Canadian University Rugby

On Hiatus

2008-04-08T16:19:00.000-07:00

Canadian University Rugby will be on hiatus until after the BCRU playoffs start.

Sorry for any inconvenience.

Weekly Video Double

2008-04-01T10:13:00.000-07:00

It's past noon, so there's no more fooling to be done, relax with a...

A flashback edition of the WVD.

Video the first (Acadia University, 2005):

Video the second (Concordia University vs. McGill University, QSSF Final 2006):

No analysis. Only videos. CUR Online is worn out from putting Saran wrap on toilet seats all morning.

The WeekThat Was

2008-03-31T20:08:00.000-07:00

The Vikes are struggling. Another weekend, another loss. What started as a promising season has turned into four straight losses for UVIC. What's the matter? We're not sure. Sneaky UVIC Spy has been pretty quiet lately. But you could make a case that ever since the Moonlight incident against the Meralomas, the Vikes just haven't been the same. Losing ten or twelve guys every time Canada goes away for Sevens, coupled with the injury bug that always hits late in the season, has left UVIC looking tired and withered, like this guy.

Alarms bells should be ringing at Wallace field or in Doug T. Fresh's office. It Depends on how the Ravens do in their last two games, but two bonus point UBC Old Boys wins combined with a Vikes loss to Burnaby would leave UVIC without a home playoff game. They would probably face the Capilanos in North Vancouver, April 19th, which is not a very hospitable environment.

Come on you Vikes, lets see what's left in the tank.

As for the province's other powerhouse institution: The 2008 UBC Thunderbirds look like the 2000 St. Louis Rams, better known as "The Greatest Show On Turf".

Since November 5th, 2007, this is what UBC's record looks like.

vs. Capilanos, 21 - 10 WIN
vs. Rowers, 24 - 0 WIN
vs. Buranby Lake 25 - 20 LOSS
vs. Chuckanut Bay 53 - 3 WIN
vs. Brit Lions 38 -17 WIN
vs. Cal-Berkley 35 - 17 LOSS
vs. SFU 64 -5 WIN
vs. UVIC 10 - 5 WIN
vs. Surrey 26 -15 WIN
vs. Kamloops 29 - 20 WIN
vs. Cowichan 24 - 0 LOSS
vs. Cal-Berkley 27 - 22 WIN
vs. Seattle 96 -5 WIN

CUR Online has never been good at math, but that's a lot for, and not a lot against.

The Point Grey Prowler gave some tidbits. Martin Urbanowicz and Ben Jones were back and forward of the match respectively. The game was incredible, and was probably the hardest fought game in a lot of the T-Bird's careers. UBC upset Rikus Pretorius and the gang at T-Bird stadium on Wednesday, and will play a very tough Abbotsford team this weekend.

While they didn't capture the World Cup Trophy, narrowly losing out on points, the transformation of this team by Spence "Craig" McTavish is nothing short of amazing. Beating perennial First Division contenders Seattle by 90 points is, for lack of a better word, outlandish.

The only thing stopping the Birds from taking the BC Championship is the end of the school year, when a lot of kids traditionally start to wander off, take summer jobs, and smoke reefer and drink beers at the moon tower.

Other than that, there isn't a team in the country, aside from James Bay and the Meralomas, who are hotter right now.

SFU's disappointing season is almost over. They face Surrey in two weeks, in a game for pride. The team has not lacked effort however, and there are some bright spots, (from what CUR Online has heard through the grapevine) for next year.

The Burnaby Mountain Bystander told us the game was close. SFU struck first with a penalty, but United tallied before the half, to make it 7 - 3 at the break. Craig Geddes scored the Clan's only try after being sin-binned, and SFU looked like they were going to take this one. However, the ghosts of Douglas College pulled this one out for United. Once again, another physical affair for the SFU boys, but they just didn't have the luck. Final score was 30 to 10 for United.

Not to disparage the work done at SFU between the club, the Mountain Old Boys, and the many volunteers, but if the school were to step up, and maybe create some sort of varsity status for the program, or at least their first side, they'd find more success. (Editor's Note: Not sure how viable this is or if SFU even wants this to happen and obviously this is one writer's opinion, so if it bothers you, grow up and get over it!)

Kids play harder for their school than their club, its just science (Editor's Note: Not actually based on scientific facts). Rally the troops, pull kids out of dorms, and make the university community proud of the program. What was once the most depressing place to have a University on Earth, now has a bit more of a community/village feel. Exploit it. Trust us.

That was CUR Online's free advice for the day.

And there are some out-going tours coming up. RMC will be playing the American Services, the University of Windsor is off to Notre Dame and McGill meets Harvard.

Greg Zaun!

Weekly Video Double

2008-03-25T10:05:00.001-07:00

Two videos for the price of none, it's the ...

Not much analysis today, as it is a hectic week at the CUR Online World Headquarters, but we'll still show you a couple of videos worth checking out:

First up:

SFU vs. Seattle

Aside from the lazy spread defence, and the children's mini-soccer field that Seattle calls home, this video is another fairly good short clip.

Also, if you take a gander at the creator of the video on the right hand side of the page, you'd know a little known fact about him is that he starred in this movie and was a stunt double for this fellow on this video. (Editor's Note: NSFW language)

Second helping:

A new clip from the recently completed Truro 7's!

The eventual champion Ottawa Irish RFC vs. St. Francis Xavier University

There's a big hit at about the 3 second mark, which the crowd loves, but you wouldn't know it from the guy in the background's inane ramblings blocking out the sound while trying to pick up a girl. (Editor's Note: Talk to Dr. Dave Moonlight, he'll help you with your off-the-field game). All in all, a fairly competent goal-line stand by the X-Men, with a solid clearance kick. Looked like it was a fun 2008 edition of the event.

That's it, that's all...

Dalai Lama!

The Weekend That Was

2008-03-24T15:03:00.001-07:00

A tough weekend for University Rugby programs in BC.

UVIC had the weekend off.

UBC loses their first game of the season to Cowichan in the Piggie Dome.

SFU loses a tough one to Langley, with tempers flaring at the end.

Next up for the Clan in their attempt to push their way up in the standings are the United Rugby Club, their arch-rivals, and a team SFU should beat.

UBC hosts Seattle in what will be a dog-fight for top-two placing in the BC First Division. They also have Cal-Berkley on Wednesday which should be interesting.

UVIC & Castaway-Wanderers at Wallace Field in Victoria is a game both sides need to win if they want a home playoff game. Currently, both clubs have a 4 and 3 record.

However none of this matters much, as our main event today is UNBC @ Trollsfest:

Mount Royal College Wildcats 5
vs.
UNBC 3

U of Lethbridge Trolls 12
vs.
UNBC 5

U of Calgary Dinos 0 (forfeit)
vs.
UNBC 5

The long journey was worth it for the Wolves in the forest green trim. This is one of the few occasions teams in Western Canada have to match up against each other, and UNBC has come a long way from the days of losing by 40-odd points to the prairie teams.

Despite the fact that the team had bus troubles, and were driving through one of the most treacherous stretches of high-way in Canada, UNBC showed well.

As a result, Mount Royal College can now lay claim to being the best tier-II program in Western Canada, with UNBC a close second.

Congrats to both the Mount Royal and UNBC.

Wednesday Web-Links

2008-03-19T20:16:00.000-07:00

We'll call this short and sweet version of the Wednesday Web-Links "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde."

Let's get down to it...

1. Uhh... That was really the best headline they could come up with?

2. The University of New Brunswick, pictured above (in black) with their clothes on, ran into a bit of trouble a few years ago, and had a few players suspended for the Maritime Championships. The reason: the insatiable desire by four of their players to run around after a game wearing nothing but, "Rugby socks, sunglasses and smiles." I don't know who was editing the UNB school paper, but who in the name of James Coburn would OK the printing of a picture of four naked dudes? (Editor's Note: The link does not contain any pictures of naked dudes. Its just a story ABOUT the pictures)

3. CUR Online's sister site, American College Rugby. Obviously these American fellows are a bit more talented at writing, web designing, and not uploading pictures of Stone Cold Steve Austin.

4. For any history buffs out there, this is a must-read. It chronicles the first 80 years of UBC's rugby existence, and we're not playing favourites, as McGill, Queen's and U of T surely have similar web pages somewhere, we've just been unable to find them thus far. OK fine, here's McGill's too.

And of course, the bonus non-rugby link of the week.

Eliot Spitzer!

Better Late Than Never?

2008-03-19T16:48:00.000-07:00

The Weekend That Was:

UVIC loses a tight one to the Capilanos.

The Vikes spent the last five minutes of the game on the Caps goal-line, but couldn't drive that final nail into the coffin, which may have had something to do with the fact that their rusty old sledge-hammer Pat Kearney was injured in the first half.

Luckily for the Norsemen, the 2nd XV rebounded from last week's 92-10 debacle against James Bay, with a fairly close match against the Capilanos, on the road no less. Chris Young and Ryan Kerluk tallied for the Varangians.

400 kilometres North-East of Klahanie Park, the UBC Thunderbirds beat a surprisingly game Kamloops Raiders squad. The teams traded tries until the final 10 minutes of the game when the Birds pulled away with a couple of scores. UBC had a number of starters sit the game out due to injury, but a number of second side players filled in admirably against the legendary Goliath sized backs of the Kamloops RFC.

The skill and speed of the UBC back-line ultimately won out, and the Birds' forwards dominated nearly every line-out and scrum. Drake Fenton, a second team call-up, was the man of the match for the T-Birds.

UBC remains undefeated on Canadian soil in 2008, and look to continue that streak against the University of California-Berkley next Wednesday, 2:30 PM at Thunderbird Stadium.

NEWSFLASH

We've managed to secure an SFU correspondent, so don't expect anymore one-sided, mud-slinging editorials when it comes to reporting on the Clan. (Editor's Note: These guys, not these guys.) The correspondent will henceforth be known as the Burnaby Mountain Bystander.

Simon Fraser University hosted this season's BC First Division Cinderella story, the Port Alberni Black Sheep, and inevitably, the Sheep turned back into Pumpkins.

SFU edged the undermanned Port Alberni side 12 - 9 in what was the club's first home game in quite a while. Men of the Match were Scott and Sean Weston. Two big wins on the season for SFU, and there's a chance the boys in the red and blue hoops could win at least two more before the season's out. If they can pull off an upset over Langley or United, and beat the floundering Surrey Beavers, they could finish at .500 for the first time in recent memory.

Imagine that.

Next up for UBC: @ Cowichan
Next up for SFU: @ Langley
Next up for UVIC: Bye Week

Apparently the BC 1st Division has never heard of Easter. This guy will not be pleased!

Weekly Video Double

2008-03-18T10:14:00.000-07:00

Hung over? Take a Weekly Video Double and call us in the morning...

1. Our first video is a short clip of the University of Windsor Lancers vs. the Trent University Excalibur. A simple line-out, followed by a maul. It is about thirteen seconds long.

This video is of little importance. It is just the appetizer to the mother lode of high comedy that emanates from this next video.

2. Somebody, somewhere decided this following video was a good idea.

Suit 1: The ratings for our Tyra Banks rip-off reality show are really in the toilet. What should we do?

Suit 2: I have an idea. Let's make the girls do a fashion show for some athletes.

Suit 1: Athletes you say? Don't they mostly enjoy doing chin-ups and watching Friday Night Lights on TBS (Editor's Note: Peachtree TV, our bad)?

Suit 2: Our statistics show that male, college aged varsity athletes really love watching the show. Mostly for its style, grace, and uncompromising realism.

Suit 1: Are you sure they don't just watch it for the boobs?

Suit 2: Whatever. Hand me those randomized index cards.

Suit 1: Now we're talking!

Suit 2: OK here it goes: Victoria....University Rugby....transvestite with a megaphone....outdoor fashion show...

Suit 1: Stop right there. That's perfect! Ratings will be through the roof!

Suit 2: Enough work for today, let's go blow our noses into some $100 bills.

Suit 1: Brilliant!

This video is about eight and a half minutes long (the Vikes are in it until about the four minute mark) and it is worth every second. The University of Victoria Men's rugby team makes a guest appearance on Canada's Next Top Model a few years back.

What's not to like? The loud boisterous strip-club cheering? Mike MacKay looking like he's just stumbled onto the set of Wild Things III? The look on the Vikes' faces after the nipple slip? Coaches Tate and Farrelly sitting like Stadler and Waldorf in the back row? Adam Kleeburger hopping around shirtless? Tom McKeen trying not to get caught by the camera looking at the ladies?

Actual quote from Pat Kearney: "They poured their heart and soul all over the place!" I know we're hard on Kearney around these parts, but if rugby does not work out for him he certainly has a future modelling winter coats.

CUR Online's personal favourite: at the 3:55 mark, Dave Moonlight picks up a girl. On national television. Because they're both from Whitby. Dr. Dave, you dog!

The model/challenge crap is as tedious and hazardous for your brain as watching lead paint dry in a poorly ventilated room, but spend the four or so minutes watching this off-field rugby gem.

For the good of the nation.

Weekend Primer

2008-03-14T09:35:00.001-07:00

CUR Online will be taking the weekend off, so here are some quick hits before we go.

UVIC (and Canada U-20) player Ryan Hamilton will be on CFAX radio station in Victoria talking about the upcoming U-20 World Championships. (Today @ 11 AM PST, 2PM EST, and Who Cares in Newfoundland).

UVIC @ Capilanos (Caps by 7)

UBC @ Kamloops (UBC by 15)

Port Alberni @ SFU (SFU by 3)

UNBC is off to Trollsfest this weekend.

We will have analysis from these games as well as a piece on a proposed Rugby National Championships next week.

Keep those e-mails coming...

