After a strong showing by Canadian teams in the 2009 Americas Rugby Championship and a cry for more domestic competition, the Canadian Rugby Championship was born.
With the squads recently announced, the CRC looks promising and will feature Canadian stalwarts and up-and-coming players as Ontario, B.C., Prairies and Atlantic duke it out.
The domestic competition runs August and September and will act as a selection tool for the ARC, which will be held in Argentina in October and at this stage will feature a team from the host nation, the U.S. and Canada Selects.
After losing to Argentina in last year’s ARC final, the B.C. Bears will look to youth to lead the way in the 2010 CRC.
Bears Coach Mike James said his team was of the opinion the competition was to develop domestic rugby and so he will be hoping his approach, a mix of youth and experience, will produce a fit, fast outfit.
“We’re trying to make a conscious effort to give some younger players the opportunity to develop,” James said. “We’ll be young, but athletic. We’re optimistic.”
Much of the Bears preparation came in the form sevens tournaments, although the squad did come together to play pre-season fixtures against England Counties and the Royal New Zealand Navy. They lost to Counties but tallied an embarrassing 70 points over the N.Z. Navy.
While James hopes to litter his side with youth, there will be ever-present experience, particularly in the form of Canadian hooker Pat Riordan.
In Ontario, backed by their third-place finish in last year’s competition, the Blues have promised an exciting style for the domestic season.
And if their final pre-season game was anything to go by, they are ready for the CRC.
The Blues smashed the Midwest USA Thunderbirds 69-11 in their final pre-season outing and while they’re opponents clearly weren’t up to the task, it was the Ontario team’s persistence at the running game which should be a clear indication of their intentions this year.
The Ontario boys bring youth, depth and experience to this year’s domestic competition and manager Mark Winokur said the team was displaying a confidence in their abilities that they lacked last year.
“We had a good season last year, but not good enough,” he said. “We have confidence this year. We’ve worked very hard on coming up with various game plans. We’re not a large team but we’re pretty athletic.”
The Blues game plan appears simple, keep the ball off the deck, keep it in the hands and keep the game moving.
To execute that style, they have current Canadian fly-half Ander Monro to direct traffic and a very capable and mobile back row to ensure quick ball.
Out east, Atlantic team The Rock returned from a two-game pre-season tour of South Wales with confidence and they’re ready to bring that to the CRC.
Leading the pack will be tight-head prop Rod Snow, who enjoyed strong performances in The Rock’s win over Welsh club Esher and loss to Cross Keys.
“Rod Snow had an excellent tour,” Rock manager Rick Graham said. “I would look for some really good things from him. We’ll let Ontario take from that what they will about our style of game.”
Graham said the team would enter the CRC better prepared than they were for last year’s ARC competition and had maintained a core group from last season, which would allow them to slip seamlessly back into competition.
“Many of these players, especially in our midfield, have been playing together and playing the same systems for a long time,” he said.
The Rock bring to the table a side with a younger average age than last year, but will also field a wealth of experience in Snow, prop Frank Walsh, winger Ciaran Hearn and lock Jebb Sinclair.
Also joining the side this year is former Canadian sevens scrum half Richard O’Malley.
Graham said the side was confident in its abilities and would look to rock the Blues when they travel to St. John’s for their opener on August 7.
“I think The Rock are going to be better prepared and more competitive than they were a year ago.”
Meanwhile, much to their distaste, time and geography have left the Prairie Wolf Pack with a less than desirable pre-season.
With two weeks until their opening game in the CRC, the Wolf Pack are holding a four-day camp starting Thursday, which will include an inter-squad game this Saturday.
Unfortunately for coach Mike Shelley, this inter-squad match will be the only fixture of their pre-season, threatening to leave them sorely underprepared for their opener against B.C. in Calgary on August 14.
However, Shelley toured Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta throughout the club season for selection purposes and felt he was able to gather the most complete Wolf Pack representation yet.
