4 Howlers selected to Canadian National Men's 7's team for the IRB's Seven's World Series Tournament in Glasgow Scotland
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John Moonlight, Adam Kleeberger (HOWLER), Mike Scholz, Connor Braid, Mike Fuailefau (HOWLER), Phil Mack, Harry Jones, Conor Trainor, Sean Duke, Sean White, Pat Kay ( HOWLER), Duncan Maguire (HOWLER)

The Canterbury International High Performance Unit ( New Zealand) offers a select group of players, coaches and support staff from around the world an opportunity to visit and view the inner workings of the most successful provincial rugby union in the world.

Howlers Ellisa Alarie, Kayla Mack , Areille Dubissette-Borrice and Amanda Thornborough are in the starting lineup of the Canadian National Women's Team to face the USA in the Can-Am Cup at on Saturday April 19 at 6:30pm ET/3:30pm PT at Westhills Stadium and the Canadian Rugby Centre of Excellence in Langford, BC.

Unfortunately national team second row stalwart and Howlers player and VP of the women's program could not be part of either of the two games due to injury.

The Dog River Howlers Rugby Club are pleased to announce that Colombian National Women’s captain Claudia Alejandra Bentacur Sueacun from the Gatos Rugby Club in Medellin along with Colombian National Men’s captain Sebastian Mejia Gil from the Duendes Rugby Club in Medellin are joining the respective Howlers sides for the May 24th and 25th Medellin Rugby 7's.

With these to two players the Howlers will now have the honor of national team players from 7 countries having played for them including Barbados (2) , Chile (1) , Fiji (1), Mexico (2), Venezuela (1) , Colombia (2) and of course Canada (38). Arguably the greatest 7's player in the history of the game Waisale Serevi (The Magician) has played with our club.

Eight Howlers (see below) will be part of the Shawnigan Lake First XV that have been invited to compete in the 16 team Sanix World Youth Rugby Championship (U-18 high school) being played from April 28 to May 5 in Japan. Each team is nominated by their country's rugby union so for all extensive purposes it serves as the world high school rugby championship.

In 2012 the Shwanigan Lake Stags were also the Canadian representatives to this prestigious tournament. That year they came away with a 4 and 2 record including a 17 - 14 win over New Zealand's Kenston Boys, their countries reigning school boys champions.

Shawnigan Lake School over the years has also been very supportive of a number of the Howlers fundraising endeavours including purchasing a van for a cancer patient, upstart Afghanistan rugby and helping purchase a wheelchair accessible van for quadriplegic former rugby player. Obviously for them "it's more than a game, it's a way of life".

All the best to all 8 Howlers and the entire Stags team representing Canada in Japan !!!

Oh Canada and Howuuuuuuuuuu !!!

Shawnigan Lake Stags Lineup
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1 Mostyn Findlay - Howler
2 Dirk Scholtz
3 Sam James
4 Brandon Baker - Howler
5 Olly Martin
6 Axel Santos
7 Michael Henderson
8 Matt Beukeboom
9 Phillipe Norris
10 Marshall Fremlin
11 James O'Neill
12 Cole Milne
13 Aiden Vandenberg
14 Ben McKinnon
15 Simon Gray - Howler
16 Wesley Wong
17 Mike Coldwells - Howler
18 Conor O'Neill
19 George Barton - Howler
20 Christian Grillo - Howler
21 Tyler Beselt
22 Avery Vandenberg
23 Cal McMaster - Howler
24 David Lepine
25 Carl Smit - Howler
26 Alejandro Barron
Head Coach -Tim Murdy
Assist Coach - Jeff Williams
Manager- Jerry Kusters
Academic Support - Eric Venablles

Competing Tournament Teams

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8 Overseas teams

　St Edmund's College(Australia)
　Shawnigan Lake School(Canada)
　SGS Filton College(England)
　Lycee Louis de Foix(France)
　Pucheonbuk High School(Korea)
　Hamilton Boys' High School(New Zealand)
　Paarl Boys' High School(South Africa)
　The British Schools(Uruguay)

8 Japanese teams
　
　Keio Senior High School(Kanagawa)
　Toin Gakuen High School(Kanagawa)
　Osaka Toin High School(Osaka)
　Josho Gakuen High School (Osaka)
　Tokai University Gyosei High School(Osaka)
　Gose Industrial High School(Nara)
　Chikushi High School(Fukuoka)
　Higashi Fukuoka High School(Fukuoka)

HOWLERS SELECT MEN AND WOMEN'S TEAMS TO MEDELLIN SEVENS RUGBY TOURNAMENT IN COLOMBIA
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The Howlers are sending both a men and women's team to the Medellin 7's in Colombia on May 24 and 25. See lineups below.