10 Questions With... Matt McLeod

2008-03-13T19:09:00.000-07:00

Basic Info
Name: 2 Lt. Matt McLeod
School: The Royal Military College of Canada
Year: 5^th
Program of Study: Masters of Business Administration
Position: Half Back, Full Back
Club: Lindsay Gryphons RFC

Matt McLeod captained the RMC Paladins to their first playoff berth since the revitilization of their program three years ago. In the mix for the FISU 7's team, McLeod’s leadership and steady play will be missed by his current team when he graduates after next season. McLeod, from Lindsay, Ontario was kind enough to answer CUR Online’s famous 10 Questions...

CUR Online: Why did you make the decision to attend RMC and what is it like being a student/cadet/athlete?

Matt McLeod: I decided to go to RMC for a couple of reasons. One was that I was recruited by former RMC basketball coach Craig Norman to play point guard for the basketball team which I did for three years while I was playing rugby. However, I was also looking for a challenge and a different university experience after I left high school and RMC caught my interest. At RMC it's an interesting atmosphere because you're always so busy. I did my undergrad in chemical engineering, so I had a lot of school work, but it's a very supportive environment and it’s really geared towards helping you succeed in school, in the military and as an athlete. It's an amazing experience.

CUR: Is it tough juggling school work, military training and rugby?

MM: One of the first lessons you learn at RMC is time management. Your first month here is an orientation period (a mini boot-camp), where you are under constant pressure from the senior cadets. The senior cadets give you too many activities to complete in the allotted time, so you learn immediately how to prioritize and rely on your peers to work as a team. Sometimes it feels like too much, but there is an amazing support system, particularly for varsity athletes, so it makes it do-able.

CUR: Is there added off-field pressure put upon you as captain of the team?

MM: There is some added off-field pressure as captain, but I don't think that's unique to RMC. Most captains feel pressure off the field for their guys. I think being a captain at RMC is a big deal though, because we do a lot of leadership training, and that is such a key component to the military; the strength of its leaders. As an officer in the Canadian Forces, there are a lot of situations where the lessons learned as a captain of a sports team are applicable. It’s a pretty great honour being captain of a varsity team at RMC, (particularly being captain of the rugby team), and to see all the incredible support our team gets from alumni, and the legions of men who have been the leaders of this team over the last 140 years is humbling.

CUR: Are the games between RMC and Queen’s seen as “for Kingston bragging rights”? Do you have much contact with the Queen’s players during the school year?

MM: It's definitely a game I highlight on the schedule every year, I've played with and against a lot of current and former Queen's players, so there's definitely some personal feelings attached. Kingston's social life is pretty concentrated, so I get to see the Queen's guys a lot during the year, and am good friends with many of them. There's no question who owns the bragging rights in Kingston right now, but we're working at it.

CUR: How has RMC gone from dormant program to mid-level contender (and the playoffs) in just three years?

MM: It is because of the work we put in during the year. We practice four to five nights a week from the middle of August until Easter, when we have our spring tour against the American service academies, Army (West Point), and Navy (Annapolis). Because our team is scattered around the country during the summer doing our respective military training, it's impossible for 90% of our guys to play club rugby, so we have to get our work in prior to the club season. Also, Coach McDonaugh is one of the hardest working coaches I've ever been exposed to, he's constantly recruiting, and updating his skill-set in order to help us get where we need to be. It's in the nature of the student/athletes who go to school here; we strive for excellence, and to work hard to get there. There's a lack of experience on the team, so the longer rugby is around at RMC the better the team will be. The group of guys we have on the team know that as a small school (Editor’s Note: 900 students) and being in our unique situation, we have to be the hardest working team on the block if we want to be successful.

CUR: What does RMC have to do to continue progressing as a team in the OUA to get to the level of Queen’s and Brock?

MM: I think the more we play, and the more exposure our program gets, the more top notch rugby talent we’ll attract. The improved talent we hope to bring in, coupled with the work we're putting in right now should help us get to where we want and need to be as an OUA team. It's not an overnight process, but I think we've showed steady improvement over the last three years, (we got spanked by sixty points against Brock last year), but this year both times we played them it was a battle. We ended up losing both in the 20’s but they knew they had been in a rugby game. They were the OUA's best team according to the final results, so we're getting more competitive.

CUR: You played for the Toronto Extreme last summer, what are your thoughts on the team folding for the upcoming 2008 season?

MM: It's a bit disappointing, I had a great experience with the Xtreme last summer. It's weird that the country's largest city doesn't have a super league team. I think that the two other Ontario teams will be that much stronger this year, particularly Niagara, as I think some of the Southern Ontario guys from the Xtreme will compete for spots on their roster.

CUR: Any future plans with rugby?

MM: Right now I'm involved with the Canadian University 7's team, so hopefully this summer I'll be making the trip to Cordoba, Spain for the World Championships. I'm also looking forward to playing for my club again this summer. I get to play with two of my brothers, as well as the Selby brothers (Editor’s Note: Jared who played for Brock and Keegan who plays for McMaster) , and the rest of the Lindsay Gryphons RFC team, so it's always good rugby there. I'd also like to be involved with the Ottawa Harlequins super league side, as I'll be living in Kingston for the summer. Finally, next year is my last year at RMC, so one more kick at the OUA can, and who knows from there, I'd like to be playing rugby at some level for a long time to come.

CUR: Although you are from Southern-Ontario, do you feel you’ve gained a better perspective on the game nationally because of the presence of players from a variety of backgrounds and areas?

MM: That is one of the benefits of going to RMC: you make friends with people from all over the country. I think I've gained some perspective on the game nationally, and have more respect for rugby in other parts of the country. It's been interesting to see how Rugby's played in Hants County, Nova Scotia.

CUR: Your coach spent two years in Detroit in charge of the Detroit Rugby Football Club that plays on 8-Mile Road. Does he ever threaten to take you guys down there for a tour when you misbehave in practice?

MM: Having spent the last five years in the army, I've seen that even in Canada there are worse places to be than in Detroit. In fact, compared to some of the crucibles we are put through during our summer training, Detroit is a tropical paradise. Coach McDonaugh could threaten us with more horrifying places like Gagetown, New Brunswick. No offence to any East Coasters reading this. (Editor’s Note: The Internet does not yet exist in New Brunswick so don’t worry Matt)

Matt McLeod: prepared for the elements

Thanks to Matt and to the RMC program, we'll see you next time on 10 Questions...

Hot Dog! We Have A Wiener!

2008-03-13T19:04:00.000-07:00

CUR Online owes a long-time reader from Waterloo 10 bucks. The cheque is in the mail! (Editor's Note: There is no cheque)

We present to you Jordan Kozina's most respected opponent of all-time... as voiced by Mike Myers

Wednesday Web-Links

2008-03-12T20:06:00.000-07:00

A quick Web-Links today, but we'll have some big news involving University Rugby at the national level sometime this week.

1. The University of Prince Edward Island Panthers (above in green) received some corporate support before the Christmas break. UPEI is a real success story, and have the community and the university's backing. They switched over to the Nova Scotia league for 2007 after years spent toiling in the less organized New Brunswick league, and actually did quite well with their well run program. For any team out there that bitches and moans about lack of support in the community let this be a lesson to you. (Editor's Note: Yeah, grow up yah big soddin' babies).

2. The University of Waterloo has been putting these on for a couple of years, and they seem to be a success. Once again being active in the community is not a bad thing, and will make people regard rugby more as an athletic endeavour, and less like an excuse for retards to drink beer out of old shoes. The high school clinic runs April 26th, and is a smart recruiting tool also, as kids will see how well run the Warriors' program is. (Editor's Note: Hate to give credit to Queen's but they've also been doing this for a while with a number of high schools, and it really gives young athletes the motivation to stick with the sport)

3. We've already linked to this story about UVIC's Jordan Kozina, but it really is a great piece of work. (Editor's Note: Respect to Mike Webb, he's got the brain and the brawn!) We don't always give a ton of credit to Rugby Canada, but these stories are a nice touch. Anyway, the point of this is that many readers may have missed the joke of who Kozy's "Most respected player - any position" was. Ten bucks to the first reader who can scrounge up a decent photo of Devin Stubel.

[**EDIT: Devin Stubel is not a joke. He is a talented, former OUA All-star.**]

Also you gotta love his answer for "superstitions": brush teeth before game.

4. Last but not least, SFU celebrates its 40th anniversary April 19th. Congrats to the boys on the hill, hopefully you can go on a bit of a winning streak and make the playoffs (Editor's Note: Not completely out of the question. Well their odds are better than the Leafs). At the very least SFU could provide more shirts-off beer garden parties at their world famous summer 7's tournament. Either way, CUR Online will be pleased.

And as always you're weekly bonus non-rugby link.

A new 10 Questions... Tomorrow!

Weekly Video Double

2008-03-11T10:21:00.000-07:00

1. This video is about half an hour long. But believe us it is worth it. Don't ask us how we found it, just know that the rugby footage is fairly good when compared to what we've shown here before. The sweetest touch? Apparently some members of the Acadia University RFC wrote their own rap and made it the background music. We've reached a new low in the WVD, or maybe we've reached a new high. Decision is yours.

2. An interview with Cal rugby captain Rikus Pretorious (by two of the least talented TV personalities Berkley has to offer) in which he discusses (at about the 2 minute mark) his thoughts on UBC and the "World Cup" match-up between the two schools.

That's it for today, watch out for the web-links tomorrow.

Obama!

Truro 7's

2008-03-10T14:16:00.000-07:00

In the rush to get to the weekend CUR Online forgot to remind everyone about the Truro 7's tournament.

Here was the schedule, and more information about how the University sides did will be forthcoming.

UVIC No Longer Sailing Smoothly

2008-03-10T13:23:00.000-07:00

After the mid-week shocker against UBC, UVIC tried to get back to their usual winning ways this weekend. However they were playing one of the best teams in the CDI, James Bay Athletic Association and lost 15 - 12.

Here is the BC Rugby News story. (Speaking of BCRN, somebody there has a crush on the canary yellow Vikes, as their last two "photo spreads" have featured the agile GQ-esque youngsters of the University of Victoria).

Some added information:

UVIC finished what was a fairly strong game with a mistake which cost them the win and lead to a Spencer Dalziel try for James Bay.

Rob Turk, Nathan Hirayama, Pat Riordan and Andrew Tiedmann all had strong games.

UVic now sits at 4 - 2 in the CDI League, and have lost three of their last four. They will hope to turn things around next weekend against the Capilanos in North Vancouver.

The shocker of the day was the 92 - 10 scoreline in the B side game. The real question here is UVIC's depth. Before Christmas they ran three teams, and are now running one and a half apparently. Obviously James Bay is a great first side, but there is no excuse for UVIC to be losing by 82 points to anyone at any level. Lone bright spot for the Norsemen was the play of Ian Manley.

CUR Online Retracts Prediction, Replaces It With Newer, Better Prediction

2008-03-07T11:51:00.000-08:00

Anyone who made the trip out to Wolfson on Wednesday did not leave disappointed, as all accounts we've received described an entertaining game.

10 - 5 UBC was the final, and in the streets the children screamed, the lovers cried and the poets dreamed.

All the Loony Tunes are coming out of the woodwork after this one, as it has been a decade since they've beaten UVIC straight up.

However the elusive "Boot" remained out of reach, the final aggregate score: 51 - 20 in favour of the Vikes.

We'll start with some UVIC perspective:

"We got f*cked up. Just all-around brutal." - Sneaky UVIC Spy

Apparently the back three were outplayed significantly by their T-Bird counterparts. They were able to find space on counter-attacks, but lots of knock-ons negated any ground gained. Overall a tough game from a UVIC perspective. The inside backs could not gain much ground, and both Mackenzie and Turk left the game fairly early on with injuries. Adam "The Works" Kleeberger, who has played a handful of games at centre in his career, stepped in at fly half. Needless to say, things went downhill from there.

Doug T. Fresh may not have been able to get his troops focused on this particular game, as the boys may have been looking towards the James Bay encounter this Saturday, instead of taking care of business and working over-time.

With that being said, UVIC, when full tilt, are still in the running for the CDI title, and in the grand scheme of things they won the Boot, and will look to move on.

Now from the UBC side of things:

"Who can doubt us now?" - The Point Grey Prowler

An intense game by an over-matched and under-aged UBC team. The match is being called one of the best to be played at Wolfson in years, and both sides played with incredible energy.

The "expansive" game plan used by UVIC was stopped by UBC's ferocious sideline to sideline defence. UVIC had a number of great chances that were stopped either because of errors or timely tackling by the Birds.

UBC opened the scoring on a push-over try, and Paul Spoering converted. Spoering also slotted a penalty and was one of UBC's top performers of the game, on both sides of the ball.

After a number of phases in the T-Birds "red-zone" late in the game, the Vikes were stymied by a determined UVIC pack time and time again. After a turnover and a Harry Jones clearance kick, the whistle sounded and the celebrations began.

Anyone at the PIT pub or any bar in Kitts Wednesday night likely had a great night on the town, except for anyone who went to Lola's Lounge because that place sucks balls.

While some have called for UBC's underdogs to receive the first annual "CUR Online's Greatest Canadian University Rugby Team in the Entire World" or "GCURTitEW" award, rules are rules and the best we can do for the Birds is this:

We're sorry we doubted you.

New prediction: UBC to go a long way into the BC 1st Division playoffs. (Editor's Note: Only two UBC starters will be lost to graduation, so a return to the CDI for next year is quite possible).

To the University of Victoria Vikings: CUR Online crowns you the Greatest Canadian University Rugby Team in the Entire World*

*Title void in Newfoundland campus bars

Congratulations! The Village People Salute Your Courage! Go West!

