YOUNG HOWLER COMES A LONG WAY IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME
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Last November this 18-year-old rugby player was named to the CIBC’s “Next Team” on Nov. 18 in Toronto, part of a group of 67 athletes from across Canada ranging in age from 15 to over 50, representing a wide range of sporting activities.

The team was announced after a two-day orientation camp, where athletes received financial literacy, media, sport leadership and life skills training. They were also introduced to several current and former Canadian elite level mentors, including Josh Cassidy, Mark de Jonge, Stephanie Dixon, Kara Lang, Kyle Shewfelt, Mary Spencer, Bruny Surin and Simon Whitfield.

Belchos was part of the Canadian Women’s Maple Leafs, a team that outscored their opponents by a resounding 235- in the 2013 NACRa 7's tournament after which National team coach John Tait, named her to the roster of the 2013-14 IRB (International Rugby Board) Women’s Sevens World Series. THer first tournament was in Dubai.

Being named to the CIBC Next Team comes with several tangible benefits. First and foremost, Belchos will receive $5,000 a year for the next three years for training expenses.

Congrats and all the best in your rugby career Emily. We are proud to say you are part of our Howler family !!

HONORARY HOWLERS CAPTAIN LORNE CARDINAL PART OF AN AMAZING DOCUMENTARY FILM
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Howlers honorary captain Lorne Cardinal (former TV "CORNER GAS" actor who acquired the rights from CTV to use DOG RIVER HOWLERS as our club name) along with his partner Monique Hurteau have produced "THE MAKING OF KING LIER" which is a documentary of one man’s dream to play King Lear, a dream 40 years-in-the-making, culminating in Canada’s first ever all-Native cast doing Shakespeare on the main stage of an A-house theatre.

“The Making of King Lear” (working title) is a documentary film about the National Arts Centre (NAC) production of King Lear directed by Peter Hinton & Assistant Director Lorne Cardinal with August Schellenberg as King Lear and an all-Native castincluding Billy Merasty, Tantoo Cardinal, Craig Lauzon and Lorne Cardinal.

Read more about the actual King Lear play - http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/theatre-and-performance/nacs-all-aboriginal-king-lear-begins-to-take-shape/article4104767/

1.Thomas Aponte - Venezuela
2. Nicolas Arancibia - Chile
3. Jake Bowan - Barbados
4, Christian Henning - Mexico
5. Rosy Rivera - Mexico (women)
6. Waisali Serevi - Fiji
7. Sean Ward - Barbados

Howlers Nanyak Dala and Lucas Hammond are part of the Canadian National 7's Rugby Team that will be playing in the Tokyo 7's on March 22-23 followed by the Hong Kong 7's the following weekend. Congratulations and good luck to you and the entire team. Oh Canada and Howuuuuuuuuu !!

Monday, March 17, 2014 - Submitted by Katelyn McCreary -Rugby Canada Communications

Playing rugby at the international level is not a foreign concept for Maria Samson. The 31 year old has played in every fifteens test match since her debut against South Africa on August 2, 2011 in Oakville, ON, adding up to a grand total of 11 international games.

The Quebec native has been playing rugby on and off since high school, and consistently since 2008 when she moved to Calgary, AB. She doesn’t have time to do much else now; if she is not training she is either rehabbing or coaching in her spare time outside of work. Everything she’s been doing has been in preparation for the 2014 World Cup happening this summer, and she can’t imagine doing anything else.

This summer Canada will compete at the Women’s Rugby World Cup (WRWC) and Samson knows it will take hard work and dedication for the whole team if Canada wants to come out on top.

“Rugby is one of those really neat sports where one individual cannot carry a team on its shoulders. You need a full team of committed athletes in order to be successful; everyone must pull their own weight,” Samson explained.

The WRWC is the premiere international competition for women’s rugby and 2014 will be the seventh edition of the quadrennial event. The competition is being held in France in August 2014, and Canada has been placed in a competitive pool.

“WRWC is the showcase events for Women’s Rugby in the World. I think we have a fantastic pool with England, Samoa and Spain. Having England in our pool is something extra special as we have a continuous rivalry with them via Nations Cup,” Samson said.

“I think the England versus Canada game will be one of the most exciting pool games of the tournament.”

Canada has a history with England, squaring off twice at Nations Cup last summer where Canada came out with two victories including a 27-13 win in the Grand Final. This was the first time Canada had beaten England in Fifteens in over 20 years. Most recently, the Red Roses defeated Canada with a final score of 32-3, during a three-match tour in England during November 2013. This loss has left Canada with a burning desire for a victory in their next match, this is sure to make the 2014 World Cup an exciting event.

Since receiving her first cap in 2011, Samson’s main focus has been on this tournament.

“It would make me extremely proud to be selected for the World Cup team. It has been my focus since getting my first cap and I would like to contribute as much as possible to the team’s success,” she said.

“Being selected for World Cup is only the first step, getting selected for games while there and having top performances as a team is the next.”

The team has five months to train their hardest so they can compete at their best at this world stage competition. It is a moment each of these athletes dreams of and for Samson it is one she will never take for granted.

“It means everything to wear the team Canada jersey,” Samson said.

“Every pre-game National Anthem, I’ve shed at least one tear. I often have to stop singing completely for fear of breaking into a full on cry. It never gets old to pull on the Maple Leaf.”

Four Howlers ( Ben Lesage, Jordan Sandover-Best, Djustice Sears-Duru and Matt Mullins ) have been selected Canada Men's National U-20 Rugby team that is touring England in preparation for 2014 IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy competition in Hong Kong beginning on April 7. Congratulations booys . Oh Canada and Howuuuuuuuuuuuuu !

Canada men’s U20 England Tour Roster
Name, Club, School

Liam Beaulieu, Bayside Sharks
MacBryan Bos, University of Victoria, University of Victoria
Andrew Coe, Markham Irish
Neil Courtney, University of BC, UBC
Charles Debove, SABRFC/James Bay
Graham Dobbs, McMaster University, McMaster University
Justin Douglas, Abbotsford Rugby Club, University of Victoria
Joe Erlic, University of Victoria, University of Victoria
Roddy Giles, Newcastle Falcons Academy (Newcastle, England), Sedbergh School
Harjun Gill, University of British Columbia, University of British Columbia
Connor Hamilton (Captain), University of British Columbia, University of British Columbia
Matt Harrison, Assassins RFC/UBCOB Ravens
Sam Hayward, Sydney University Football Club, Sydney University
Sawyer Herron, Oakville Crusaders/University of Victoria, University of Victoria
Josh Larsen, Taieri Rugby Club (New Zealand), University of Otago
Ben Lesage, Calgary Canucks, University of British Columbia
Adam McQueen, Queen's University, Queen's University
Matt Mullins, Belleville Bulldogs/Queen's University, Queen's University
James Pitblado, University of Victoria, University of Victoria
Lucas Rumball, Queen’s University, Queen's University
Jorden Sandover-Best, UBC Thunderbirds, University of British Columbia
Djustice Sears-Duru, Castaway Wanderers, Camosun College
Simon Sexton, Ealing Trailfinders (Camberley, England)
Jack Smith, Peterborough Pagans/James Bay
Reid Tucker, University of Victoria, University of Victoria
Max Van Dijk, Oakville Crusaders/University of Guelph, University of Guelph
Nathan Yanagiya, University of Victoria, University of Victoria

Canada Men’s U20 coaching staff
Mike Shelley, Coach
Kieran Crowley, Assistant coach
Graeme Moffatt, Assistant coach
Todd Silverthorn, Manager
Anthony Dixon, Doctor
Jessica Smith, Therapist