“I think we’ve got the best players we’ve ever had in the Wolf Pack program, so I’m optimistic that this year will be a true representation of Prairies rugby.”
Perhaps the Prairies biggest boast is Canadian centre Ryan Smith, with about five years of international experience behind him.
“Obviously Smith is a seasoned campaigner with the national team,” Shelley said. “He’s the standout leader we have in the side.”
Shelley also has faith in the strength of his forwards, including Number 8 Jeremy Kyne and front rowers Hubert Buydens and Tomas Dolezel.
However, with such little preparation it is hard to say how the team will perform until Shelley actually sees them on the pitch together.
The Canadian Rugby Championship is a simplified round robin, with each team facing each other once, before standings will dictate the semifinal fixtures. The winners will advance to the championship game to be held at the home of the top seed September 18th.
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2010 CRC Schedule
ROUND-ROBIN PLAY SCHEDULE
07-Aug-10 Ontario versus Atlantic, 3 p.m., Swilers Rugby Complex, St. John’s, NL
14-Aug-10 BC versus Prairie, 6:30 p.m., Calgary Rugby Park, AB
21-Aug-10 Atlantic versus BC, 3 p.m., Klahanie Park, West Vancouver, BC
21-Aug-10 Ontario versus Prairie, 6 p.m., Calgary Rugby Park, AB
04-Sep-10 Prairie versus Atlantic, 3 p.m., Swilers Rugby Complex, St. John’s, NL
04-Sep-10 BC versus Ontario, 4:30 p.m., Burlington RFC, ON
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2010 Squads
B.C. Bears
Name, Hometown, Pos, Club
Hugo Belanger, Victoria, BC, Centre, JBAA
Colin Brown, Vancouver, BC, SH, Meralomas
David Cameron, Victoria, BC LH, JBAA
Brady Carpenter, North Vancouver, BC, Wing, Capilano RFC
Taylor Dalziel, Vancouver, BC, Centre, UBC
Sanaila Dawai, Burnaby, BC, Wing, Burnaby Lake RFC
Thyssen De Goede, Victoria, BC, BR, JBAA
Sean Duke, Vancouver, BC, Wing, UVIC
Brian Erichsen , Vancouver, BC, SR, Meralomas
Seamus Gay, Victoria, BC, BR, Castaway Wanderers
Mitch Gudgeon, Victoria, BC SR/BR JBAA
Ryan Hamilton, Vancouver, BC, H, UVIC
Rhodri Hanmer, Vancouver, BC, LH, Meralomas
Tyler Hawes, Salmon Arm, BC, LH/TH, Meralomas
Nathan Hirayama, Richmond, BC, FH/FB, UVIC
Jake Hirst, Vancouver, BC, FH, Meralomas
Ben Johnson, Victoria, BC, BR, JBAA
Scott Mackay, Vancouver, BC, TH, Vancouver Rowers
Jason Marshall, North Vancouver, BC, TH, Capilano RFC
Glen McKinnon, North Vancouver, BC, BR Capilano RFC
Callum Morrison, Victoria, BC, BR, JBAA
Pat Riordan, Burnaby, BC, H, UVIC
Jon Thiel, White Rock, BC, TH, Bayside
Conor Trainor, Vancouver, BC, Centre, UWO
Sean White, Victoria, BC, SH, JBAA
Eric Wilson, Vancouver, BC, SH/FH, Meralomas
Under-20s
Kurtis Appeldoorn, Abbotsford, BC, Wing, Abbotsford