Next up for the Vikes: JBAA
Next up for the T-Birds: Surrey Beavers

Vikes / T-Birds Analysis

2008-03-05T13:35:00.000-08:00

CUR Online is not a fan of hyperbole, but this is the most important game of the Canadian University rugby season.

The winner of this annual two game series that is set to kick-off today at 2:30 PST, will be crowned CUR Online's first annual Greatest Canadian University Rugby Team in the Entire World.*

*(Editor's Note: Excluding Memorial University, who hold both the Self-Proclaimed "GCURTitEW" Title and the "Biggest Talkers, Softest Walkers" Title, concurrently.)

Let's take a look at how the two teams match up.

Front Row

UVIC starts Tobias Peyton, Russ Ward and former Rockridge Raven Ryan Hamilton. Hamilton and Ward were both listed on the recently released RC depth chart, while Peyton is from Kelowna, which means he is tough, and probably fit because there's nothing to do but work-out and get into fist-fights during the Okanagan winters.

UBC throws out Canada age grade players Dan Fiss, Nick Daniel and John "Gorgeous" Georgas. While all three of these guys are locals, they are a tad undersized and they haven't played a quality opposition front row since November, so it would be hard to make a case for their dominance.

However, this should be where UBC will be able to compete.

Advantage: Toss-up.

Second Row

The Vikes are able to draw on a pretty talented athlete in the towering Mike MacKay, however they're also relying on semi-professional speed-eater Pat Kearney not spending half the game on the wing shouting for the ball. MacKay has just recently returned to playing rugby, so we're not sure how rusty he still is.

UBC is giving up a sizeable height and weight advantage to the Vikes. If UVIC lifts MacKay, its unlikely that either the 6'4" Henry McQueen or 6'0" Josh Clarke (both former Kitsilano Blue Devils) will be able to contend. Clarke is a tenacious player, but Kearney admittedly is a better ball handler in the loose, so UBC will have to hope their engine room gets it done in the scrums.

Advantage: Toss-up

Back Row

This one is no contest. Just a few months ago UVIC's Adam Kleeburger was suiting up for his country in France and it looks like Tom McKeen, brother of the NSMT's Stan McKeen, may one day get his shot with the big club as well. As for the third man in the powerful UVIC back row (Tommy Hartlin), some have compared him to former UVIC junk-yard-dog Steve Batie, but taller. This does not bode well for UBC's chances at the breakdowns.

UBC does have a talented back-row of former age-grade regulars Sam Penhall and Ben Jones, (along with Nick Waggot, who has undoubtedly defended himself daily from school yard name-calling) but this is a position where UVIC could compete with just about any club side in the country, let alone any University side.

Advantage: UVIC

Half-Backs

UVIC has Canada's scrum half of the future Jamie McKenzie paired with Canada 7's regular Rob Turk.

Harry Jones, UBC's ten, has also been called up to play on the 7's circuit on occasion, however Rainiel "Reign-Man" DeGuzman (and no offence to him, its just science) is no Jamie McKenzie.

Advantage: UVIC

Centres

UVIC starts Chris Thompson, who has three tries in five games, and the immortal Jordan Kozina. Kozina is a transplanted Niagara-ite, and CUR Online is sure that the fresh Pacific air is treating his moustache kindly. Between Thompson (from St. Albert, Alberta) and Kozina, the converted flanker, UBC will have trouble stopping UVIC's running game.

For UBC, its another pair of Kitsilano boys, Taylor Dalziel and Jon Anthony. Too bad Kitts hasn't made a BCSSRU final since Dave Biddle graduated.

Advantage: UVIC

Back Three

UBC has a couple of try scoring machines, Martin Urbanowicz and Paul Spoering, on the wings, while Fleetwood Park's Shaun McLoughlin directs traffic from the 15 spot. This is another area UBC might be able to compete in, as all three players are speedy and skilled.

With that being said...

UVIC is starting Ty Shannon, Gordie Sawers and Ben Thompson. Sawers and Shannon are on the rise through the Canadian Senior Men's system in 7's, and are both big, tough and internationally skilled.

Sorry T-Birds but it just hasn't been your day.

Advantage: UVIC

Intangibles

UBC will be playing in front of the home crowd, won't be tired from travelling, and have a lot of confidence from their BC First Division winning streak. They are also coming off of a great game, albeit a loss, to UCal-Berkley, and will look to improve upon it.

UVIC may already be looking past this game towards Saturday's tilt with James Bay, as they've devised a top secret game-plan they're testing out against the T-Birds in preparation for the CDI showdown. (Editor's Note: If we knew what the game plan was, we'd print it. But we don't.) They are also missing a number of very talented players: Nathan Hirayama, Pat Riordan, Andrew Tiedmann, Dave Moonlight, John Moonlight, Kris Witkowski, Neil Meechan and Phil Mackenzie.

Advantage: UBC

Well on paper this one looks a little lopsided. The smart money is on UVIC building on their 26 point lead in the two-game series, but CUR Online does not foresee this game getting too out of hand.

Prediction: UVIC by two converted tries and a penalty.

Showdown at Wolfson

2008-03-05T13:28:00.000-08:00

This afternoon UVIC takes on UBC in Vancouver.

Here are the lineups:

UVIC

1.Toby Peyton
2. Ryan Hamilton
3. Russ Ward
4. Pat Kearney
5. Mike Mckay
6. Tom Hartlin
7. Adam Kleeberger
8. Tom McKeen
9. Jamie McKenzie
10. Rob Turk
11. Ben Thompson
12. Jordan Kozina
13. Chris Thompson
14. Gordie Sawers
15. Ty Shannon

UBC

1. Dan Fiss
2. John Georgas
3. Nick Daniel
4. Henry McQueen
5. Josh Clarke
6. Sam Penhall
7. Nick Waggot
8. Ben Jones
9. Rainiel de Guzman
10. Harry Jones
11. Paul Spoering
12. Taylor Dalziel
13. Jon Anthony
14. Martin Urbanowicz
15. Shaun McLoughlin

The Weekend That Was

2008-03-03T10:44:00.000-08:00

UVIC beat Ravens 35 to 13 at home.

Despite playing without one of their leaders (Dave Moonlight) the Vikes remained undefeated at home with a lackluster, but expected, victory over the UBC Old Boys. Nathan Hirayama with 13 points and Chris Thompson with a deuce led the Vikes. It hasn't been an easy week for the Moonlight family as cousin John left the game with what appeared to be a concussion. Back-row bandits Kleeburger and Meechan led UVIC's pack, however nobody had what a traditional fan might call a good day. Little dangling was to be had by the vaunted Vikes back-line, and the Ravens forwards did a good job of keeping the ball tight and slowing down the pace of the game. The Norsemen also won a lethargic one over the Ravens 2nd XV, 29-15.

UVIC hopes to continue its winning ways when they meet UBC in the annual "boot game" this Wednesday at Wolfson. Speaking of UBC...

A frequent contributor to this site who will be henceforth known as the "Point Grey Prowler", had this to say about Saturday's game against SFU: "Well you got the over/under close...we lost count of the tries we scored. Hopefully the ref doesn't shave points off when he reports the game score like they did when we played Chuckanut."

Well there you have it folks. Just so we're clear, its UBC and UVIC at the top when it comes to Canadian University rugby. UBC beats the Clan by 50+ points, and will hope to continue their domestic undefeated streak when they play UVIC in the anticipated mid-week boot game.

UVIC leads the two-leg series 41-15 after a big win in October over the T-Birds. More to come on this game as the week unfolds.

Predictions: Worth What You're Paying For Them

2008-02-29T14:41:00.000-08:00

UBC vs. SFU

The game University rugby enthusiasts have been waiting for in the BC First Division. CUR Online will set UBC's over under at 40 points, and surely we don't need to tell you that you should take the over in this one.

UBC by a handful of converted tries, lets say...six.

UVIC vs. Ravens

Take the Vikes by a boatload of drunken Jericho Beach can collectors. Mix one part anger over a close loss to the Lomas with one part disgust over how the BCRU handed out discipline in the wake of the Connaught Park Conflict and add a sprinkle of the Ravens not being very good and you get:

UVIC by 14+

Oh and if you're around, make sure you check this out post-game (taken from BC Rugby News):

UVic Men's Rugby Fundraiser: March 1st

For $25 you can attend the UVIC VIKES RUGBY BEER, WINE AND SCOTCH TASTING/ SILENT AUCTION. It's being held at 6:30pm at the Fernwood Inn, 1302 Gladstone Avenue. Apparently it has raised $30,000 towards the Vikes Men's Rugby program in the past. You can also donate silent auction and raffle items, or just make a donation. For more information or to book tickets, make a donation, contact Doug Tate at (250)721-8722 or Brent Dobbie (250) 472-4642.

Nice touch Doug T. Fresh.

If any readers care CUR Online has stopped making predictions about the Thompson River Barbarians. It's the BC third division for god's sake.

And remember, you heard it here first (or maybe not?)

UBC Lineup

2008-02-29T14:25:00.000-08:00

Here is this weekend's lineup for UBC's game against SFU:

1. D. Fiss
2. J. Georgas / Luke Dineley
3. N. Daniel
4. H. McQueen
5. J. Clarke
6. S. Penhall
7. N. Waggot
8. B. Jones
9. R. de Guzman
10. Harry Jones
11. P. Spoering
12. T. Dalziel
13. J. Anthony
14. M. Urbanowicz
15. S. McLoughlin

Picture prediction: UBC vs. SFU

Moonlight Madness

2008-02-29T14:12:00.000-08:00

It was announced this week that as a result of last weekend's punch-out (Editor's Note: We've been trying to use the above picture for weeks, and now have a way to work it into a post. Thanks!) Dr. Dave Moonlight will be suspended for three games for being blindsided by a gang of Meralomas (including a player who was dressed in street clothes and just wanted to be part of the action, a perfect example of this disorder seen here) last weekend at the end of the Lomas-Vikes CDI match in Vancouver. While this is unfortunate for "Mooner" he should look on the bright side: he'll now be able to concentrate on the one class he takes per semester!

Study hard David!

University Rugby Directory (Part 4 Version 1)

2008-02-29T01:02:00.001-08:00

This is part four in the on-going record of Canadian University Rugby on a province-by-province basis.

(Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)

After last edition's Saskatchewan/Manitoba debacle, it is time for CUR Online to profile the vast and promising territory of Ontario's University leagues.

A basic run-down of the rugby scene in Ontario is thus: Tier 1 rugby is played in the Ontario Universities Athletic Conference. The league is (for now) an 11 team circuit of two divisions. Just below the OUA on the University ladder is the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association. The league has 9 teams with the possibility that at least two more could be joining in time for the 2008 season. After the two established associations lie "the independents" which are a handful of teams that do not play within the structured conferences of the OCAA or OUA.

Because of the ridiculous amount of teams to profile, Ontario's Directory will be broken down into two parts. The first will chronicle the Universities and the second will discuss the colleges.

So without further ado, ladies and gentlemen, CUR Online presents Ontario...

Tier 1 Teams

Brock University Badgers (St. Catherines, Ont.) (OUA)

The boys of St. Kitts won their first OUA championship this past fall over Queen's. A number of big name players ply their trade for the Badge (Editor's Note: Rhymes with Vag! Tee hee) including Niagara Thunder players Adam Schouten and Ray Barkwill, as well as the "Scarborough Scoundrel" and NA4 East player Mark MacSween, former McMaster stand-out Cameron Mitchell, and this guy who writes spy novels in his spare time.

University of Guelph Gryphons (Guelph, Ont.) (OUA)

Former Guelph rugby players have included NSMT player Ryan Smyth and NA 4 East player Hayden Gage, as well as Niagara Thunder players Geoff Sinke and the immortal ball-of-meat Dave Neil. A lot of Guelph's success came under the watchful eye of Gary Whitley's great sun-tan, however he has retired from the OUA coaching ranks and passed the reins to former Trent coach Darrell Devine who led the Gryphons to their first playoff birth since 2003.

Lakehead University Thunderwolves (Thunder Bay, Ont.) (Independent)

Once upon a time, the Thunderwolves competed in the OUA. After the 2001 season the University could no longer afford to ship their less prestigious (than hockey) rugby team to Windsor, Ottawa and all points in between. The team had been a strong member of the OUA for a number of years and now routinely beats teams in the Minnesota Collegiate league by triple digit scores. The End.

McMaster University Marauders (Hamilton, Ont.) (OUA)

It has been a topsy-turvy two decades for Phil White at McMaster. A shrewd motivator and five time OUA coach of the year, the Marauders during the 80's and 90's were consistently the bridesmaid (winning OUA silvers five times) and only once the bride (OUA champs '92). After a leave of abscence in '97, White returned the following year to a program in shambles (DNQ for playoffs from 98 - 01). However through strong recruiting, the program regained its composure and won four championships over the next five seasons, while also winning a silver in 2004 and finishing fourth in 2007. The Mac teams of the new millennium have been more stacked than Pam Anderson, Jenny McCarthy and Carmen Electra playing beach volleyball, and could lay claim to being the only team in recent memory that could have had a chance (Editor's note: probably not, but we'll dare to dream) to knock off UVIC for Canadian University supremacy. Aaron Carpenter, The Pletches, Steve Shortly, Rob Ashwood, Spencer Fullerton, Harry Cheung, Dan West, Wayne Gretzky, Jarri Kurri, Paul Coffey, the list goes on. Watch for Mac to return to the medal podium next year, however it may take them a while to get back to the top of the pile.

