad eyesight [sorry Phil couldn't resist that one].
While on the subject of Over 40 rugby and the Ebb Tide, they are touring to New Zealand for the month of April in 2009, playing 6 games while on tour in Christchurch, Wellington, Napier, Rotorua, Auckland, and finally against the Navy in Auckland. I believe there are still 8 playing positions open on the tour, you can contact JP Lussier [jpluss@shaw.ca] for more information.
Match Report
Ebb Tide hosted the Burnaby Twits who came up by bus with 25 players. Oddly enough, they had more players than us as only 21 players showed up for the game. We opened up the scoring with two tries in the first twenty minutes, before letting the Twits back in the game with a try before half time. We then scored two more tries to put the game out of reach. The Twits closed the scoring with a try just before the end of the game. Final score: Ebb Tide 4, Twits 2. Scorers: Rick W, Mike Penner (his first try for Ebb Tide), JP and Eric. Man of the match: Mike Penner.
Big Men...Big Hearts!: Over 40 Rugby focuses on the comraderie and community-minded nature of the game
by Ebb Tide staff writer
posted Feb 19 2008
The second half of the Pacific Northwest Over 40’s Union season started Sunday February 17, 2008 for Victoria’s Ebb Tide RFC at home hosting Capilano’s Snowcaps RFC. The game was held at McDonald Park, the home of the stalwart JBAA RFC, under blue skies and the long-awaited sun in all its glory.
Snowcaps arrived with 15 road warriors, and as usual, the sideline was awash in Ebb Tide red jerseys with the ‘cast of thousands’ dressing for the home game. Several swapped their jerseys to bolster the Snowcaps’ numbers, especially in the front row to maintain contested scrums.
It was a back & forth game...both sides contested fiercely for possession and territory with plenty of big hits and enough fast breaks to make the final whistle a welcome relief!
Both teams met postgame in the JBAA clubhouse for cleansing ales and a hot meal. Ebb Tide President, Shane Muldrew, welcomed everyone and despite fracturing his hand, he underscored all points of the day with one word...GREAT...great weather; great game; great group of travelling Snowcaps; great turnout of Ebb Tiders.
Shane then reminded everyone of another great event underway that day...the Variety Show of Hearts Telethon. After reading Variety’s purpose aloud, “To inspire hope, enrich lives, and to build a better future for children with special needs”, he produced a bucket and passed it around the room.
Together, Ebb Tide and Snowcaps made a great day even greater and their donations totalled $350.00 for this worthy cause. The Telethon operator was thrilled when she received the call with our pledge and speechless when the group gave Variety huge cheer!
Big men...big hearts...united by their love of the game...everyone a winner...it was a GREAT day!
O-40 Pacific NorthWest 10-a-Side Tournament on September 8th in Victoria - Register your team now
by JP Lussier
posted July 18 2007
PNW O-40’S RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION
2007/2008 SEASON OPENER
10-a-Side TOURNAMENT
HOSTED BY EBB TIDE RFC
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2007
WINDSOR PARK, VICTORIA, BC
ENTRY FEE:
$150 - PNW RFU clubs
$250 - All other clubs ($100 rebate/club @ beer garden)
For further information or to register:
Shane Muldrew (mistershane@shaw.ca) or Jean-Pierre Lussier ((jpluss@shaw.ca).
Make cheques payable to Ebb Tide RFC and mail to JP Lussier, 4566 William Head Road, Victoria, BC, V9C 3Y6
PNW Over 40 Rugby Union Season Ending Tournament on Friday and Saturday
by Leigh Shelley
posted April 26 2007
[ed. the Over 50 tournament on Friday and the young'uns (Over 40) on Saturday]
Hello! hello! The Pacific Northwest Over 40 Rugby Union would like to invite everyone to its annual Season Ending Tournament and Festival at the Burnaby Lake Sports Complex on Friday, April 27 2pm and Saturday, April 28 9am. As you may or may not know, Rugby is the Greenest Sport on the face of the earth. Where else could you get 30 children, ladies, men or geezers playing a simple game on a simple patch of earth wearing simply bio-degradable shirts, shorts and a pair of boots. You don’t need a $5-million ice-making plant that will only take 10 players at a time wearing $5-hundred uniforms and skates. The same price uniform goes for football players. You could be playing soccer but then you’d only have 22 players on the pitch at one time. Do the numbers and you must come to the conclusion that it's rugby along with, “… love is all you need…” Come on out, bring some strip, play a little, swig a little refreshment and have a good time.
