User:GordyB/Rugby

The Canadian national rugby union team (also known as the Canucks) compete in the Churchill Cup, the Super Powers Cup and the Rugby Union World Cup.

The sheer size of Canada means that talent is scattered across the country making the job of coaches and selectors very difficult. THe climate is also unfavourable for playing rugby union for much of the year. The province of British Columbia is something of a stronghold as it doesn't have quite as severe a climate.

History
Rugby football in Canada dates back to the 1860s. Introduction of the game and its early growth is usually credited to immigrants, the British army and the Royal Navy in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Esquimalt, British Columbia.

In 1864 the first recorded game of rugby in Canada took place in Montreal among artillery men. At that time no international agreed set of rules existed and the Rugby Football Union of England would not publish its official set of rules until 1871. Shortly after the game in Montreal Trinity College in Toronto published the first set of Canadian rugby rules.

In 1874 when the first North American international game took place in Cambridge, MA between McGill and Harvard universities. Later that same year a second game was played, but this time Harvard were the hosts, and the game was played with early "American Football" rules. Today, in carrying on the oldest annual sporting competition in North America, McGill University and Harvard University continue the tradition of competing for the Covo Cup, at alternating venues each November, using the original rules of rugby football. McGill University can therefore lay claim to being the oldest rugby club in Canada, but due to rugby's popularity among students and the McGill University Rugby Football Club's affiliation with the university, the claim as the oldest independent rugby club goes to the, still active, Westmount Rugby Football Club.

A Canadian Rugby Football Union was established in 1884, although this organisation went on to become the Canadian Football League, as rugby football in Canada evolved into Canadian Football. In 1909, Lord Earl Grey, then Governor General of Canada, donated a trophy to the CRU to be awarded for the Rugby Football Championship of Canada. This trophy became known as the Grey Cup. However the rules used in Canada were vastly different to the rules used in countries that were part of the IRB. In the years that followed, the CRU would legalise forward passing and make other changes that would make Canadian football a totally different sport.

During World War 1 and 2 rugby union was suspended but in the inter-war period there was something of a renaissance. In 1919 a Canadian Services team played overseas against representatives from England, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia. The formation of the Rugby Union of Canada took place in 1929 and this was followed by a tour of Japan by a Canadian representative side in 1932 to help foster trade between the two countries. They lost 9-8 and 38-5 in the two test matches.

The original Canadian Rugby Union disbanded just before World War 2. The Rugby Union of Canada were re-formed in 1965 as the Canadian Rugby Union.

The Canadian national team put in some strong performances over the past decade or so as high-tide marks for performance. They went out in the quarter-final of the 1991 World Cup 29-3 to New Zealand; they famous beat Wales at Cardiff Arms Park, France in Canada 18-16; achieved a 27-27 draw against Ireland in 2000, and a 26-23 win against Scotland in Vancouver in 2002. The win over Scotland was the start of a series of seven victories before losing to Wales in Cardiff and France in Paris.

They also won the now defunct Pacific Rim tournament three years in succession in 1996, 1997 and 1998. Since 2003 Canada has played host to the Churchill Cup, but has yet to make the final. In 2004 and 2005 they replaced China in the Super Powers Cup.

In recent years Canada has slipped out of the top 10 rugby union nations, but has never-the-less provided top class players to teams in England, Wales and France. Dan Baugh, Rod Snow, Mike James, Colin Yukes and Jamie Cudmore all play in Europe. Like all second and third tier nations the Canadians have had problems having these players available for important games.

The Canadians qualified for their fifth world cup in a row, the 2003 World Cup in Australia. Their sole win was a 24-7 result against Tonga.

Famous players

 * Al Charron
 * Norm Hadley
 * Gareth Rees