rugby

Veteran forward Laura Russell, shown in this undated hahdout photo, and the third-ranked Canadian women’s rugby team return to action for the first time in almost two years when they take on the sixth-ranked U.S., in Glendale, Colo., on Monday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Rugby Canada

Canadian women’s rugby 15s team returns to action after two-year layoff

Canada-U. S. matches are part of the Pacific Four Series, a new competition that launches in full next year

Veteran forward Laura Russell, shown in this undated hahdout photo, and the third-ranked Canadian women’s rugby team return to action for the first time in almost two years when they take on the sixth-ranked U.S., in Glendale, Colo., on Monday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Rugby Canada
The UBC Thunderbirds and the Pacific Pride warm up before their exhibition game at the Black Sheep Rugby Club on Oct. 23, 2021. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Port Alberni Black Sheep fall to visitors in 2021 home opener

Port Alberni rugby club also hosted two high-level teams in Coastal Cup action

The UBC Thunderbirds and the Pacific Pride warm up before their exhibition game at the Black Sheep Rugby Club on Oct. 23, 2021. (ELENA RARDON / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
The U.S. has launched a bid to host both the men’s and women’s Rugby World Cup with Vancouver billed as a potential host city. Canada’s Corey Thomas tackles Chile’s Nicolas Garafulic during the second half of a Rugby World Cup 2023 qualification match at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C., on Saturday, October 2, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Vancouver could help host as U.S. launches Rugby World Cup bid

U.S. bid is to host the men’s tournament in 2027 or 2031 and the women’s event in 2029

The U.S. has launched a bid to host both the men’s and women’s Rugby World Cup with Vancouver billed as a potential host city. Canada’s Corey Thomas tackles Chile’s Nicolas Garafulic during the second half of a Rugby World Cup 2023 qualification match at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C., on Saturday, October 2, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Port Alberni Black Sheep rugby head coach Jas Purewal prepares to put his players through their paces during practice Oct. 14, 2021. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Port Alberni Black Sheep are back competing on the rugby pitch after 16-month break

UBC T-birds, Pacific Pride will play Coastal Cup game in Port Alberni Oct. 23

Port Alberni Black Sheep rugby head coach Jas Purewal prepares to put his players through their paces during practice Oct. 14, 2021. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Cowichan’s Robin Gusse takes the ball out of a ruck during the Piggies’ win over Port Alberni at the Herd Road pitch last Saturday. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Cowichan Piggies power past Port Alberni in season opener

Bruce Moss and Louis Gudmundseth score two tries apiece

Cowichan’s Robin Gusse takes the ball out of a ruck during the Piggies’ win over Port Alberni at the Herd Road pitch last Saturday. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
Canada's Alysha Corrigan, front left, passes the ball as Britain's Megan Jones grabs her during a women's HSBC Canada Sevens rugby match in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)

Women’s World Rugby Sevens Series returns to Langford next spring

Men coming to Vancouver, as global series announces pair of 2022 events in Canada

Canada's Alysha Corrigan, front left, passes the ball as Britain's Megan Jones grabs her during a women's HSBC Canada Sevens rugby match in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)
A member of the University of Victoria women’s rugby team secures a line-out against the University of Alberta on Sept. 26. (Photo courtesy of the University of Victoria)
A member of the University of Victoria women’s rugby team secures a line-out against the University of Alberta on Sept. 26. (Photo courtesy of the University of Victoria)
Canada’s Renee Gonzalez, left, is tackled by United States’ Sarah Levy during HSBC Canada Sevens women’s semifinal rugby action, in Vancouver, on Sunday, September 19, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Rugby Canada provides details of its high-performance program review

Panel named and parameters given for review triggered by complaints from the women’s sevens team

Canada’s Renee Gonzalez, left, is tackled by United States’ Sarah Levy during HSBC Canada Sevens women’s semifinal rugby action, in Vancouver, on Sunday, September 19, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Ciaran Breen (back row, second from right) and Matt Percillier (back row, fourth from right) join their teammates at the airport in Victoria before leaving for the Vancouver Sevens this weekend. (Liz McDougall photo)
Ciaran Breen (back row, second from right) and Matt Percillier (back row, fourth from right) join their teammates at the airport in Victoria before leaving for the Vancouver Sevens this weekend. (Liz McDougall photo)
Starlight Stadium in Langford will host the opening game in Canada’s men’s 15s home-and-home series against Chile on Oct 2. Here Canada back Ben LaSage (in red) attempts to tackle U.S. centre Bryce Campbell during a Rugby World Cup 2023 qualification pathway match earlier this month. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, David Zalubowski)

Langford qualifier against Chile looms large in Canada’s Rugby World Cup hopes

Starlight Stadium hosts game 1 in home-and-home series on Oct. 2

Starlight Stadium in Langford will host the opening game in Canada’s men’s 15s home-and-home series against Chile on Oct 2. Here Canada back Ben LaSage (in red) attempts to tackle U.S. centre Bryce Campbell during a Rugby World Cup 2023 qualification pathway match earlier this month. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, David Zalubowski)
Canada’s Jake Thiel, left, jumps for the ball against Australia’s Nick Malouf during the Challenge Trophy final at the World Rugby Sevens Series action in Vancouver, B.C., March 10, 2019. Only seven of the men’s core teams are taking part in next week’s HSBC Canada Sevens in Vancouver with New Zealand. Fiji, Australia, Argentina, Japan, France and Samoa among those missing. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ben Nelms