Connor Braid, Victoria, BC, FH, JBAA
Casey Cavers, Ladysmith, BC, H, Cowichan RFC
Admir Cejvanovic, Vancouver, BC, SR, Burnaby Lake RFC
Sean Ferguson, Vancouver, BC, FB, UBC
Tye Hamblin, Ladysmith, BC , Centre, Cowichan RFC
Jeff McKinnon, North Vancouver, BC, BR, Capilano RFC
Liam Murray, North Vancouver, BC H/BR, UVIC
Cam Pierce, Vernon, BC, SR/BR, UVIC
Keaton Styles, South Surrey, BC, FB, UVIC
Shea Wakefield, Victoria, BC , SR/BR, JBAA
Adam Zaruba, North Vancouver, BC SR, Capilano RFC
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Ontario Blues
Name, Hometown, Pos, Club
Stu Ault, Ottawa, ON, Lock, Barrhaven Scottish
Allistair Clark, Oakville, ON, Back Row, Oakville Crusaders
Derek Daypuck, London, ON, Centre, London St. Georges
Craeg Johnston, Woodbridge, ON, Prop, Toronto Scottish
Gordon Kehoe, Barrie, ON, Back Row, Barrie
Levon Kvas-Rathwell, Toronto, ON, London St. Georges
Rory McDonell, Brantford, ON, Brantford Harlequins
Jamie Mackenzie, Oakville, ON, Scrum Half, Oakville Crusaders
Mark MacSween, Scarborough, ON, Back Row, Balmy Beach
Ryan MacSween, Scarborough, ON, Wing, Balmy Beach
Ander Monro, Richmond Hill, ON, Fly Half, Castaway Wanderers
John Moonlight, Ajax, ON, Back Row, UVIC
Haddon Murray, Toronto, ON, Lock, Balmy Beach
Dave Nielson, Barrie, ON, Hooker, Aurora Barbarians
Nolan Ott, Unionville, ON, Back Row, Aurora Barbarians
Steve Piatek, Brantford, ON, Fly Half, Brantford Harlequins
Dan Pletch, Lucan, ON, Prop, Oakville Crusaders
Mike Pletch, Lucan, ON, Prop/Hooker, Velox Valhallians
Darryl Post Snider, Kingston, ON, Markham Irish Canadians
Grant Schneider, Oakville, ON, Wing, Oakville Crusaders
Adam Schouten, Brantford, ON, Scrum Half, Brantford Harlequins
Keegan Selby, Lindsay, ON, Back Row, Brantford Harlequins
Steve Shortly, Port Perry, ON, Centre, Aurora Barbarians
Will Sorensen, Aurora, ON, Aurora Barbarians
Ryan Tomlinson, Barrie, ON, Centre, Barrie
Rory Tomlinson, Barrie, ON, Barrie
Dan West, Oakville, ON, Centre, Oakville Crusaders
Andrew Wilson, Burlington, ON, Back Row, Oakville Crusaders
Doug Wooldridge, Lindsay, ON, Prop, Lindsay Gryphons
Steve Young, Oil City, ON, Prop, Brantford Harlequins
Under-20s
Tyler Ardron, Lakefield, ON, #8, Brantford Harlequins
Brett Beukeboom, Lindsay, ON, Lock, Lindsay Gryphons
Andrew Ferguson, Mississauga, ON, Oakville Crusaders
Ryan Fried, Wilmot, ON, Prop, McMaster
Jarrett Hamilton, Rockwood, ON, Burlington Centaurs
Matt Kelly, Toronto, ON, Back Row, Toronto Nomads
Scott MacDonald, Oshawa, ON, Back Row, Oshawa Vikings
Hugh McDonell, Brantford, ON, Fly Half, Brantford Harlequins
Dan Moore, Toronto, ON, Balmy Beach
Matt Mufandadza, Toronto, ON, Balmy Beach
Dylan Mundy, Uxbridge, ON, Oshawa Vikings
