Bryan Ray

CO-FOUNDER / EDITOR / NORTH AMERICA ... has been writing about Canadian rugby since 1998 for various publications. Also talks sports (and sometimes other things) on CBC Radio. Former player of 20+ years, coach, and senior referee.

Major League Rugby adds Ontario Arrows for 2019

The wait is over, the deal is done. Canada has its first professional rugby union team. Following months of negotiations the Ontario Arrows were officially welcomed to Major League Rugby by league commissioner Dean Howes at a meeting in New York on Friday. An announcement from the team and league …

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Arrows aiming for Major League future

Canadian rugby fans will orbit around the backyard this weekend to celebrate the nation’s 151st birthday. The hot topic for ‘cue-side conversation will no doubt be thoughts on the future as a winless June test series fades into memory and eyes turn to the World Cup Qualifiers in November. For …

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A Spain Appeal – The Case for Common Sense

Belgium, Romania, and Spain are out. That is what we were effectively informed when World Rugby released the findings of the independent Judicial and Disputes Committee into the eligibility breaches during the Rugby Europe Championship. Given all three had been found guilty of fielding ineligible players in matches that doubled …

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The Wild West

This is what it’s supposed to look like. So, how do we watch? That graphic doesn’t look right. If you could just zoom out a little… Hold still damnit! Water breaks? What a try! Irish, English, a Frenchman with a whistle. Fijians. Canadians. Pedrie Wannenburg. Vamos Cóndores! Dumb penalty. Dumb …

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Hurricanes to help Arrows with Professional Plans

On Wednesday the Ontario Arrows made waves with the announcement that they have formed a partnership with one of Super Rugby’s most iconic franchises – the Hurricanes. Based in Wellington on the southern tip of New Zealand’s North Island, on the face of it the two franchises couldn’t be further …

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Spain now under Player Eligibility Microscope

The extraordinary situation emerging from the Rugby Europe World Cup qualification has taken yet another turn. On Sunday it was confirmed that Belgium had fielded an ineligible player against Germany, and in fact it has since come to light that a second Belgian player is also in question. Who that …

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Serious Questions asked of Romanian player eligibility

Hot on the heels of player eligibility rows that have seen Tahiti disqualified from World Cup qualification and Belgium under investigation is now a third case involving a Romanian international. The Oaks have incorporated several overseas players on residency to their team in recent years but the legitimacy of one …

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Major League Rugby – One Month Out

We’re almost there. One month from today the whistle will blow, the ball will fly through the air, and it will be game on for the newest professional rugby competition in the Americas – Major League Rugby. If things go as planned there will be another beginning further south down …

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A Dark Day for Rugby

On Saturday we witnessed Ireland make history with a Grand Slam finish of the Six Nations, arguably the world’s most prestigious rugby event outside of the World Cup. A day of celebration for the rugby world though decidedly somber for England rugby devotees. When we woke from the hangover on …

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Visa delays force Seawolves to cancel Victoria match

Major League Rugby has hit its first speed bump. Late Wednesday evening its Seattle franchise, the Seawolves, were forced to pull out of a scheduled preseason match against the Vancouver Island Crimson Tide. The match was due to take place at Westhills Stadium in Langford, BC, on Sunday afternoon. A …

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