Field for Canadian rugby sevens events diluted by pandemic-related issues

New Zealand. Fiji, Australia, Argentina, Japan, France and Samoa among countries missing

Canada’s Jake Thiel, left, jumps for the ball against Australia’s Nick Malouf during the Challenge Trophy final at the World Rugby Sevens Series action in Vancouver, B.C., March 10, 2019. Only seven of the men’s core teams are taking part in next week’s HSBC Canada Sevens in Vancouver with New Zealand. Fiji, Australia, Argentina, Japan, France and Samoa among those missing. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ben Nelms
Olympian Ghislaine Landry, captain of Canada’s women’s rugby sevens team, is taking over the City of Langford’s Instagram page this week. (City of Langford/Instagram)

Rugby Olympian highlights favourite spots in Langford

Ghislaine Landry, Canada’s womens sevens captain, is gearing up for her second Olympics

Olympian Ghislaine Landry, captain of Canada’s women’s rugby sevens team, is taking over the City of Langford’s Instagram page this week. (City of Langford/Instagram)
Victoria teenager Quinn Ngawati, who became the first Canadian-born player to appear for the Toronto Wolfpack, interacts with fans after their game against the Gloucestershire All Golds in Kingstone Press League 1 rugby action in Toronto on Saturday, July 8, 2017. Ngawati now wears the colours of Rugby United New York. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Neil Davidson

Young Canadian back Quinn Ngawati enjoying life in Major League Rugby

Former Wolfpack coach Paul Rowley called Ngawati a ‘rough diamond’

Victoria teenager Quinn Ngawati, who became the first Canadian-born player to appear for the Toronto Wolfpack, interacts with fans after their game against the Gloucestershire All Golds in Kingstone Press League 1 rugby action in Toronto on Saturday, July 8, 2017. Ngawati now wears the colours of Rugby United New York. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Neil Davidson
Oak Bay local Lachlan Kratz (red, middle) has signed with pro rugby team NOLO Gold in Louisiana. (Contributed photo)

Oak Bay athlete signs with pro rugby team

Lachlan Kratz at 21 is now NOLO Gold’s youngest member

Oak Bay local Lachlan Kratz (red, middle) has signed with pro rugby team NOLO Gold in Louisiana. (Contributed photo)
MacDowell Rugby Academy founder Robin MacDowell and national men’s rugby sevens player Pat Kay, both graduates of Cowichan Secondary, speak to students on Wednesday, Feb. 17 about the new academy program that will debut this fall. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Vancouver Island high school unveils rugby academy

Athletes from B.C., across Canada and around the world will benefit from world-class coaching

MacDowell Rugby Academy founder Robin MacDowell and national men’s rugby sevens player Pat Kay, both graduates of Cowichan Secondary, speak to students on Wednesday, Feb. 17 about the new academy program that will debut this fall. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
Cowichan Secondary School graduate and national team hopeful Justin Marinier trains with a small group of rugby players at Maple Bay Elementary School on Sunday, Jan. 31. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Cowichan-based rugby stars won’t let pandemic slow them down

‘Once this is over, they’re going to be locked and loaded’

Cowichan Secondary School graduate and national team hopeful Justin Marinier trains with a small group of rugby players at Maple Bay Elementary School on Sunday, Jan. 31. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
Port Alberni Black Sheep David Symington, left, and Conner Alexander chase down Cowichan Piggies’ Louis Gudmensmith during the Black Sheep’s home turf victory in Div. 1 men’s rugby action back in 2019. SUSAN QUINN PHOTO

Black Sheep Rugby Club gets a hand up to help it through COVID-19

Port Alberni club receives provincial sport relief grant

Port Alberni Black Sheep David Symington, left, and Conner Alexander chase down Cowichan Piggies’ Louis Gudmensmith during the Black Sheep’s home turf victory in Div. 1 men’s rugby action back in 2019. SUSAN QUINN PHOTO
Mill Bay’s Will Percillier (left) is congratulated by a teammate after his first match and first try in France’s top professional rugby circuit. (Stade.fr PB)

Vancouver Islander scores in French professional rugby debut

Mill Bay product and Brentwood grad Percillier gets late try for Stade Français

Mill Bay’s Will Percillier (left) is congratulated by a teammate after his first match and first try in France’s top professional rugby circuit. (Stade.fr PB)
Mill Bay’s Will McDougall-Percillier trains with French pro rugby club Stade Français in Paris. (Submitted)

Vancouver Islander named Rugby Canada’s top young player

Mill Bay’s Will McDougall-Percillier “really stoked about getting this award”

Mill Bay’s Will McDougall-Percillier trains with French pro rugby club Stade Français in Paris. (Submitted)
Port Alberni Black Sheep coach Jas Purewal, centre, talks to son Gavin, right, and another Black Sheep player during a home game against Cowichan Piggies on April 7, 2018. (PHOTO COURTESY CHRIS WILSON, ISLANDWAVEPHOTOGRAPHY.COM)

Port Alberni Black Sheep coach earns B.C. Rugby lifetime achievment honour

Jas Purewal named Jack Patterson Memorial Trophy recipient

Port Alberni Black Sheep coach Jas Purewal, centre, talks to son Gavin, right, and another Black Sheep player during a home game against Cowichan Piggies on April 7, 2018. (PHOTO COURTESY CHRIS WILSON, ISLANDWAVEPHOTOGRAPHY.COM)