Taylor Paris, Barrie, ON, Markham Irish Canadians
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Atlantic Rock
Name, Hometown, Pos, Club
Chris Aaen, Fredericton, NB, Centre, Fredericton Loyalists
James Acker, Montreal, QC, Wing, St. Anne de Belleveu
Dave Aikens, Halifax, NS, Lock, Halifax RFC
Phil Alcock, St. John’s, NL, TH, Baymen RFC
Joel Anderson, Fredericton, NB, LH, Fredericton Loyalists
Dean Blanks, Mount Pearl, NL, Fly Half, Dogs RFC
Cyril Bugden, Conception Bay South, NL, Scum Half/Wing, Baymen RFC
Chris Burt, St. John’s, NL, LH, Swilers RFC
David Burton, Halifax, NL, Blindside FL, Cole Harbour RFC
Chris Cesari, Montreal, QC, Centre, St. Lambert Locks RFC
Robert Caines, St. John’s, NL, Blindside FL, Baymen RFC
Darryl Cross, Halifax, NS, TH, Tars RFC
Steve Cutcliffe, St. John’s, NL, TH, Dogs RFC
Peter Densmore, St. John’s, NL, Hooker, Vandals RFC
Greg Forrest, Halifax, NS, Lock, Dartmouth Pig Dogs RFC
Paul Forrest, Halifax, NS, Fullback, Dartmouth Pig Dogs RFC
Ken Goodland, Victoria, BC, #8, Castaway Wanderers
Ciaran Hearn, Victoria, BC, Wing, Baymen RFC
Adam Hill, St. John’s, NL, Hooker, Vandals RFC
Mike Holloway, St. John’s, NL, Blindside FL, Baymen RFC
Chris Hunter, Fredericton, NB, LH, Fredericton Loyalists
David Keane, QC, Blindside FL
Tom Kimball, Halifax, NS, #8, Cole Harbour RFC
Brad Lester, St. John’s, NL, Lock, Dogs RFC
Morgan Lovell, St. John’s, NL, Fullback, Swilers RFC
Phil Mack, Victoria, BC, Scrum Half, UVIC
Justin Meyers, St. John’s, NL, Blindside FL, Swilers RFC
Hosam Mobarak, Fredericton, NB, Fullback, Fredericton Loyalists
Andy Nyenhuis, Fredericton, NB, Lock, Fredericton Loyalists
Sean O’Leary, Victoria, BC, Lock, Meralomas
Richard O’Malley, Middleton, NS, Scrum Half, Valley RFC
Chauncey O’Toole, Belle Isle, NB, Openside FL, Belle Isle RFC
Simon Pacey, Fredericton, NB, Fly Half, Fredericton Loyalists
Kevin Parfrey, Halifax, NS, Blindside FL, Swilers RFC
Owen Parfrey, St. John’s, NL, Hooker, Swilers RFC
Adam Paul, St. John’s, NL, Scrum Half, Swilers RFC
Jon Phelan, Montreal, QC, Lock, St. Anne de Belleveu
Jason Picco, Conception Bay South, NL, Wing, Baymen RFC
Mike Rudofsky, St. John’s, NL, Wing, Vandals RFC
Chris Sayler, Ottawa, ON, Hooker, Ottawa Irish
Jebb Sinclair, Fredericton, NB, Lock, Fredericton Loyalists
Rod Snow, Paradise, NL, TH, Dogs RFC
Ben Trevorrow, St. John’s, NL, Wing, Swilers RFC
Frank Walsh, St. John’s, NL, LH, Vandals RFC
Geoff Warden, St. John’s, NL, Centre, Swilers RFC
Robert Wilson, St. John’s, NL, Centre, Swilers RFC
Tyler Wish, St. John’s, NL, Centre, Swilers RFC
Tony Wodzicki, Montreal, QC, Blindside FL, UVIC
Under-20s
Kyle Baillie, Charlottetown, PEI, Lock
Ralph Beyers, Halifax, NS, Openside FL
Zac Coughlan, St. John’s, NL, #8, Swilers RFC