University of Ottawa Gee-Gees (Ottawa, Ont.) (Independant)

Not much out there on the Gee-Gees who it seems are destined to remain a competitive club unless they can prove to administration that they can be self-sufficient and raise tens of thousands of dollars to support their varsity status (Editor's Note: if this rule were applied to every sport, only Men's Basketball and Football would even come close to breaking even. No, hockey would not come close, do you know how much these cost? Exactly.) The Gee-Gees get a number of games against 2nd XV's from McGill and Queen's, and have beaten OUA sides Trent and RMC, former OUA side Carleton and QSSF teams Sherbrooke and Bishop's in the past. There is enough talent in Ottawa for the Gee-Gees to compete in the Eastern division, but the team would be smart to join the closer Quebec circuit to keep travel costs down.

Queen's University Golden-Gaels (Kingston, Ont.) (OUA)

Steeped in tradition, the 17-time OUA champion Gaels have not won the big prize since 2001. Relying heavily on BC imports, including former NA 4 West player James Potter, the Harvard (Editor's Note: Or is it Yale?) of Canada finally broke through the Mac-Western hardware embargo this year, only to be thwarted by those St. Catharines rapscallions the Brock Badgers (Editor's Note: the Appalachian State University of Canada) in the OUA title game. The team always plays an entertaining style of play as directed by their woefully under-appreciated head coach Peter Huigenbos. The always electric Bryn Davies, along with flanker Alistair Clark and the ageless Steve Shortly led Queen's on their eventual silver medal run, which they'll look to build on next year. Thank god their irritating pipe band doesn't travel to rugby games (Editor's Note to potential Queen's students: if you're going to be on a pep squad, at least make sure the girls are hot. Yikes!). So without their musical accompaniment, this post will need some Queen's themed tunes. Take it away Hall and Oates!

"You're a rich girl / and you've gone too far / but you know it doesn't matter anyway / you can rely on the old man's money / you can rely...on the old man's money"

Royal Military College Paladins (Kingston, Ont.) (OUA)

Pros: RMC students are some of the brightest and fittest young Canadians in the country.
Cons: Most of them are engineers, not trained killers like this guy.

Pros: The Paladins are one of the best funded teams in Canada.
Cons: The school has only about 900 kids to choose from. (Editor's Note: RMC's mens basketball team routinely travels with seven players to away games)

Pros: RMC gets players from all over the country including rugby hot beds like Victoria, BC and St. John's, NFLD.
Cons: RMC gets players from all over the country including rugby wastelands like Regina, SK and Penticton, BC

Pros: Player Matt McLeod (along with head coach Sean McDonaugh) travelled to San Diego for the FISU 7's in February.
Cons: Matt McLeod is in his final years at the school.

Pros: They play in the same division as Trent and Toronto
Cons: They play in the same division as Brock and Queen's

Ryerson University Rams (Toronto, Ont) (Independent)

First thing to mention, that was the closest thing to a website Ryerson has for its rugby team. Secondly, CUR Online applauds any movement to start a new program, especially in the centre of the universe. Ryerson will need all the help they can get, despite the large size of the school and the proximity to many rugby clubs, as University rugby in Toronto has suffered greatly in the past decade. The team played exhibition games against Waterloo and Queen's (presumably their second or third sides) and will hopefully try to get a full slate of games in the 2008 season.

University of Toronto Varsity Blues (Toronto, Ont.) (OUA)

The good news for the much-maligned Blues is that they have won more OUA championships (22) than any other team in league history. The bad news: half of them occurred before the Korean War, and the last one was in 1982, long before CUR Online's Editor was even a twinkle in his mother's eye. Its been tough going at Canada's largest University, as rumours of head coaches literally pulling kids out of the residences to fill out game-day rosters swirled around the circuit. For years, less than half of the team played summer rugby (Editor's Note: and that's being generous), and the boys in the navy-blue Barbarians were just another lovable loser from the institution at Bloor and Spadina. You know things are bad when students under the U of T umbrella are more interested in playing social rugby or even intramural rugby. Coach Ed Sun has taken a number of steps in the right direction in trying to restore pride to the Varsity Blues (Editor's Note: You knew that was coming) by moving their games to the Scarborough campus, forging better ties with local clubs and focusing on recruiting out of province and international students instead of commuters. Many have said that if all of the players attending the University decided to come out, the Blues would be deadly (Editor's note this will henceforth be know as the Memorial University of Newfoundland defence). However, many have also said that if "ifs" and "buts" were candy and nuts, then we'd probably all look like this fellow.

Trent University Excalibur (Peterborough, Ont.) (OUA)

The Swords-in-the-Stones may not be in the OUA for long as they could be dropping down to the OCAA for the 2008 season. Trent has been good in the past, but never great. Former 8-man Josh Connor was an age grade Canada player and Jeff McDiarmid, currently platooning at stand-off with McMaster, also spent a year there. Trent's is an uphill battle: Small school, small athletics program, city in the middle of nowhere, etc. But dropping down to the college ranks would do nothing for their team or their athletic department as a whole. Current captain and Brampton Beaver Mikki Moores deserves better, as do the fairly supportive Trent RFC alumni.

University of Waterloo Warriors (Waterloo, Ont.) (OUA)

Aside from the Warriors regaining the elderly Bauer brothers who returned to school to finish their MBA's, there wasn't much in the way of positives for the Warriors until the season began. After beating McMaster in league play, and returning to the playoffs after two years on the outside, the Warriors look like they could challenge the Marauders for a home playoff game next year, especially if their crossover games are against RMC and Trent. Tim Montgomery and Tom Mandich share associate coaching duties, and are in charge of a talented bunch that includes Athar Zia and Tyler Haladuick, 2007 and 2006 rookies of the year respectively, as well as lightning fast winger Jeff Robinson and a young and agile front row anchored by Mike Aasen. Former star of the team, and baldest man in the business, Andy Reitzel is moving on to greener pastures, so if the Warriors want to contend, they'll have to fill that spot ASAP.

University of Western Ontario Mustangs (London, Ont.) (OUA)

The team everyone loves to hate are always stacked from top to bottom with age grade Canada players, as the Mustangs have seen the likes of Aaron Abrams, Dean Van Kamp and Sean-Michael Stephens pass through the golden-gilded hallways of London's second finest institution (Editor's Note: Fanshawe College is obviously number one). Despite the fact that they have more talent than they know what to do with, this year the team may have missed former head coach Scott Stewart's notoriously venomous approach to living, learning and loving. We'll see what Tony Roes is made of when Western tries to bounce back from an uncharacteristic bronze medal next year.

Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks (Waterloo, Ont.) (OUA)

The Hawks have beaten Waterloo the last two years in the cross-town grudge match, and after that, they haven't done a whole lot. Making the playoffs last year was a step in the right direction for the former Tier-II mainstays, who always seem to field teams filled with large, ornery gentlemen. However a last place finish in the always tough Western conference, did nothing to improve their reputation this year. If they had only gotten this burly fellow to play while he attended Laurier to get his business and economics degree, all of their troubles would've been solved.

University of Windsor Lancers (Windsor, Ont.) (OUA)

Ontario's newest varsity program, established in 2001 (Editor's Note: RMC doesn't count, they had a program, folded it, and then brought it back) has never had much luck. After decimating the Michigan Collegiate league during the 90's, the Lancers felt they could step up to the big time. Hmmm might've been a tad early fellas...check out their season by season results (Editor's Note: Don't they edit Wikipedia?) . Despite having some talented alumni like Canadian age grade players Steve Piatek and Devin Stubel as well as current RC CEO Graham Brown, the Lancers have just never been able to perform consistently at the OUA level. A playoff birth in 2005, their first and last trip to the post-season, was a nice touch, but losing their Captain Andrew Ziricino to graduation will not help matters. Coach Andrew Ciavaglia, who doubles as an age grade Ontario coach has helped give the program an air of respectability, and the pieces are there for a return to the playoffs (Editor's Note: they missed the playoffs in '07 by a convert in a loss against Guelph), but CUR Online says put up, or shut up fellas.

Dormant Teams

University of Carleton Ravens (Ottawa, Ont.)

Anyone attending the worst comprehensive school in Canada in the year 2007, now have one more item to add to their growing list of failures: the school cut its rugby program after the 2006 season. Many people blamed this cougar (Editor's Note: Not a cougar) for the mess, while others blamed the old coach's inability to learn basic social skills for the demise of the 2003 bronze medal winning Ravens Rugby team. However, CUR Online blames society, because it's just easier that way.

York University Lions (Toronto, Ont.)

Not much to say here except that former coach Drew MacPherson decided not to continue running the program in 2004 when the OUA announced it would move away from the tiered system and turn the OUA into an Eastern and Western division format. The Lions were never the greatest team, but they had a few passable years in the late 90's and won four championships in the ten years between 1974 and 1984. Their final three seasons resulted in one win total, and inevitably everyone involved had had enough. A shame.

That was Ontario part I, next time on the University Rugby Directory...

Ontario II: Electric Boogaloo.

Wednesday Web-Links

2008-02-27T14:11:00.000-08:00

Here is a four pack of links to hold you over until tomorrow:

1. How about that Peter Jawl? He only played one game this year for the Western Mustangs as he was behind either Andrew Buxton-Forman or Colin Brown on the depth chart, but head coach Tony Roes has to slot him into the starting line-up next year after his performance against the USA.

And while Roes' goal of having Western recognized as the best Uni rugby team in the country is a long way from occurring ( Editor's Note: see Victoria, University of) the 'stangs should have a better year in 2008 than they had in 2007, with some help from the Jawls of Life.

2. Can any one guess what one of the best selling items at the Queen's University bookstore is? Not surprisingly number two on the list. And numbers three and four.

3. A photo gallery featuring the latest snapshots of UVIC rugby players, which is updated fairly quickly after Vikes games.

4. McGill Redmen inside-centre Bryce Thomassin is on a university exchange in the UK, and his summer club, the St. Anne de Bellevue RFC, are chronicling his trip to the Old Country. A good read for any university players interested in plying their trade overseas, while simultaneously getting some culture that may or may not include this (Editor's Note: NSFW).

5. Bonus Non-Rugby Link.

That's it, that's all

UBC Tour

2008-02-27T13:35:00.000-08:00

This was the team UBC took down to Berkley to play the Golden Bears:

1. Dan Fiss
2. John Georgas
3. Luke Dineley
4. Nicholas Daniel
5. Clayton-Hunter James
6. Tim Dereksen
7. Henry McQueen
8. Josh Clarke
9. Nick Waggot
10. Sam Penhall
11. Ben Jones
12. Rain de Guzman
13. Dalen Thierry
14. Harry Jones
15. Shaun McLoughlin

16. Taylor Daziel
17. Jon Anthony
18. Paul Spoering
19. Will Philipson
20. Martin Urbanowicz
21. Jonathan Hill
22. Daniel Weidner

Unfortunately the undefeated (in league play) T-Birds could not hold off the stronger and more experienced University of California team, despite playing what sources described as their best game of the season.

UBC lost 35-17, with tries by former Rockridge Raven Ben Jones and a brace by substitute wing Martin Urbanowicz.

While CUR Online is a fan of Spence McTavish, he is obviously no match for this guy when it comes to deuling 'staches.

The Golden Bears head to Wolfson Field in Vancouver March 26th for the second leg of the misleadingly named "World Cup".

Should be a doozy!

While CUR Online Stepped Out

2008-02-26T13:47:00.000-08:00

A brawl at Connaught Park between the Meralomas and the visiting Vikes.

A Tour through California for the T-Birds.

SFU slides by Chuckanut by a single point.

To come this week:

Recap of the UVIC game and the UBC tour, a possible update from the FISU 7's circuit, and some other treats in store.

(The Weekly Video Double is on hiatus.)

Week Off

2008-02-19T15:54:00.001-08:00

CUR Online is taking this week off for a vacation.

See you next Tuesday.

Oh and if you didn't hear. This happened.

Vancouver Rowing Club, prime candidates to maybe, "Sit This One Out Champ!"

This Weekend's Games

2008-02-14T11:32:00.000-08:00

UVIC @ Rowers

Take the Vikes by 10 in this one. The Rowers had a tough one last week with Bayside and will be looking to win their first game in the New Year. However, UVIC has the depth to compete at a higher level than the VRC boys, especially if Hiriyama is too banged up to play and Rob Turk slides into the 10 spot. They're like the Ken and Ryu of the CDI league, and the Rowers are like Blanka or Chun Li. Completely useless, all of the time.

Brit Lions @ UBC

I would take the T-Birds by at least a try in this one. The ghosts of Beau Chapman will guide the blue and gold to their second win of the Spring Season.

Chuckanut @ SFU

Yes SFU uses non-student players. So what? Create your own site if you have a problem with it. Until that day, CUR Online will do as it pleases. SFU could actually surprise us all with a win here. I'll take the upset special, SFU by 8 on the soggy Burnaby Mountain slopes.

TRU @ Scribes

Thompson Rivers has yet to play a game this season after last week's rain-out versus the Caps. Scribes by an East-end whomping. Let's say, 35 - 5.

There you have it.

Lineups to come for the UBC/UVIC games. As well as a preview of the upcoming UBC Spring Tour.

UVIC Tour Update

2008-02-14T11:11:00.000-08:00

UVIC's recent tour to San Diego wrapped up last weekend and here are some notes from our "Sneaky UVIC Spy".

In their XV's challenge match the Vikes beat Denver quite handily despite the fact that Pat Kearney spent most of his time on the wing with the butterflies.

In the San Diego Invitational 7's tournament, UVIC was split into two sides: a speedy A-side calibre squad and a tight-fives beastman B-side.

The A team lost to the eventual champion CIS 7's team by a try, and finished 1 and 1 in their pool, winning the plate after the UVIC B team defaulted to them in the semis.

The B team lost to Washington, DC but beat a team from Mexico, and also beat Colorado State in their final game.

All in all the tournament was a success for the Vikes... if you measure success in the amount of sun-burns members of the team got.

