Notes from the North

It’s been a while since the last issue and there’s simply too much to talk about all at once, but here are some updates and comments on a few of the more prominent topics being passed around Canadian rugby quarters at the moment. More to come next week.

HIGH FIVE FOR THE SEVENS

Congratulations are in order for both of our national seven sides. Second place for the women in Kitakyushu and an almost-unbelievable win for the men in Singapore.

The women are not a surprise. They have been world class for some time now and only a couple lapses in concentration in the final kept them from their second consecutive Cup win. Otherwise they looked the best side at the tournament and the 33-0 drubbing of Australia in the Semi Final was superb.

It’s been quite humorous to read (and hear) some of the incredulous commentary from some poorly-informed New Zealand rugby media, who obviously pay little to no attention to the women’s game. To each their own, but to suggest the team has popped up overnight is just daft. What will they say if Canada defeat the Black Ferns in the build-up to the World Cup, or even during the tournament? For those uncertain, this is absolutely plausible.

On the other hand the men have achieved the impossible. How does a team go from not making a single Cup Quarter Final last season to winning their first ever Cup Final in a span of months, without a complete overhaul in playing personnel? The players have to get credit for putting in the hard work, not only overcoming the emotional letdown of missing the Olympics but also making up for lost time after their pre-season was disrupted by off-field bureaucracy.

That said the glaring difference is the arrival of Damian McGrath. Good coaching can make a difference at any level but it makes a massive difference in sevens and we are seeing that first-hand. Whatever anyone thinks of Liam Middleton’s contributions, the honest truth is that McGrath is a much better fit and we can all be thankful for Samoa’s folly in letting him go.

UPDATE ON THE EXILES

Some of Canada’s professionals are on the move, and others have signed new deals. Djustice Sears-Duru, Jake Ilnicki, Tyler Ardron, and Connor Braid are among those without a contract for next season yet – at least publicly. This will change sooner than later and we certainly hope that wherever they land they are given an opportunity to play. Ospreys seem to be concerned about Ardron’s injury record, understandably so, but it would seem a very strange move to let a player of his caliber slip through their fingers given he is their best No 8 at full fitness.

Another notable ‘free agent’ is Shane O’Leary, the former Canada u20 flyhalf who has not been retained by Connacht. With his contract requiring him to remain eligible for Ireland now out the window he is free to play test rugby for Canada. This is very good news. Injuries have slowed his opportunities in the Pro 12 but he is quality player and at a position Canada is desperately short on class. Do not be surprised to see his name on the roster come June, and likely as first choice in the No 10 shirt.

FOUR TO NEW ZEALAND

A quartet of Canadians has been shipped off to the land of the long white cloud to play club rugby for a few weeks before the June tests. Now on the North Island are prop Cole Keith, second row Conor Keys, flanker Kyle Baillie, and inside back Partrick Parfrey. For Baillie and Parfrey it’s a chance to get some reps in after being out for several weeks with injury, for the youngsters Keith and Keys a chance to experience life in a country where the oval ball is king. Baillie’s future surely lies in Europe this fall but a Mitre 10 Cup deal could be on offer if the others impress.

RUGBY CANADA LOOKING FOR FOOTBALL PLAYERS

The addition of CFL player Tevaughn Campbell in the traveling group for the Asian leg of the HSBC Sevens Series came as a bit of a surprise, with Rugby Canada then circulating a ‘fact sheet‘ aimed at attracting football players. Campbell’s athletic pedigree is exciting and should he wish to become the Canadian version of Perry Baker we will welcome him with open arms, but it’s unlikely the salaries on offer for a national sevens player are going to attract many CFL caliber players.

Collegiate level athletes just below that level might, however, and all of a sudden playing in the 2020 Olympic Games looks a heckuva lot more likely. While we’re at we could use a couple basketball crossovers, the power forward who is just a little too short to play pro would be a nice fit. Of course it might help if there was a professional XVs competition in North America to aim for…

MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY

It’s coming. The naysayers who scoffed at our February reveal are probably already feeling a bit foolish given the recent moves by Houston in particular, though they might still say that the Strikers have yet to play a game so it’s all just ‘pie in the sky’ until they do. It is not. Whether the league lives up to the playing standards of PRO in year one has yet to be seen, but Major League Rugby will be here in 2018.

The video production for Glendale and Austin games (the latter via FloRugby) has been impressive, easily comparable if not superior to PRO. Given that there will be at least 10 teams – five more than PRO – in the first season it seems a stretch to think all games will be broadcast at the same quality but even a couple feature games a week with a live stream of the others will be on par with the RFU Championship. Speaking of the Championship, the Austin Huns will be taking on Richmond in a friendly this coming weekend, that game will also be streamed live.

Will Canada have teams? When asked about the potential for CRC teams to enter the league the official MLR response was that they would welcome Canadian teams but would prefer fully professional sides. With a strong player base and infrastructure available in both Vancouver and Toronto the only impediment at the moment is funding.

While some have their sights set on the Pro 12, others see the potential in a North American league and certainly fan interest seems to heavily favor domestic competition rather than participating in a league based across the sea. There are logistics to work out both internally and league-wise and 2018 may come too soon, but it will be a surprise if there is not at least one – and likely two – Canadian sides playing in a professional cross-border competition come 2019.

In the meantime those with piqued interests might turn their attention to a pair of fast-approaching matches that all of a sudden have increased significance, both involving the Ontario Blues. This weekend they pitch up against Old Blue, a team heavily fortified with Eagles talent, in New York. Sadly it seems the game will not be streamed, a letdown it has to be said, but there will be many interested parties in attendance with a North Eastern team yet to join the MLR party.

Perhaps even more relevant will be the game in Burlington on May 20 against the Glendale Raptors, a team that has already adopted professionalism and is, at the moment, the best domestic team in the USA. That one will be streamed thankfully.

BUSY MONTHS AHEAD

On the international front there is still a huge amount of rugby to be played this year. The HSBC Sevens Series has two rounds each to go for both the men and women, with the Langford 7s coming up in a month’s time. The women’s XVs have a trip to New Zealand and then of course the big show that is the Women’s World Cup in Ireland. For those who did not watch the 2014 tournament, once it reaches the knockout stages the rugby is hugely compelling. You will see exciting, open rugby that is not slathered with 60-metre kicking contests, and the best part is Canada have a legitimate shot at winning.

Meanwhile the men still have eight matches on the calendar, four each in June and November. Georgia in Calgary, Russia in Edmonton, and the World Cup qualifiers against the Eagles, first in Hamilton and then in San Diego. All are winnable though we will be favorites only against Russia. November brings Georgia, Tonga, and Russia again, this time on European soil.

Oddly none of the matches have yet been made official by Rugby Canada aside from CEO Allen Vansen’s Twitter Q&A statement. Also yet to be revealed is a fourth match to be played in Canada. Several sources at the AGM three weeks ago indicated that a certain Antipodean representative side would be playing in Vancouver in November 4. Hopefully there will be an update from RC HQ on that front soon.