Rugby Union News

Home

Competitions

National Competitions

North American Club Rugby

North America 4 Rugby

Canada East squad full of RCSL talent for 2008 Campaign opener

Canada East has named its squad for the 2008 IRB North America 4 competition, the first leg of which, will be held at Fletcher's Fields in Markham, Ontario on May 17th when East takes on Canada West.

Bulging with returning talent and tapping into the well developed Rugby Canada Super League ranks of the 2007 Eastern champions Niagara Thunder and runners up the Newfoundland Rock, the first hit out of the 2008 IRB NA4 season should be a bit more balanced affair with the later start and the core of players having played in either the British Columbia Canadian Direct Insurance League or in the early stages of the current eastern Canadian season.

The Niagara Thunder have ten players in the East roster, including national team and 2007 Rugby World Cup players Aaron Carpenter (No. 8) and prop Mike Pletch. The Rock have seven members on the squad including Ciaran Hearn, the fullback from Conception Bay that has enjoyed a dynamic rookie season in the International Rugby Board's Seven's Series, while Mike Webb, the World Cup Canadian team back rower from the Vancouver Rowing club is in the lineup representing the Newfoundland entry as well.

For East coach Simon Blanks - who coaches with the Newfoundland Rock, the number of Thunder players on the squad makes sense based on the excellent season they had in 2007.

"The Thunder had an absolutely excellent season and as such deserve the lion’s share of the representation," said Blanks from St. John's.

"Obviously I am delighted with Ciaran’s progress," he went on, "His testing scores have been excellent, so (Strength and conditioning coach )Tyler (Goodale) tells me, and if his Sevens form carries over into his 15’s he should prove to be a genuine threat from fullback."

Some pretty big names from the CDI will be in the lineup as well - as eastern based players have swollen the western league in recent winters. Wing Dean Van Camp (Aurora Barbs/Velox Valhallians), props Devin Stubel (Brantford and Castaway Wanderers) and Russ Ward (Irish Canadians/UVic Vikes/Canada U20) along with scrum-half Jamie Mackenzie (Crusaders/UVic Vikes/Canada U20) all feature into the lineup.

A new face in the Canada East squad is 21 year old Andrew Wilson, who after a partial season in Scottish rugby has signed with the Doncaster Knights of England's National Division One where he has impressed with their mid-week squad from the flanker position. Blanks is keen to see how the young man from Oakville fits into the East squad.

"We are looking forward to seeing what Wilson has to offer and to gauge how moving to Europe to play rugby has benefited his game," said Blanks.

In its third year, the North American Four boasts a number of graduates from its ranks to international rugby, as well as a number of returning players since it's 2006 inception.

"This early leg is a definite opportunity for the players to stake a claim for the Churchill Cup squad and further boost the ranks of international graduates," offered Blanks.

Dean Blanks of The Rock, (Coach Blanks' younger brother) a steady fly-half with good distribution skills, is in his first NA4 after qualifying for representative rugby for Canada through residency requirements. Balmy Beach back row Scott Dunham, is starting his third campaign and he joins returning vets such as New Brunswick duo Chauncey O'Toole and Jebb Sinclair, Rock flanker Kevin Parfrey and fly-half Steve Piatek of the Thunder and Brantford Harlequins. While he enjoys the development success some of the Atlantic based players are displaying - it is with a twinge of regret as well.

"In my Atlantic development capacity it is bittersweet to see Chauncey and Jebb move so far forward by being carded, only for them to get swallowed up by the Tide for the Super League season," admits Blanks. "They will prove to be a huge loss to the New Brunswick Black Spruce but a boon for their club."

Some of the selections in 2008 are done on various criteria, and without the pressure of a World Cup year. Blanks says they were looking for players that are on form in the winter league in British Columbia, have vast playing experience in general at a high level or have represented the East team previously, making them a known quantity to the coaching staff. With such a short assembly time, familiarity with playing patterns, basic terminology and teamwork enter the equation.

"Experience is vital if we are to have any hope of toppling the West" explains Blanks. "Big game players, who won’t panic under pressure are going to be integral to our success in the tournament… especially the first game."

Canada East won two games in the 2007 campaign, downing both US entries during the second Canadian leg of the tournament. East beat the Falcons 33-22 on a wet day at Brockton Oval, and then downed the Hawks 29-13 in Burnaby. A last second try by the Hawks on finals day gave the East fourth place in the tournament overall in a 34-29 loss.

Canada East 2007 Results

April 7th - 2007 Canada West 26 Canada East 24 - Thunderbird Stadium, Vancouver
May 9th - 2007 Canada East 5 Falcons 20 Steuber Rugby Stadium - Palo Alta, California
May 12th - 2007 Hawks 36 Canada East 23 Steuber Rugby Stadium - Palo Alta, California
June 29th- 2007 Canada East 33 Falcons 22 - Brockton Oval, Vancouver, BC
July 3rd, 2007 Canada East 29 Hawks 13 - Burnaby Lake Sports Complex, Burnaby, BC
July 7th, 2007 Hawks 34 Canada East 29 CFV Exhibition Park, Abbotsford, BC

The NA4 continues with the next two rounds incorporating the USA Hawks and Falcons playing the two Canadian sides this July 15th and 19th at Shawnigan Lake School (Shawnigan Lake, BC) on Vancouver Island in British Columbia with the semi-final and final rounds slated for Denver, Colorado July 29th and August 2nd.

Name (RCSL Club/Local Club)

Galdric Baisset (Quebec Caribou/Club de Rugby de Quebec)
Dean Blanks (The Rock/Dogs RFC)
Aaron Carpenter (Niagara Thunder/Brantford Harlequins/James Bay AA)
Scott Dunham (Niagara Thunder/Balmy Beach)
Andrew Fagan (The RockSwilers RFC)
Ciaran   Hearn    (The Rock/Baymen RFC/Castaway Wanderers)
Jordan Kozina (Niagara Thunder/Brantford Harlequins/U VIC)
Jamie   Mackenzie         (Niagara Thunder/Oakville Crusaders/Univ of Victoria)
Chauncey O'Toole        (Crimson Tide/Belleisle Rovers/Castaway Wanderers)
Nolan    Ott        (Niagara Thunder/Aurora Barbarians/Velox)
Kevin    Parfrey (The Rock/Swilers RFC )
Colin     Penney             (The Rock/Dogs RFC)
Steve    Piatek   (Niagara Thunder/Brantford Harlequins/Vancouver Rowing Club)
Mike     Pletch   (Niagara Thunder/Oakville Crusaders)
Carl      Pocock (Calgary Mavericks/Cross Keys-Wales)
Jarod    Selby    (Niagara Thunder/Brantford Harlequins/James Bay AA)
Mike     Scholz (Niagara Thunder/Oakville Crusaders)
Jebb     Sinclair             (Crimson Tide/Loyalists RFC/Castaway Wanderers)
Devin    Stubel   (Brantford Harlequins/Castaway Wanderers)
Dean    VanCamp (Crimson Tide/Aurora Barbarians/Velox)
Russ     Ward    (Niagara Thunder/Irish Canadians/Univ of Victoria)
Mike     Webb   (The Rock/Vancouver Rowing Club)
Andrew             Wilson (Doncaster Knights UK)
Robert Wilson (The Rock/Swilers RFC)
Kris      Witkowski          (Crimson Tide/University of Victoria)
Doug    Wooldridge       (Crimson Tide/Lindsay RFC/Cowichan)