Wednesday Web-Links

2008-02-13T14:07:00.000-08:00

We start today's links session off with this ridiculous picture of McGill Redmen rugby player Caleb Balloch (from a few years back) showing off his provincial hardware. Note to all aspiring university rugby players out there: If you're going to be an idiot, don't let someone take a picture of you in the process. Or at least get some money for your troubles. Something tells me this fellow did not get anything but ridiculed at the McGill Athletic banquet. Links Me, My Good Man!

1.

Get your smokin' hot t-shirts while supplies last (Editor's Note: Also included, a framed picture of the OUA Championship team. Not included: An authentic Les Gilson, practice-used whistle).

2.

Could the problem with Canadian Rugby be not the lack of talent but the lack of musical taste by todays youth? Check out a number of these newly updated U-20 National Team profiles.

CUR Online's three favourite answers to the question "what's on your iPod":

Mike Berry (Brock University) - Music (Editor's Note: No shit Sherlock!)

Russ Ward (UVIC) - Rod Stewart (Editor's note: Let's hope it's his Faces/Maggie Mae days and not "do ya think I'm sexy" or that god awful theme song from the Three Musketeers).

A handful of players who said "Trance." Trance? Really? CUR Online checked and then re-checked and none of the players selected to the team appeared to be from Woodbridge, Ont.

3.

The discontinued Bishop's University rugby player blog. One entry each from two players, found here and also here. What happened? Maybe they weren't bilingual enough? Whatever. Fun Police.

4.

Here is an article from the Western Gazette about CIS men's rugby issues from a couple of years back. (Editor's note: While this article is top notch, this paper is usually seen by CUR Online as being a pompous rag, run by the same snobby girls who won't let you creepily buy them a drink at one of the local London watering holes. What gives ladies?)

Weekly Video Double

2008-02-12T12:41:00.001-08:00

It's two days till Valentines day, impress your significant other with a...

First up, there is nothing CUR Online loves more than the infrequent and sporadic nature of law school rugby. Beer league, but University rugby nonetheless. This is a UBC Law School "Illegal Beaver" Tour (Editor's Note: +1 for the name) to Edmonton where they faced off against the University of Calgary. The clip is only about 30 seconds long, but it features a solid "head" tackle. There is nothing purer than a bunch of future lawyers and judges getting boozed up and beating each other senseless.

Second, a nice sideline angle of a try by Dalhousie against Acadia in the Maritime Finals this past October. Terrible defence by the right winger, but great Nick Kypreos style body check by the trailing Acadia defender trying to push the ball-carrier into touch.

Neither of these are very long, but next week we'll have some longer, more in depth videos.

Weekend Round-up

2008-02-11T13:53:00.000-08:00

FISU 7's team wins the San Diego Invitational

SFU loses 27 - 0 to Cowichan

Kelowna defaults/reschedules game with UBC on account of highway closures.

UVIC drinks beer and chases babes.

This Weekend's Games

2008-02-08T06:08:00.000-08:00

UVIC @ Bye. I'll take the over/under as a Keg of Pabst after the tournament in San Diego is done. (More to come on their spring tour next week, looks like a couple of the Vikes will be joining their mates in "America's Finest City", but in a much more serious capacity and at a much nicer hotel.)

Kelowna @ UBC. I'll take the high flying T-Birds over the Crows by 12 on account of Kelowna's notorious post-winter break rust and the five hour drive from the Okanagan.

SFU @ Cowichan. I'll take the Piggies by a bundle, after they beat Port Alberni by 33 last weekend. Let's say Cowichan 38 SFU 10 because of the beating SFU took in Richmond last week and all of the White Spot the boys will be eating on the ferry ride over will leave them sluggish.

Thompson Rivers University @ Capilanos (3rds). Bye week + the long drive + Caps having all three teams at home, I'll wager Capilanos in a blowout by at least 20.

And remember you heard it here first...

10 Questions With... Cam Masson

2008-02-07T16:54:00.000-08:00

Basic Info
Name: Cam Masson
School: University of Northern British Columbia
Year at school: 3rd

Program: Finance

Position: Inside Centre

Cam Masson has been one consistent in the inconsistent world of UNBC rugby. As players come and go from the University of No Better Choice, the versatile Masson, who can cover both centre positions as well as fly-half and wing, has time and again proven his worth to the Northern BC team. A former BCSSRU Commissioner’s XV all-star, and Valley Venom U-18 and U-21 rep player, some may wonder how such a solid player could end up taking the snowy fields of the "Gateway to the North" by storm. Masson took time out from his busy schedule of playing MLB 2005 to talk to CUR Online.

CUR Online: Explain some of the logistical problems UNBC has in regards to securing fixtures.

Cam Masson: First there is no league for us to play in. Secondly, the teams in the north (Editor's Note: The Central Interior Rugby Union) have their season during the summer months when none of the university players are here. We also receive very little funding to play away games or enter tournaments.

CUR: Of the few games you do get, this year the team seemed to have some success, how did your annual thanksgiving trip to the Abbotsford RFC's Gobbler Tournament turn out this year, and what teams did you beat along the way?

CM: We made it to the semi-finals, which was farther than we'd ever made it before. We beat the Vancouver Rowing Club and the Western Washington University Warthogs in the pool round, two teams we had never beaten before.

CUR: The level of play in your area has really picked up in the last few years, from the high schools all the way to the local men's side the Prince George Gnats. Have the T-Wolves seen any of this success filter into their program?

CM: Not a lot of local high school players end up coming to play for UNBC. Most of our players are from out of town, although I have seen quite a lot of great young players who have joined the Gnats in recent years from area high schools.

CUR: The UNBC RFC has strong ties to the university community and is seen as a very social club (Editor's Note: Long story short, the "Womyn's Centre" forgot to file paper work at some point during the mid-90's, and the UNBCRFC somehow took their spot and became one of three sponsored university clubs. Take that ladies!). Does the school take you seriously as an athletic program or do they regard the rugby team as great party throwers and not much else?

CM: Yes we are mostly known for our parties (Editor's Note: The UNBC annual Winter Luau occurred in January, it was well attended, as always). Really the only home games we get are at our annual Wolf Pack Tournament in September. This year we had some terrible weather and the amount of spectators was much lower than in years past. The weather makes it very hard to get support, and there isn't a field at the school so it's hard for students to get to and from games. The school provides buses to and from the university for our game against Prince George, which is usually the only game people get to see. We've never beaten them since I've been here, and so people base our program off of one game. It is hard to support a team that you only see lose.

CUR: Any plans for a spring tour?

CM: We are planning to go to the University of Lethbridge for Trollsfest.

CUR: You've had a chance to play against teams from the prairies, how do they stack up in regards to the level of play most players in BC are used to seeing?

CM: We played the University of Calgary in Lethbridge last year; they beat us and were very fit and fast in the backs. Our team is used to playing men's teams which are forward dominated, so it was different seeing a team that was backs-oriented.

CUR: The UNBC Timberwolves have long been known for their legendary characters. Do any in particular stick out amongst the many you've played beside?

CM: A lot of the younger guys don't have a ton of previous experience, or are relatively new to the game. A lot of the great players we've had here always end up transferring schools. Our current president Andrew Holland has played 5 years here and he has been a solid and dedicated player on and off the field for us. Other great players have included Matt Franks, Mike Dixon, Kai Briscoe, Bryan Laserich and the infamous "Big Red". There are also a lot of solid players on the current team.

CUR: Any coaches or players who have really influenced your career?

CM: There are a few experienced players with the Gnats who have shown me a few things about playing rugby.

CUR: What does the future hold for the UNBC squad? Success? Failure? Varsity Status? More great Halloween parties?

CM: I don't think we'll ever get varsity status, but I do see only success in the future. We're only losing two starters after this year, Andrew Holland and me. Most of the players are young, and this is by far our most talented rookie class since I've been here. A lot of the players have real rugby experience and love the game. Because they are so dedicated to the club and the game, I can only see UNBC getting better, especially after this year's success. And of course there will always be more legendary Halloween parties.

CUR: Name three things to do in PG in the middle of winter.

CM: Hang out and cause trouble, drink a few beers at the local bars, go to Prince George Cougars WHL games. (Editor's note: We also would've accepted shoveling snow, Bubble Bobble and Magic Cards).

In his spare time, Masson (right) is also an underground rapper.

Weekly Video Double

2008-02-05T12:57:00.000-08:00

Not only is it Pancake Tuesday, but it's also the day for the...
First up: A University of Queens TV special that showcased rugby in October. (Editor's Note: It is a dual feature; unfortunately the first four minutes are filled up with Basketball) If you're willing to let the video load it's well worth it.

The interviewer is a bit of a knob, but anytime someone interviews Steve "Muscley Arm" Shortly I am all ears. There are some game clips from a McMaster/Queen's game in Kingston from this past September which Queen's won 31 to 10. Former-Marauder Shortly pulled a Hollywood Hogan and double crossed his old McMaster pals, donning the red, navy and gold of the "Golden Gaels" for the 2007 OUA season. (Editor's Note: here's a booster club photo from '85). After this game, many of the players that were interviewed partook in a wine and cheese party, the likes of which the Kingston box-social scene had never witnessed before.

Next up: a big ups is surely in order for a reader who sent me a link to this video of the University of Windsor season in review 2006-2007. Nice touch on the tunes, and good work by including the punch-ups in the video. Nothing looks more official than a University video filled with dirty play and skulduggery. Whatever, it's still worth a look.

Keep those videos coming! See you next week.

The Week That Was

2008-02-04T13:20:00.000-08:00

Get out your jean-shorts and Texas Rattlesnake T-Shirts, it is time for The Week That Was.

Former Humber College Hawk Andrew "Andy" Wilson has secured a spot at Doncaster RFC in England's National Division One. Wilson has not been given much consideration by Rugby Canada in regards to a spot on the NSMT, and had been training in Scotland for the past few months.

To a man who made it to the pros with little domestic help: Gimme An Oh Hell Yeah Andrew Wilson.

UBC Stuffs Geoducks, UVIC Harpoons Sharks, SFU Plays Dead

2008-02-04T12:50:00.000-08:00

According to sources, UBC used the second half to practice and improve upon its weaknesses during their 55-3 win on Saturday. The game was out of reach after about 20 minutes. Lumbering second row Josh Clarke scored two tries and a nice solo effort tally from #14 Martin Urbanowicz put the T-Birds up by a bundle at the break. Great tactical-kicking from fly-half Shaun McLoughlin and better place-kicking from full-back Paul Spoering, kept the Bellinghammers (Bellinghamites? Bellinghamians?) off the board. Word on the street is that Spence McTavish knew the game was in the bag when the T-Birds got off the bus and saw Chuckanut's forward pack. Hopefully the rest of the season poses a bit more of a challenge to the boys in Yellow and Blue.

UVIC won a game which was marred by yellow cards handed out to a couple of veteran Bayside players. However, even at full strength Bayside would not have been able to compete with another strong performance from Nathan Hirayama. "Sneaky UVIC Spy" tells me the game was won and lost in the backs and that Rob "The Winnipeg Jet" Turk had a man of the match calibre game. UVIC is on a Patriot-esque 2 and 0 start, lets just hope things turn out better for the young Vikes.

SFU lost the first of what is sure to be many games. Nothing more to report except that Richmond scored the majority of their points in the first half.

FISU Final Long List

2008-02-04T12:41:00.000-08:00

Here is the final long list of University players travelling to San Diego for their final tune-up before the Cordoba University 7's tournament this summer. Of the 17 guys going to California, only 12 will make it to Spain. Goodluck to all players and coaches this weekend.

Players

Jas Channa (Calgary)
Neil Cosco (Calgary)
Matt Evans (Acadia)
Scott Gill (Concordia)
Cam Grace (Acadia)
Tyler Hotson (UBC)
Jordan Kohn (Arizona)
Adrian Lui (Waterloo)
Matt McLeod (RMC)
Dave Poettcker (Berkley)
Steve Piatek (Windsor)
Daniel Plant (RMC)
Josh Schlebach (Calgary)
Ryan Tomlinson (Western Ontario)
Sam Val Zehan (SAIT)
Stephen Woodward (Langara)
Athar Zia (Waterloo)

Staff

Sean McDonaugh (RMC)
Sandro Fiorino (McMaster)
Simon Chi (Calgary)

Weekend Scores

2008-02-03T17:07:00.000-08:00

UVIC over Bayside 28-15.
UBC over Chuckanut 55-3.
Richmond over SFU 28-3.

More to come on these games tomorrow.

Tom Petty!

UVIC starting lineup vs. Bayside

2008-02-01T12:33:00.000-08:00

Here is the Vikes' lineup vs. Bayside for Saturday's game at Wallace Field in Victoria:

1. Russ Ward
2. Ryan Hamilton
3. Andrew Teidermann
4. Pat Kearney
5. Mike McKay
6. Tommy Hartlin
7. Tom Mckeen
8. Pat Tritschler
9. Jamie Mackenzie
10. Nathan Hiriyama
11. Scott Manning
12. Chris Thompson
13. Doug Matthews
14. Rob Turk
15. Dave Moonlight

Only a few slight changes from last week's lineup: IN is former team BC member, (and ginger kid) Mike McKay; OUT is former University of Laurier Golden Hawk John Moonlight. A switch in the back-row sees rising star Tom McKeen shift to flanker, while Pat Tritschler gets the nod at 8th Man, and Garreth Morrey-Jones takes a seat on the reserves bench. The back line remains unchanged, as the solid halfback combination of Hiriyama and Mackenzie is kept together, and the always dynamic "Doctor" Dave Moonlight and Rob Turk will still be zipping around in the back three.

The big wildcard will be weather. If it is sloppy, the lunch money is on the South-Surrey Sharks who undoubtedly will have a bigger, older, more experienced pack. From what CUR Online has seen lately, the Vikes possess one of their most mature forward packs in a number of seasons (maybe not in age, but in playing style).

