Canada off to dismal start at NZI Sevens

I was able to tune into a New Zealand sports radio broadcast of the New Zealand - Scotland game.  It sounded like New Zealand was pretty much in control the whole game.  I hope to actually view some of the sevens soon in an online delayed stream. 

So Canada was upset 31-5 against South Africa on the opening game for Canada at the New Zealand International Sevens.  South Africa was probably outplaying Canada for most of the game, unfortunately.  Possession is so important in rugby sevens and I bet SA kept ball in hand for a large portion of the game. I am disappointed to know that the boys could only manage one try though.  However, this is the first showing of Canada at the IRB Sevens World Series this year.  Canada did not play at the Dubai or South Africa Sevens tournaments.

Canada play Fiji in about 30 minutes.Fiji being the reigning NZI Sevens champs, it will be a nasty looking game from our side of things I am sure.  Good Luck Boys, you need it!

Rugby Sevens Starter Kits free to schools and organizations across Canada

The Canadian Rugby Foundation believes that the success of Canada in international rugby is contingent upon developing the sport at an early age. 

In an effort to assist with introducing young Canadians to the game, 20 “Rugby Sevens Starter Kits” (5 Gilbert training balls (size 4 or 5), Burge kicking tee, 50 cones, 20 mouth guards, 10 pinnies, whistle, hand held ball pump, coaching material and a gear bag) will be given away at no charge to elementary/middle/high schools and/or community organizations across Canada by the end of 2010.  The goal is to help introduce and encourage the growth of the game of sevens rugby which will be part of the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. 

Kits will be awarded upon successfully completing the on-line application by December 17th, 2010.  Consideration will be given to those schools/organizations that will have the greatest impact in their community for developing youth (co-ed) rugby programs that don’t currently have rugby available.

If you would like to sponsor a “Rugby Sevens Starter Kit”, you can do so by donating $500 (tax deductible).  A Kit will be shipped to a deserving program or you can request a Kit be shipped to a specific school/organization of your choice on your behalf.  Only 30 Kits are available by donation. 

Sponsored kits will be distributed on a first come first serve basis.
Successful recipients agree to allow the Canadian Rugby Foundation the right to utilize the name of the approved project in any promotional material the Canadian Rugby Foundation chooses to produce. 

In addition all receipts will be required to submit a brief summary including photos as to how the “Rugby Sevens Starter Kit” benefited their program.

For more information on the Canadian Rugby Foundation, please visit our website www.canadianrugbyfoundation.ca or call (250) 386-5350 or email info@canadianrugbyfoundation.ca.

I am going to send this on to my daughter's school.  This is absolutely fantastic!

Support the Canadian Rugby Foundation

Canada defeated Spain in test on November 13th, 2010

Canada scored 8 tries for a decisive 60-22 victory over the hosting Spanish team.

“There's definitely excitement about playing any Test match and when you're playing a country for the first time,” Barnes said. “We're excited about the win, but there's obviously some disappointment with the late tries, so that's something we need to fix.” -forward coach Neil Barnes

On November 20th Canada played Georgia and lost 22-15.

"Our set play wasn't great," he offered.  "We put ourselves in a bad position - with some bad clearance kicks allowing Georgia to get close to our line and put us under pressure."

He says it wasn't until the final twenty minutes that Canada started to exert pressure and spread the ball to the backs.

"The last 20 minutes we played better but it was a bit too late," Crowley said.

"We have got to learn how to play teams around us in the rankings," he went on. "That (Georgia) team was  a pretty good sort of team so good on them to do what they did today."

So the next game for Canada is against Portugal this Saturday, November 27th, 2010.

I am sure there will be a strong recovery from the last game!   I hope I can catch the game online somewhere.  Go Canada Go!