Rugby a game for life: Father and Son lace up boots at 74 and 40
by Hugh Jervis
posted Feb 13 2007
A first in Victoria old boys rugby today. The Ebb Tide RFC of Victoria hosted the Valley Vintage from the mainland and notable for the Ebb Tide as a first in the club's history were the teammates 'Holmes' who happen to be father and son.
Old boys rugby is for over 40's and son Steve Holmes has just graduated to eligibility and can now play alongside Dad Bryan who still turns out for the Ebb Tide at age 74. Both Holmes turned in a sterling performance and the Ebb Tide ran in 8 tries to 0 in a game at MacDonald park today.
Ebb Tide RFC with 3 generations of Holmes (2 playing + the ball boy) front and centre. Son Steve now eligible in his 40th year and father Bryan a club regular at 74. Grandson Jackson 3 will have to bide his time for a few years!
Over 40 Rugby Season Wraps up with Burnaby Tournament
[ed. comments below]
posted May 7 2006
"For he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother"- Shakespeare
The Pacific NorthWest Over 40 league wrapped up its season this weekend with their annual tournament at Burnaby. The on-field rugby varied from average to mediocre in terms of top level rugby but the off-field rugby brotherhood was as strong as ever. There were teams from Victoria, Nanaimo, Seattle, Burnaby, Vancouver, North Vancouver, Semiahmoo, New Westminster, and Langley attending. In the past this tournament attracted teams from Japan and England as well but this year the tournament was smaller than previous years indicating a need for rejuvenation.
One new team was the entry from United, a young (everything looks young from a 50+ perspective) team that brought an exciting brand of rugby to the tournament. The Crimson Tide from Victoria who defeated United 2 trys to 1 were pushed to the limit on the day and spectators and players agreed that it was one of the more exciting Over40 games they had participated in. Congratulations to United for putting together a team for the tournament, many of the players coming out of retirement to test the legs again. Speaking for all players in the tournament that even though battered and bruised, the beer never tasted sweeter.
One suggestion for next year is to hold the tournament in conjuction with the Provincial finals at the end of April. The Provincial finals occur on a Saturday, the Over40 could continue on the Sunday with teams making it an overnight weekend event, attending the Provincials on Saturday and participating in the Over 40s on Sunday. Again trying to bring in more teams from the USA, Europe and Asia to make it a rugby weekend festival of top notch provincial rugby on the Saturday and Over 40 rugby on the Sunday.
Snowcaps Rugby Club opens new website
posted Aug 5 2005
submitted by Harry Kramm
Snowcaps Rugby Club - Over 40's Rugby - Capilano - British Columbia
now has its own website...which can be found at www.snowcapsrugby.com
The site will be updated on a regular basis and is still a "work in
progress"!!!
Hopefully you will be able to feature it in your news articles.
At 60 years of age, most athletes have long since said goodbye to their competitive playing days - but this is far from the case for one Lower Mainland rugby team.
From Burnaby Now 2005
posted July 27 2005
The North Westers, a rugby team consisting of players all over the age of 60, are gearing up to take part in this year's instalment of the World Masters Games.
The team features members from all across the Pacific Northwest region, and a handful of athletes are Burnaby products.
"It's quite obvious that to get enough guys in their 60s that you're going to have to look outside of Burnaby" said Dave Milne, with regards to his side's 28-man roster. "We need 28 guys on the team...us old guys need our rest."
The World Masters Games, which take place every four years, is geared towards older athletes with competitors ranging from 30 to 100 years of age.
The Games feature different skill levels for participants, allowing for athletes of all abilities to compete under the banner of a life-long devotion to fitness.
This year's tournament, which began July 22 and runs to July 29 in Edmonton, features nearly 20,000 people participating in 27 different sports, making it North America's largest sports festival.