BC Rugby News raved about the possibility of UVIC being the BC Premier League's best team this Spring, (if and when all of their weary 7's travellers return). This would be a good time for some of the less-celebrated Vikes to step-up and prove that they can hang with the best teams in the CDI, even without their National Team compadres.

Going out on a limb, I'll take UVIC by three, in a low scoring affair.

OUA In Trouble?

2008-01-31T19:14:00.000-08:00

I heard it through the grapevine from these guys, (Editor's Note: That was probably the worst joke/link we've ever posted. Whatever, times are tough) about some serious changes a-foot for the OUA.

The University of Trent, known previously only for the school's high amount of lesbian students and for the school's proximity to a zoo featuring three (Editor's Note: Three!!!) llamas, is in the process of leaving the OUA's 11 team rugby league and dropping into the Ontario College circuit.

The once proud team, a former top flight mainstay in the old Tier-1/Tier-2 system of the OUA, has fallen on hard times recently.

After being blown-out in a number of games over the last few seasons (including losses to former whipping boys the University of Windsor), the word on the proverbial street is that the Excalibur Men's rugby team will drop down and play in the competitive, but less prestigious OCAA league.

Obviously the team was motivated by the growing gap between the top schools and the smaller or less serious universities, but the move will also cut down on travel costs, with Fleming College of Peterborough being right up the road, and most of the other college teams being situated in and around the Greater Toronto Area.

Rugby it seems, is the fastest growing sport in Ontario, but Canada's most competitive University league (Editor's Note: BC does not have a varsity league, so its not #1. It's science!) has been shrinking rapidly. In 2004, the York Lions, coached by the immortal Drew MacPherson, closed shop. Last year, in a highly controversial turn of events, Carleton University's new Athletic Director implemented a plan to cut nine varsity programs. After much-a-do-about-something, the AD reinstated eight of the nine sports, leaving men's rugby as the only sport left shivering on the cold-hard, Ottawa Valley chopping block.

So what does this mean for the OUA? Obviously, the conferences will need to be re-aligned, as the Western Conference has 6 teams and the Eastern Conference will be left with 4. But as of November, the big talk at the nation's largest University (U of T) was that they would be folding the tents on a program that had become linked with levels of futility previously attributed only to their infamous football team.

Is this the beginning of the end for varsity rugby in Ontario?

This is still in the rumour slash planning stages, but maybe somebody on high at Rugby Canada could begin investing some time in strengthening the league? (Editor's Note: highly doubtful, too busy bungling Canada Games paperwork or hiding the fines levied by the IRB for not properly colouring their jersey crests at the World Cup!)

Remember where you heard it first.

Jack Sheppard!

BC Updates

2008-01-31T15:21:00.000-08:00

UVIC released their 23 man touring squad that will leave for San Diego February 6th. The team will participate in the San Diego invitational 7's tournament that coincides with the IRB 7's stop at Petco Park. UVIC will also compete in an exhibition game against an opponent to be named later.

1. Carter, David
2. Frantzen, Kristian
3. Hartlin, Tommy
4. Kearney, Pat
5. Kerluck, Ryan
6. MacKenzie, Jamie
7. Mallory, Evan
8. Mathews, Doug
9. McKeen, Thomas
10. McQueen, Will
11. Moonlight, John
12. Morrey-Jones, Gareth
13. Perrin, Alex
14. Peyton, Toby
15. Ryan, Andrew
16. Tanner, Dylan
17. Thompson, Chris
18. Thomson, Ben
19. Trasolini, Robert
20. Tritchler, Patrick
21. Ukrainec, Ken
22. Ward, Russell
23. Young, Chris

Also UBC recently released their full spring schedule that includes exhibition games against UVIC, UCLA and 2 games against Cal Berkley.

Superbowl Prediction:

Roughriders by a rouge!

Weekly Video Double

2008-01-29T13:36:00.000-08:00

It's no longer Monday, but it's not yet Wednesday, it's time for the...

1) Apparently, Kamloops is not just another stop on the Trans-Canada highway, as they produce actual rugby players. Without further ado we bring you: Thompson Rivers University against the Vancouver Scribes. It's really short, the camera work leaves much to be desired, and there is a lot of cursing going on, but nevertheless, its a video, so we'll work through it.

2) A UVIC/James Bay game from last March.

Mark Bryant apparently confused the rugby-viewing public with jazz-music enthusiasts, an honest mistake I'm sure, but it isn't the worst background music we've seen in a rugby video thus far (Editor's Note: Waterloo?). This is a typical wet-weather island game and there are a few handling errors and missed tackles, but this was, by all accounts, a terrific game.

Actually this might be Mark "The Beard" Bryant's best-shot video ever, although he's no Scorsese, and this isn't Raging Bull or The Departed. Hell it's not even Gangs of New York, but I'll give credit where credit's due. Big up yourself, MB.

See you next Tuesday with another Video Double.

The Week That Was

2008-01-28T08:43:00.000-08:00

We here at CUR Online are always on the lookout for tasteful new segments.

Unfortunately this is all we could come up with, so here is the new Monday tradition: The Week That Was.

Simply put, each week this segment will feature someone within Canadian University Rugby who deserves an "Oh Hell Yeah."

And at times, this space will be used by CUR Online's Best Ron Burgundy Impersonator to tell someone to maybe, "Sit This One Out, Champ."

Here we go.

He returned this week from what was initially thought to be a serious leg injury (sustained on the pre-christmas sevens circuit) and helped guide the UVIC Vikes over the Velox Valhallians on Friday night at Centennial Stadium.

Gimme An Oh Hell Yeah: Nathan Hirayama.

The University of Ottawa Gee-Gees for whatever reason, refuse to join the OUA, which would balance the schedule and bring top-flight University rugby back to the nation's capital. (Editor's note: They released their fall schedule here.) So to whoever is holding you fellows back from joining the OUA, (be it coaching staff, administration, political pundits, the mafia, your grandparents) we say: Why don't you sit this one out champ?

Whammy!

SFU SWITCH-A-ROO

2008-01-28T08:38:00.000-08:00

SFU's season opener will no longer be at home.

The game location is now at Minoru Oval in Richmond, against the Richmond RFC.

Reason for the switch: too much snow.

There is no shame in starting out the week with a white-rapper joke.

UVIC Season Opener

2008-01-27T18:36:00.000-08:00

Vikes opened the season with a win over Velox 30 - 21, despite a lethargic end to the first half.

UVIC was without the services of a number of their 7's players, including the Oakville Mullet, Sean-Michael Stephen.

The always prompt BCRugbynews has a video up from the game, which can be found here.

We could have done without Pat Kearney poppin' his collar like an idiot, but nevertheless, a solid video.

As the editor of BCRN said in his write-up, the friday night games are a good idea for the CDI League, especially for UVIC, considering there isn't a whole lot to do on-campus at the school on Friday evenings.

Give the kids what they want: a place to get drunk and yell obscenities before they go off into the night to party.

Ovechkin!

UVIC Starting lineup vs. Velox

2008-01-25T15:00:00.000-08:00

Big game tonight as the CDI Spring season kicks-off under the lights at Centennial Stadium on the UVIC campus (7PM PST).

Vikes Starting Lineup vs. Valhallians

1. Russ Ward
2. Ryan Hamilton
3. Andrew Tiederman
4. Pat Kearney
5. John Moonlight
6. Tom Hartlin
7. Gareth Morrey-Jones
8. Tom McKeen
9. Jamie Mackenzie
10. Nathan Hiriyama
11. Scott Manning
12. Chris Thompson
13. Rob Turk
14. Doug Matthews
15. Dave Moonlight

Off The Bench

16. Toby Peyton
17. Patt Riordan
18. Mike McKay
19. Kristian Frantzen
20. Ryan Kerluck
21. Alex Dunse
22. Dave Carter
23. Ben Thompson

Notable: Riordan comes off the bench, Turk shifts into the centres for the newly healthy Hiriyama to start at 10. Vikes are still shorthanded because of the 7's tours, but this lineup should be enough to beat Velox by an uncoverted try.

Vikes by 5.

Full Schedules up for UBC and SFU

2008-01-23T15:31:00.000-08:00

The full Spring BC Wide 1st Division schedule has been released.

Notable Games:

SFU @ UBC, March 1st (CUR Online prediction: Blowout!)

Port Alberni @ SFU, March 15th (Possible battle for last in the league?)

UBC @ Cowichan, March 22nd (Battle of the 2 relegated "Fall Season" teams)

UBC @ Abbotsford, April 5th (Abby is a former Premier League team)

UBC @ Richmond, April 12th (Could be for first place, hopefully no-one will be studying for exams)

Should be a fairly easy draw for the T-Birds, they only face top teams like Abbotsford, Richmond and Kamloops in the tail end of the season, so expect them to be sitting at the top of the table by a large margin for the first month and a half.

As for SFU, they will be lucky to win a game.

University Rugby Directory (Part 3)

2008-01-22T18:35:00.000-08:00

CUR Online has profiled British Columbia and Alberta in the first two segments of this on-going look into the bowels of the Canadian university rugby scene, and this week it is time to explore Saskatchewan's.

Here it goes...

wait for it...

wait for it...

wait for it...

...doesn't exist.

So I guess we'll move on to...

...Manitoba's university rugby scene:

Tier 1 Teams

University of Manitoba Wombats (Winnipeg, Manitoba)

Undisputed University champions of Manitoba because there is nobody else to challenge them. Regardless, this is still a strong club, and the Mighty Wombats have won the Manitoba Premier League title in back-to-back years. They also represented their province at the Inaugural National Invitational Club Championships in Edmonton. (Editor's Note: They came last).

So there you have it. One measly team.

Let's do some math shall we?

2 Provinces
+
2.2 Million People
+
5 Universities
+
17 Colleges
=
1 Post Secondary rugby team?

(Editor's note to Karl Fix: Instead of flying to Cuba, why not help set-up some clubs in your own back yard? And change your facebook picture, it is starting to creep all of us out.)

Not to put down the hard work of those who do care about university rugby in the two provinces, but really, not having more than one team is inexcusable and downright pathetic. Give your heads a collective shake.

That's it for the last portion of the prairies, next up: Ontario.

Weekly Video Double

2008-01-22T18:00:00.001-08:00

Good things always come in twos, its time for the...

This is an all maritime edition of the WVD.

First up, from the muddy banks of the Atlantic Ocean, comes this absolute beauty of a clip. Acadia University versus St. Francis Xavier University, playing for the Nova Scotia championship. Nice hop-step to start it off, and then look closely at the side of the ruck. Not sure what sets off the portly fellow from STFX, but after being rucked out by an Acadian, he loses his senses and goes Paulie Walnuts on the guy. A few purses thrown from either side, and then its every man for themselves. Tasteless!

Question the first: What was the ref doing? He watched the confrontation for a handful of seconds before he even blew the whistle.

Question the second: Where's the rope keeping non-players off the sidelines? Come on now.

Question the third: Where can I get one of those Blue and White old school hoop jerseys? Bad-ass!

And for the deuce:

From world-famous Sackville, NB, its the...Mount Allison University Mounties at last year's Truro 7's tournament. I believe MTA is in Maroon and Yellow, but its hard to tell from the Zapruder-esque camera work. Ladies were you filming this under water? Yikes!

(Editor's Note: If dislocated arms don't tickle your fancy, this one might not be for you!)

Play resumes at about 2:41 mark...

That's it for this week's WVD...

Heath Ledger!

Jones in, Turk out

2008-01-21T13:07:00.000-08:00

Harry Jones of the UBC Thunderbirds will be travelling with the Canadian 7's team, instead of UVIC's Rob Turk who withdrew at the last minute.

UBC and SFU (Partial) Schedules Released

2008-01-20T14:57:00.000-08:00

A partial schedule for the two lower mainland universities was recently announced.

The University of British Columbia opens on the road, February 2nd versus Bellingham, Washington's Chuckanut Bay RFC and then host the Kelowna Crows and the Brit-Lions on consecutive weekends in February. If the T-birds cannot win these three games in a row, after dropping down to the BC 1st Division, then maybe it would be time for Spence McTavish to get an early start on re-building for next year.

On the flip-side, Simon Fraser University, perrenial bottom feeders in the 1st Division, will be lucky to win even one of their opening games. The Clan open at home against the pre-Christmas league champs Richmond RFC, and then travel to Cowichan for a tough game in the always hostile "Piggie Dome". They play Chuckanut at home on February 16th, and can only hope that the Geoducks get held up when crossing into Canada. (Editor's Note to Chuckanut: don't try this, the border guards will be expecting it).

Hopefully someone in the BCRU offices will see fit to release the rest of the schedule, but don't hold your breath.

Canada 7's

2008-01-20T14:52:00.000-08:00

Any Canadian rugby fans travelling to Wellington, NZ or San Diego, California in the next few weeks will be interested in Rugby Canada releasing the roster of the team travelling to the two 7's tournaments.

See if you can guess what all 12 players have in common according to the media release? (Editor's note: Phil Mack and Ciaran Hearn play for UVIC?)

Might as well have called it the UVIC 7's team and got it over with.

Big ups and goodluck to all of the players representing their country in February.

10 Questions With... Jeff Robinson

2008-01-17T14:51:00.001-08:00

Basic Info

Name: Jeff Robinson
School: University of Waterloo
Year: 3
Program: Recreation and Business
Position: Fullback/Wing
Club: Oakville Crusaders/Waterloo County

Two-time OUA All-star Jeff Robinson is one of the up and coming stars of the University of Waterloo rugby team. After an off year in 2006 for the proud program, the 20-year-old Robinson helped pull the Warriors back into the playoffs with his strong attacking play in the back three. Jeff was kind enough to sit down with CUR Online and answer our world renowned 10 Questions.