Justin Grainger, St. John’s, NL, Lock, Swilers RFC
Dennis Maher, Goulds, NL, Blindside FL, Dogs RFC
Kyle McGuirk, St. John’s, NL, Centre, Swilers RFC
Neil Molloy, Mount Pearl, NL, Blindside FL, Swilers RFC
Llyr Morris, Charlottetown, PEI, Centre, Mudmen RFC
Patrick Parfrey, St. John’s, NL, Fly Half, Swilers RFC
Michael Pittman, Mount Pearl, NL, Scrum Half, Dogs RFC
Jordan Power, St. John’s, NL, Hooker, Swilers RFC
Bob Rogers, Mount Pearl, NL, LH, Dogs RFC
Robert Spearing, Conception Bay South, NL, TH, Baymen RFC
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Prairie Wolfpack
Name, Hometown, Pos, Club
Nicholas Blevins, Calgary, AB, Centre, Calgary Hornets
James Buchanan, Calgary, AB, #9, Calgary Hornets
Hubert Buydens, Saskatoon, SK, LH Prop, Saskatoon Wild Oats
Emil Christensen, Victoria, BC, Hook, UVIC
Luke Cudmore, Victoria, BC, Lock, Castaway Wanderers
Nanyak Dala, Victoria, BC, Back row, Castaway Wanderers
Graham Dibden, Edmonton, AB, W/FB, Clansmen RFC
Tomas Dolezel, London, ON, LH Prop, London St. George RFC
Kyle Gilmour, Edmonton, AB, Back row, St. Albert RFC
Brodie Henderson, Edmonton, AB, W/FB, Clansmen RFC
Pete Houlihan, Calgary, AB, Prop, Calgary Canucks
Ian Huston, Calgary, AB, Lock, Calgary Saints
Brett Kelly, Edmonton, AB, Back row, St. Albert RFC
Jeremy Kyne, Edmonton, AB, #8, Edmonton Lep/Tigers
Dustin MacPherson, Calgary, AB, Centre, Calgary Hornets
Brennan Marcoux, Saskatoon, SK, W/FB, Saskatoon Wild Oats
Spence Massiah, Calgary, AB, Lock, Calgary Hornets
Tom Mckee, Winnipeg, MB, Back row, Sturgeon Rowdies
Russel Meidinger, Edmonton, AB, Hook, Strathcona Druids RFC
Graham Noren, Edmonton, AB, TH Prop, St. Albert RFC
Bruno Payette, Calgary, AB, #8, Calgary Hornets
Jake Robinson , Edmonton, AB, #9, St. Albert RFC
Mozac Samson, Calgary, AB, Centre/Wing, Calgary Saints
Joshua Schlebach, Calgary, AB, Lock, CCIAC
Ian Shoults, Calgary, AB, W/FB, CCIAC
Ryan Smith, Calgary, AB, #10/Centre, CCIAC
Evan Thomas, Edmonton, AB, W/FB, Edmonton Lep/Tigers
Andrew Tiedemann, Victoria, BC, TH Prop, UVIC/St. Albert RFC
Sampson Val Zehan, Calgary, AB, Back row, CCIAC
Dwayne Van Meetelan, Edmonton, AB, Lock, Clansmen RFC
Rogan Verboven, Calgary, AB, Hook, CCIAC
Stephen Woodward, Calgary, AB, #10, CCIAC
Under-20s
Jeff Hassler, Calgary, AB, Wing
Sam Skulsky, Calgary, AB, Scrum Half
Josh Dufresne, Edmonton, AB, Centre
Ryan Kotlewski, AB, Prop
Spencer Watkins, AB, Openside FL
Joel Gusdal, AB, Back Row
Andrew Cho, AB, Hooker
Josh Hart, MB, Fullback
Jo Ferney, SK, Prop
Liam Chilsom, SK, Lock
Dustin Dobravsky, SK, Back Row
Patrick Young, Regina, SK, Centre, Regina Rogues
Tanner Danylczuk, Saskatoon, SK, Fullback
Monty Tichtowsky, Lloydminster, SK, Utility Back
Thomas Ogilvie, SK, Back Row