Milne, who checks in at a spry 69 years of age, and his teammates will participate in the 60-year-old and over bracket against six other teams: two from the Edmonton area, two from Calgary, one from Ontario, and one from Australia.
The North Westers will play their opening games in a round robin format, squaring off against each team in their division on a daily basis.
From there, a playoff round will determine who will go on to play for the gold, silver and bronze medals.
Milne expects the Australian side to provide his team with its stiffest competition, but maintains that the North Westers can come out on top.
"We've got a good side, and a good chance at winning the gold," said Milne, who plays on the team's second row.
The squad has been training every Wednesday for the past month at the Burnaby Lake training facilities, which is also home to the team's clubhouse.
"(The training) has been going good," Milne said. "The advantage of training out there is that we can go out and have a cold one after we're done."
Milne, who plays in the second row these days, began playing rugby in 1953 as a back row forward.
His playing days have included sojourns with the UBC men's team and the Canadian national team, as well as international tours of duty in Australia and England.
Milne said the Pacific Northwest's climate lends itself nicely to year-round training regimens, and the cooperative weather is advantageous to his squad.
"People tend to play longer through the year," Milne said, adding that 80 per cent of his teammates still play on a regular basis, albeit perhaps not as fiercely as their playing days of old.
"At our age, we don't get too adventurous," Milne said jokingly. "We try to avoid getting hurt."
Ollie Barney, another Burnaby product on the team, said confidence will be a key factor in how the North Westers perform.
"We've got to have confidence going in," Barney said. "But we've got a pretty good team going out there so we'll do well - as long as we behave ourselves."
Barney, like Milne, expects the Aussie side to provide the North Westers with their stiffest competition, but said the team's training regimen has got them well-prepared.
"The training's been going good - we've got a slave-driver to keep our noses to the grindstone," Barney said jokingly, in reference to the team's coach, Jim Ryan.
Barney, a 75-year-old winger for the squad, was a relative late comer to the sport as he began playing at the age of 49.
While he was previously involved in minor sports it wasn't until his college-aged sons - who just happened to be rugby players themselves - asked him to start training alongside them.
"They said to me 'why don't you run with us'? Then I caught the bug," Barney said. "It's been great."
In his more than 25 years of play, Barney has played with squads from both Burnaby and Maple Ridge.
Pacific North West Over 40's World Invitational Rugby Festival 2005
Hosted by the Twilighters RFC
We're Back...Again!
The Twilighters Rugby Football Club is once again proud to host the annual
Pacific North West Over 40's World Invitational Rugby Festival. An event
that has in the past brought together teams from Canada, USA, Japan, the UK
to play in a three day festival of Over 40's Rugby.
Fresh off the success of last Year's festival, we'll be happy to welcome new
friends as well as welcoming back the players and fans who have been here
before.
The festival takes place from May 6th to May 8nd at the incredible Burnaby
Lake Rugby complex, located a short distance from Downtown Vancouver!
Friday May 6th will see the Fearless 50's in action. That's right the over
50's warriors will return to the scene of might, glory and conquest, at
least that's how they like to remember it...
Saturday May 7th will feature the skillful and speedy over 40s crowd showing
that they still have what it takes to maybe play 3B rugby...if the team is
shorthanded, and if they aren't subbing for the first division team.
Sunday May 8th the over 60's ancients will come back to show us true shock
and awe. We'll be shocked and awed that they play so well, and cheat better
than we do!
The social side of the event will feature plenty of opportunities to kick
back and have some off field fun.
The man, the myth, the legend Ken "Cyclops" Turner will line up Meatloaf
Steve and Nearly Neal to keep us in the party mood. Included in the fun are
the opening night party, BBQ's, Refreshments, the Beer Garden, Sing Song
contests, not to mention the usual chance to renew old acquaintances and
make some new ones.
Your team will also get a free team photo courtesy of Front Row Photography
included with your team's registration fee of $350.
To register and get more info
- Head on over to twilighterrugby.com/tournament/home.html for more info
- You can also e-mail us at info@twilighterrugby.com
- Call Ian Trevor 604-298-7753
Don't miss the fun!
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