CUR Online: Why did you choose Waterloo?

Jeff Robinson: I chose Waterloo for two reasons. One the city has a great university atmosphere because of the two schools (Waterloo & Laurier) being so close, and two it is a great academic school with the best co-op program in the country.

CUR: How has playing in the OUA prepared you for other rugby experiences (Editor's Note: Robinson suited up for the Niagara Lightning of the RCSL Under-20 league last summer)?

JR: The OUA has definitely helped me improve as a player. Playing a higher level would have been difficult if I didn't already have two years of OUA experience. The university game is fast paced and is also a lot of fun.

CUR: You were an OUA all-star the past two years does that put any sort of pressure on you to set an example for your teammates or take on extra responsibilities in games?

JR: Whether I am an all-star or not hasn't really put much pressure on me. I enjoy taking on extra responsibility both on and off the field, but if I have a bad season and don’t become an OUA All-Star next year, it won’t really affect me. I would much rather our team be more successful, than win OUA awards.

CUR: The Warriors got a new coaching staff this year. What were some of the major changes implemented?

JR: Actually a new coach and an assistant coach stepped up as co-head coaches. We really focused on off-season training and recruiting. Our coaches work very hard to get the extra funding we needed to run our annual High School Camp, and we have recruited some very talented athletes both in Waterloo and all across the country. (Editor's Note: The Warriors have a handful of players from both BC and Quebec)

CUR: Have you had any teammates over the years that you've really learned from or that have helped you with your game?

JR: Yes, all of my veteran teammates have helped me become a better player. Playing with [former Waterloo scrum half] Blyth Gill and [current Waterloo centre] Adrian Lui definitely helped me improve as they are great rugby players. Other players who I have learned a lot from are [graduating Waterloo fly-half] Andy Reitzel and the Bauer twins.

CUR: What do you guys have to do to finally beat Mac or Western in the playoffs?

JR: We beat Mac last year in the regular season which was a huge win for us, not only for our standings but for our mental game. Both Mac and Western have amazing rugby programs and the amount of depth they have is unbelievable. It will be very hard to beat either of these teams in the playoffs, but we just have to go out and play our best, and play tough and smart.

CUR: Explain the rivalry between Laurier and Waterloo and how much those games mean every year.

JR: The rivalry we have with Laurier is as big as the Leafs and the Sens (Editor's Note: He's not kidding, except nobody involved is as ugly as Mats Sundin). Before the 2006 season we had not lost to Laurier in 15 years, but they've beaten us the last two years in the regular season, and they were both hard fought games. When I came to Waterloo the impression was that what ever happens in every other game, we will somehow find a way to beat Laurier. Admittedly, they have a great program there with a lot of young talent, and we will have to play our best game to beat them next year.

CUR: Any predictions for next year's OUA season?

JR: Truthfully it is impossible to predict the OUA rugby season as people witnessed this year. I predict that the teams in the OUA will continue getting closer talent-wise, and Mac and Western will not necessarily dominate every single game. I can't predict who will win, but I have a strong suspicion that Waterloo will be fighting to get through to the next round in the playoffs.

CUR: Any future plans in rugby?

JR: Rugby is a great sport and I hope to be playing it for years. I would like to play for the Niagara Thunder and possibly even Canada East, but I cannot promise anything.

CUR: Is it true that the majority of students at Waterloo spend Saturday nights spelling naughty words upside-down on their graphing calculators?

JR: This is absolutely true...but not the rugby team. But to be serious the University of Waterloo is a great school with tons of great people. I’m sure there are people who likely do that, but I personally don’t know anyone.

Jeff Robinson slicing through the University of Toronto's defence.

That's it for this week's edition of 10 Questions.

Wednesday Web-Links

2008-01-16T16:46:00.000-08:00

Not too much going on today, but here are a few links to tide you over until the good stuff tomorrow.

First up. After spending a lot of time on the "intra-web" or whatever the kids are calling it these days, CUR Online found that quite a lot of University team's websites are boring, sad and unimaginative. Not so if you're the Queen's RFC. (Editor's Note: A policy at CUR Online is to never credit Queen's University with anything other than being pompous, but in this case, I'm not even mad, I'm impressed.)

Second. I added it to the "Links Sideboard", but I'm really enjoying this site. There's stuff from all over the place, and they also find time to put up videos with the occasional Canadian featured.

Third. A link to what CUR Online guarantees (Editor's Note: guarantee void if you are a party pooper) is the greatest indoor 7's tournament of all-time: The Truro Indoor 7's.

Traditionally a large number of University sides from the Maritimes, Quebec and even Ontario enter this tournament, which is located just outside of Halifax, NS.

Some of the locals are a bit much. But the rugby is good, and it is really the only avenue for teams East of Winnipeg to test themselves against other University sides, albeit in 7-a-side form.

You can read about the tournament here (Editor's Note: Under Construction) and I believe registration forms are here.

Last but not least, not really University rugby (unless you count that the picture includes Sean-Michael Stephen, former Western Ontario Mustang, second from right), but still proof of one of the most bizarre marketing competitions in the history of Canadian Rugby.

Weekly Video Double

2008-01-15T11:47:00.000-08:00

Its Tuesday which means its time for another....

First up, from the former "Future Home of the Nashville Predators", comes the University of Waterloo highlight reel.

Thumbs up to the touch pass at 1:05, and also to Paul "The Animal" Auzins power-try at 2:48.

Thumbs down to the music. I hope this doesn't start a trend. The last thing anyone wants is highlight videos with either of these songs as background music. Or perhaps this little gem.

And here is a feature on former Men's Medium and University of Victoria rugby player, Gareth Rees.

Well that's it for this edition of the CUR Online Video Double. If you have a video you would like to be considered for inclusion, please do not hesitate to send the link to the editor at: reg_dwight_rugby@hotmail.com

FISU Update

2008-01-15T11:18:00.000-08:00

Here is the first long list released for the University 7's team that will be travelling to San Diego in February and then on to Cordoba, Spain this summer.

Neil Cosco (University of Calgary)
Matt Evans (Acadia University)
Scott Gill (Concordia University)
Cam Grace (Acadia University)
Tyler Hotson (UBC)
Jordan Kohn (University of Arizona)
Adrian Lui (University of Waterloo)
Matt McLeod (Royal Military College)
Steve Piatek (University of Windsor)
Dan Plant (Royal Military College)
David Poettcker (University of California-Berkley)
Carl Pocock
Josh Schleback (University of Calgary)
Jarod Selby (Brock University)
Chase Sereda (UBC)
Simba Sithole (McMaster University)
Carl Stahlbrand (University of Western Ontario)
Ryan Tomlinson (University of Western Ontario)
Steve Woodward (Langara College)
Athar Zia (University of Waterloo)

More to come about the FISU team in the weeks ahead.

For now check this game out.

Phil Collins!

Riordan the Newest Addition to Vikes Squad

2008-01-14T09:46:00.000-08:00

Although the team already possesses a roster filled with age grade and senior national team members, the University of Victoria has recently added 2007 RWC participant, and former Burnaby Lake hooker, Pat Riordan for the Spring CDI season.

Riordan (shown above in this top secret picture, watching his favourite episode of Will and Grace) played in all four of Canada's games at the recent World Cup, and recorded his first international try against Japan in the infamous 12-12 tie. Riordan, born in London, Ont but raised in Burnaby, BC, played his high school rugby at Tamanawis Secondary and spent time with various clubs in Australia post-graduation.

Some might say, "Pat, aren't you a little old to be heading back to school?", but we here at CUR Online applaud any decision that involves post-secondary education. Besides, he won't be the oldest guy on the team, as early estimates put Dave Moonlight's date of birth as somewhere in the neighbourhood of 1965.

According to sneaky Island spies (shown here.) this is who we can expect to see in UVIC's lineup now that the RWC is over, the Jutes season has finished, and some injuries have healed.

Potential Vikes XV

1. Andrew Tiedeman (St. Albert, AB)
2. Pat Riordan (Burnaby, BC)
3. Russ Ward (Toronto, ON)
4. Pat "Cap'n Crunch" Kearney (White Rock, BC)
5. Mike Mackay (Vancouver, BC)
6. Neil Meechan (Victoria, BC)
7. Adam Kleeburger (White Rock, BC)
8. Tom McKeen (Vancouver, BC)
9. Jamie McKenzie (Valhalla)
10. Rob Turk (Winnipeg, MB)
11. Dave Moonlight (Victoria, BC)
12. Ben Grant (North Vancouver, BC)
13. Phil Mackenzie (Oakville, ON)
14. Gordie Sawers (West Vancouver, BC)
15. Ty Shannon (Port Alberni, BC)

Front Row Depth
Ryan Hamilton (West Vancouver, BC)
Toby Peyton (Kelowna, BC)

Back/2nd Row Depth
John Moonlight (Pickering, ON)
Kristian Frantzen (Richmond, BC)
Tommy Hartlin (Mt. Denson, NS)
Will Simpson (Oakville, ON)

Back Depth
Nathan Hirayama (Richmond, BC)
Jordan Kozina (Brantford, ON)
Chris Thompson (St. Albert, AB)
Doug Mathews (Vancouver, BC)
Alex Dunse (White Rock, BC)

Ten Questions With... Chris Cunningham

2008-01-10T21:31:00.001-08:00

Basic Info
Name: Chris Cunningham

School: McMaster University
Year in school: 4th
Program: Electrical Engineering
Position: Back Row
Club(s): Barrie

Chris Cunningham was an integral part of two Mac OUA championship teams. After tallying 4 tries in 21 career regular season games he took time out of his busy schedule to sit down with CUR Online and be the first person to answer our Ten Questions.

CUR Online: What were your thoughts about Mac's season this year?

Chris Cunningham: It wasn't our best year. There is no doubt that we had the talent to succeed, but we didn't come together as a team as well as we should have. I think that one reason for our weak performance was the lack of a strong leadership presence. In past years the Pletch brothers stepped up and kept everyone in line but without their presence the team suffered this year.

CUR: Were you dissapointed in the end results?

CC: Of course I was disappointed that we didn't win this year. With that being said I do think that Brock deserved to win this year. When it came down to it they were harder and hungrier than anyone else. (Editor's Note: Brock defeated Mac 11-5 in the OUA semi-finals and then defeated Queen's 22-6 to take the 2007 championship.)

CUR: Phil White has put together quite a program at McMaster, is there anything in particular you've learned from him that has helped you develop as a player?

CC: Phil has taught me a lot throughout my time at Mac. He has a leadership style that is very laid back and positive. The most important things I have learned from him is to have fun, hit hard, and...wash my hands (he is a huge promoter of good hygiene).

CUR: How do you find the OUA as compared to other levels of rugby you've played?

CC: OUA rugby can be a lot of fun. It's a very specific group of people that you play against: young, athletic university students. I think that it makes for a fast paced and interesting game.

CUR: Any teams/opponents you hated playing against?

CC: Not particularly.

CUR: Any teams/opponents you loved playing against?

CC: I have always enjoyed playing against Western, because there is such a big rivalry between the schools . Everyone just got so much more pumped up for those games, and it made the hits harder and the plays bigger.

CUR: Any future plans with rugby?

CC: I am graduating this year and I am thinking about moving out to BC. If that happens then I will hook up with a club out there.

CUR: Why'd you choose Mac?

CC: I was recruited as a linebacker for the football team. After about three weeks of football, I decided that the "dark-side" wasn't for me. I laced up the old World-Cups and joined the Mac Squad at full back.

CUR: You got to play along side the Pletches, did it surprise you that they made it all the way to the Rugby World Cup?

CC: No, the Pletches are some of the best players that I have ever played with or against. I think that they are bound for big things in rugby and the selectors realized it. There is no doubt in my mind that they will be a big part of Canadian rugby in the future. On top of their great rugby skills they are both good guys with great personalities.

CUR: Who wins in a race: Simba Sithole or Donovan Bailey riding a bicycle?

CC: Tough one...I'm going to have to go with Simba.

Cunnigham (left) keeping it real with an assortment of McMaster characters

Rugby Scholarships in Canada

2008-01-10T12:55:00.000-08:00

Rugby Canada recently released plans to develop a Rugby Canada Foundation.

Essentially, the members of the 2007 RWC team decided to give back to the rugby community by helping to establish what amounts to scholarships for young Canadian rugby athletes, or as the story states:

"Qualified recipients, who show promise for improving Canadian Rugby both in Canada and around the world and by administering resources for donors."

Quick side note: I would like to big-up the much maligned Aaron Abrams (not to be confused with this guy) whose game many don't respect. But it must be noted that his work off the field, including helping out with this project, should be recognized by all who love the game in Canada.

Basic criteria for the scholarships:

Open to both male and female applicants
Be a high performance athlete
Selected to a Canadian national team at some point during their young careers
Must be enrolled in their first year of post-secondary education
Have a strong academic record in their program of study

So basically, we're looking at between 50 and 100 athletes tops who could be eligible on the first three mandates alone, and you can probably cut that number in half when considering the final two qualifications.

While it is a good idea, and CUR Online applauds it, the fact remains that as long as rugby continues to be a non-nationally sanctioned university men's sport, only a handful of athletes in this country will receive some financial benefit from the game.

Consider this: thousands of scholarships are awarded every year by the NCAA for the big money making sports like basketball and football, but there are also numerous full-rides handed out for niche sports, like swimming, field hockey and lacrosse. In Canada, a new push has been made to give young Canadian athletes some financial aid, BUT ONLY in CIS sports.

If you are a good high school rugby player, but you've never been selected to a national team, (and kids who have never been selected to national teams have access to CIS athletic scholarships all the time in other less economically popular sports, namely volleyball, golf and wrestling) then you're stuck on the outside looking in.

While risking the chance of being labelled traitorous, CUR Online suggests that young rugby players could try looking south of the border for help.

Here are a few suggestions:

Arkansas State University
Texas A&M University
Penn State University
Idaho State University
University of New Mexico
Palmer Chiropractic College
Truman State University
Stony Brook University

If going to the States for post-secondary education is not something a high school rugby athlete might consider, there are ultimately other ways to "get paid":

Like appearing here. (Helpful tip: he doesn't like shaking hands!)

Or maybe you could turn out like this kid?

Good Luck!

Rugby Canada Depth Chart

2008-01-09T14:44:00.000-08:00

The ever-elusive, sporadically released and eagerly anticipated Rugby Canada Depth Chart was posted on RC's webpage today.

As always, a significant amount of players listed have recently played for, or currently play for a Canadian University.

Player's ranking on the depth chart is in parentheses

At loose-head prop:

Dan Pletch (2) of Aix in France, formerly of McMaster University
Andrew Tiedemann (6) of UVIC
Doug Woolridge (7) of Cowichan RFC, formerly of the University of Ottawa

At hooker:

Mike Pletch (2) unattached, formerly of McMaster University
Ryan Hamilton (3) UVIC

At lock:

Tyler Hotson (7) UBC

At blind-side flanker:

Richard Andrews (6) McMaster University

At open-side flanker:

Adam Kleeburger (2) UVIC
Neil Meechan (4) UVIC

At 8th man:

Aaron Carpenter (1) Brantford Harlequins, formerly of McMaster University
Sean-Michael Stephens (2) Oakville Crusaders, formerly of University of Western Ontario
Mark MacSween (6) Brock University

At scrum-half:

Ed Fairhurst (1) Cornish Pirates, formerly of UVIC
Jamie McKenzie (4) UVIC

At fly-half:

Nathan Hirayama (3) UVIC
Rob Turk (4) UVIC
Steve Piatek (5) University of Windsor

At centre:

Dave Spicer (2) Auch in France, formerly of UVIC
Jordan Kozina (4) UVIC
Phil Mackenzie (5) UVIC

At wing:

Dean Vam Camp (3) Velox Valhallians, formerly of University of Western Ontario
Kris Witkowski (6) UVIC
Gordie Sawers (7) UVIC
Jared Selby (12) University of Brock

At fullback:

Harry Jones (4) UBC

Quite a formidable list, and you could even throw in Aaron Abrams, Ryan Smith and a few others who played for Universities in the past.

Bodes well for the future.

I'll now let the gentle words of Wilford Brimley rock you to sleep.

University Rugby Directory (Part 2)

2008-01-08T13:48:00.000-08:00

This is the second part of a continuing series on university rugby in Canada.

Last time the focus was on British Columbia.

This week we move across the Rocky Mountains to Alberta.

There is very little information to be found on the league and teams of Alberta's Institutes of Higher Education. In year's past the established university teams, like the University of Calgary played in a fall league sanctioned by the Alberta and Calgary Rugby Unions against men's club sides.

Now it seems that there are enough teams to create and maintain a collegiate league. However the major problem with the leauge is that of competition, as strength of sides varies greatly. In 2006 the U of C Dinos beat Alberta handily 63-5 to win the University Championship (nick-named the Brown Jug), and in 2007 they beat Mount Royal College 44-7 to take the title for the third year in a row.

Nevertheless, a university league is a step in the right direction and it is hoped that more teams will join the league in years to come.

Tier 1 Teams

University of Alberta Golden Bears (Edmonton, Alberta)

No website available, however they did thump UNBC last spring. Imagine this guy as your openside flanker.

University of Calgary Dinos (Calgary, Alberta)

The program was restarted in 2000, and renamed the Dinos (from the Stags). Former Canadian International Dave Lougheed coached the squad for three years, and the team has been deemed a competitive club by the university. A solid base of players (they sometimes run two sides), a vast alumni network, quality coaching and a handful of Canadian and Alberta age grade representatives on the team bodes well for the future.

University of Lethbridge Trolls (Lethbridge, Alberta)

A recreational club, loosely affiliated with the U of L Student's Union, the club hosts the popular "Trollsfest" every spring which is attended by university and club sides from the Praries, BC and North-Western United States.

Tier 2 Teams

Mount Royal College Wildcats (Calgary, Alberta)

Small Calgary college competes with the big boys, with success, beating Lethbridge and Alberta on the way to league runners-up status.

Red Deer College Kings (Red Deer, Alberta)

Situated somewhere between Calgary and Edmonton in the rolling Albertan hills, the Red Deer boys apparently don't have the internet yet. Founded by the Reverend Leonard Gaetz in 1891, Red Deer takes its name from an old Cree phrase meaning Elk River. To pass the time, here is a snapshot of Red Deer's most famous son, with a face only a mother could love.

Weekly Video Double

2008-01-08T12:50:00.000-08:00

1) First up:

Stumbled upon this video of the Ontario University Athletic All-star 7's team versus the Michigan Collegiate league all-stars in Windsor, Ontario. A bit of a massacre I must say, final score of 40 some odd points to nothing. But if you want to watch sloppy, no-look passes, and a couple of big hits, this is the video for you. You have to love the guy behind the camera chattering away, and also how the crowd gets off on this game. Good to see the game growing in non-traditional markets.

2) And to finish the Weekly Double:

Not a YouTube video, but you can watch it nonetheless (must have Quicktime). Hey would you look at that? It's our first mention of the Quebec University circuit. Some clips from an entertaining league game between Concordia and Bishop's in October. Big ups Clive Gibson!

Final score was 15-13 for Bishop's, but Concordia's #9 has some impressive dangles and there are a few solid tackles on both sides. Looks like they're playing on football field-turf, not sure how that works out in regards to carpet burns, but goodluck mes amis.

Take A Look, It's In A Book, The Reading Rainbow

2008-01-07T14:49:00.000-08:00

Came across a compilation of sports stories the other day.

Thought it might be something to check out.

The book is by Jay J. Coakley and Peter Donnelly, and it's called Inside Sports.

A chapter of the book is devoted to tales of debauchery by Canadian University rugby players from the 1980's.

Some of the anecdotes are fairly amusing, but it is interesting to note that the authors found that this kind of behaviour is no longer as tolerated or celebrated within the university rugby community.

Probably a good thing considering men's rugby needs all the help it can get in becoming a CIS sport.

You can check out a preview of the book here.

The rugby portion begins at page 67.

"Reader beware you're in for a scare" - RL Stein, Goosebumps

UVIC Schedule Released

2008-01-06T15:09:00.000-08:00

UVIC's Spring Schedule was released today (big ups to BCRugbyNews for this one)

Jan. 25 vs. Velox Valhallians
Feb. 2 vs. Bayside Sharks
Feb. 16 @ Vancouver Rowing Club
Feb. 23 @ Vancouver Meralomas
Mar. 1 vs. UBC Old Boy Ravens
Mar. 8 @ James Bay Athletic Club
Mar. 15 @ Capilanos
Mar. 29 vs. Castaway-Wanderers
Apr. 5 vs. Burnaby Lake

One has to think that with all of their top players healthy the Vikes should have a good shot at making the 6 team playoffs.

Pencil in the March 8th game at JBAA as a must watch, and the Friday night season opener against Velox should also be worth the price of admission.

Island spies have told me Adam Kleeburger may return to the Vikes line-up after christmas, also no word on the extent of Nathan Hiriyama's injury or the time-frame for his return, but it is apparent that he will not be playing for the Vikes this year.

We will have UBC's schedule up as soon as it is released.

University 7's Update

2008-01-06T15:04:00.000-08:00

More trial camps have been announced for the FISU 7's team

Eastern ID Camp @ McMaster University, Saturday January 12th.

Alberta ID Camp @ University of Calgary, Saturday January 5th.

Pacific ID Camp @ University of Victoria, TBA January TBA.

All sessions will be run by Simon Chi

The scholars will also be entering the San Diego 7's tournament in February in conjunction with the IRB 7's tournament at PetCo Park.

UVIC will also be entering this tournament on their semi-annual spring tour.

Weekly Video Double

2007-12-27T01:05:00.000-08:00

1. Not current by any means, but still a good video, (despite Doug Crosse's best Bob Cole and Harry Neal impersonation).

The OUA final between McMaster and Western from 2005, played at Fletcher's Fields

2. Again, another old video (from March of '07), kudos to Mark "The Beard" Bryant on this one. University of Victoria versus the Canadian Development XV.

Not sure why he didn't include Pat Kearney's (UVIC) knock-on in the end zone in this package, but look for some solid argy-bargy at the 4:00 mark, and Dave Spicer (UVIC player, but playing for the Dev. XV) has a powerful run at about 2:45. Robin McDowell's (UVIC) tackle at 3:20 on former Western Ontario Mustang Dean Van Kamp is also a highlight.

Enjoy!

Rugby as an NCAA Sport

2007-12-27T00:50:00.000-08:00

Tony Brown over at gather.com has written an editorial about the potential of rugby as an official American University sport.

It seems Canada is not the only place where roadblocks and uncertainty are keeping the University game from thriving.

Here's the link (thanks to Large Gust of Wind for the heads up).

I would also like to wish a (late) Merry Christmas to all readers and their families.

University Rugby Directory (Part 1)

2007-12-20T18:33:00.000-08:00

This is the first in a series of articles chronicling University Rugby in Canada.

We will begin with British Columbia.

BC does not have a College or University league. Its two most well known teams, UBC and UVIC play Californian Universities annually, and also compete in the CDI Premier Division in the BCRU.

Most of the other University sides are sprinkled throughout the BC First Division and BC Third Division. On occasion UNBC has been known to participate in Western Canadian tournaments against Alberta Colleges and Universities.

Note: The University Name, Location, and Website will be provided, and then any relevant information will be provided below.

Tier 1 Teams

Simon Fraser University Clan (Burnaby, BC)

A sports club affiliated with the university, and allows non-students and alumni to play and be members. The school has also joined forces with the Mountain Old Boys club to boost their numbers.

University of British Columbia Thunderbirds (Vancouver, BC)

Easily the second best University team in the country, they are afforded full varsity status by UBC and run three teams, the T-Birds, the Totems and the Braves (Freshmen).

University of Victoria Vikes (Victoria, BC)

The Premier University side in Canada, with a number of current and former players now filling the senior men's and age grade national teams. They are also afforded full varsity status by UVIC, and run three teams, the Vikes, the Norsemen and the Jutes (Freshmen).

Tier 2 Teams

Douglas College Royals (New Westminster, BC)

Technically this team has merged with the Pocomo Men's side, however they still have a number of Douglas College students in their 3 divisions.

Thompson Rivers University Barbarians (Kamloops, BC)

A third division club, not supported by the university from the looks of things.

University of Northern British Columbia Wolfpack (Prince George, BC)

Play a limited schedule on account of the weather but have fared well at tournaments like Trollsfest in Lethbridge and the Gobbler in Abbotsford.

Dormant Teams

British Columbia Institute of Technology (Burnaby, BC)

Apparently as of this year, Simon Smolden, who is affiliated with the Burnaby Lake RFC, is trying to revitalize this program.

College of the Rockies/Rocky Mountain Rogues (Cranbrook, BC)

Exhibition Team which has had no recorded games since 2001, and played many of their games against Albertan Opponents.

Malaspina College (Nanaimo, BC)

Could not find any mention of a program since the 1970's.

Trinity Western University Spartans (Langley, BC)

Merged with Douglas College in 2003, had previously been a Fraser Valley 3rd Division side.

Next Week:
Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba

Canada at FISU 2006

2007-12-20T00:48:00.000-08:00

Canada finished as Bowl Champions, beating Malaysia (Yes, Malaysia) 43-0 to take the hardware.

They also beat Kazakhstan 5-nil. No word on whether or not either of these fellows suited up.

The team that represented Canada:

James Buchanan (St. Lawrence University)
Neil Cosco (University of Calgary)
Scott Gill (Concordia University)
Jordan Kohn (University of Arizona)
Matvei Kootchin (University of Victoria)
Liam Mills (University of Alberta)
David Poettcker (Universty of California - Berkeley)
Gordie Sawers (University of Victoria)
Blake Thomas (University of Calgary)
Sam Val Zehan (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology)
Jason White (Concordia University)
Steve Woodward (University of Calgary)

Interesting that there were no players from the OUA, as the team relied heavily on players from Alberta (Head Coach Simon Chi was affiliated with the University of Calgary Dinos rugby team).

Current Head Coach Sandro Fiorino is in charge of the University of McMaster Maurauders Women's team and Assistant Coach Sean McDonaugh is head coach of the RMC Paladins Men`s team, so perhaps the make-up of the team will be different this year.

As well, it is interesting to note that Jordan Kohn played for the Collegiate All-Americans against Canada U-23 during the two game series played at Oakville and Fletcher's Fields this summer.

Here is Kohn hard at work for the Arizona Wildcats RFC

FISU Tryouts in Kingston

2007-12-20T00:30:00.000-08:00

Open tryouts were held for Canada's Rugby 7's team to be entered in the 2008 World University Games.

The trials took place November 24th at the Royal Military College in Kingston.

Reports put the amount of attendees at 10, although a number of players had alternate rugby commitments.

The tryouts were for players based in Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes, and players from RMC, Windsor, Acadia and Waterloo (among others) attended.

No word yet on when the Western Trials are.

Here is a video from the 2006 games in Rome, Italy:

Welcome

2007-12-20T00:27:00.000-08:00

Hello,

I would just like to welcome everyone to the new home of University Rugby in Canada.

This blog will be updated daily with stories, videos, pictures, and if time allows, interviews and opinion features.

If you would like to contribute in any way, please do not hesitate to contact me.