As part of this tour the two teams will hold a joint training session with the Mirmidones Moravia Rugby Club (/www.facebook.com/MirmidonesRC). This contact came about via Damon Weigl a member of the Regina Rogues RFC that has spent 12 months out of the last four years working in this community including with their upstart rugby club.This neighbourhood was built on the Medellin garbage dump, and for 50 yrs people seeking refuge from the rural violence would come build a home on that garbage mountain. Everyone and everything tried to push them off but they hung on. Through the 90’s Moravia was labelled the most violent neighbourhood in the world, but today it is an amazing story of resistance. Here is a video of the story. There are no subtitles but the video is a good visual - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj-kT4p--lk .

The Howlers have donated 2 bags of rugby stuff (jerseys, shorts, shirts, cones , balls ...) to the Moravia Rugby Club which will distributed to them (see attached picture) .

Women's team :
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*1. Gill Allen - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
*2. Davine Burton - Toronto, Ontario / St. Thomas, Jamaica
*3. Karley Guebert -Calgary, Alberta
*4. Patricia Jaworski - Calgary Alberta / Pine Hill, Quebec
5. Jennifer Lemon - Hamilton Ontario / Owen Sound, Ontario
6. Sydney Nolan - Kingston Ontario / Chatham, Ontario
*7. Emily Ricketts - Hamilton, Ontario
*8. Charlotte Vallieres - Quebec City, Quebec
9. Dakota Weir - Edmonton Alberta / Raymond, Alberta
10. Amanda Williams - Calgary, Alberta / Souris, Manitoba

Men's Team:
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*1.James Acker - Montreal, Quebec
2. Taylor Baker - Regina, Saskatchewan
*3. Cole Mosychuk - Kelowna, BC
*4. Simon Fader - London, Ontario
*5. Conrad Rybkowsky - Abootsford, BC
*6. Lucas DeBeer - Abbotsford, BC
7. Jesse Lee Hayman - Toronto, Ontario
*8. Ellis Gray - Halifax, Nova Scotia
*9. Nicolas Arancibia - Santiago, Chile
*10. Jered Douglas - Abootsford, BC
11. Sebastian Pearson - London, Ontario

* capped Howler

"it's more than a game, it's a way of life"

Karl Fix- Club President

HOWLERS ANNOUNCE U-17 GIRLS SQUAD FOR THE HEIDELBERG INTERNATIONAL YOUTH 7'S JUNE 7 & 8
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The Howlers are truly fortunate to have Shannon Kane and Derek Daypuck coach these inaugural Howlers U-17 women's sevens sides. Both are former Canadian National Team players who are also highly regarded coaches. A further thanks to Shannon for the yeomen's work she did assembling this expressive group of aspiring young rugby players, many who I'm sure will be playing for Canada in the near future. Hats off also to the numerous Canada U-20 women's coach Sandro Fiorin along with numerous high school and and provincial coaches/officials from across Canada who were very supportive of this endeavour.

I believe these will also be the first ever Canadian U-17 select women's 7's side competing internationally .

The Howlers are also sending for the third time a U-16 boys team to this same tournament. That roster will be announced next week.

We of course decided to send two U-17 girls teams because of the high number of quality players who showed interest in being part of this. We are very proud of our women's program which is headed up by Maria Samson a current Canadian National Team player who last year was voted most outstanding female player.

To date besides our 2 Howlers sides there is the Holland and German U-17 national teams and a provincial side from the German province of Baden Württemberg competing in this inaugural U-17 girls competition .

Howler U-17 Girls Squad
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1. Taylor Black - Oakville, Ontario
2. Caroline Crossley - Victoria , BC
3. Jordyn French - Oakville Ontario
4. Kara Gana - Toronto, Ontario
5. Autumn Garnett - Abbotsford, BC
6. Pippi MacKay - Toronto, Ontario
7. Makenna Matheson - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
8. Madi Gold - Merville, BC
9. Chauncey Downer-Hincks - Oakville, Ontario
10. Julia Hockin - Brandford Ontario
11. Haeley Loew - Duncan, BC
12. Quinn Matheson - Newmarket, Ontario
13. Chantal MacLean - Surrey, BC
14. Hannah Morten - Duncan, BC
15. Julia Schell - Uxbridge , Ontario
16. Stephanie Schooling - Oakville, Ontario
17. Helen Terry - Surrey BC
18. Morgan Ursel - Abbotsford, BC
19. Morgan Walker - Abbotsford, BC
20 Thea White - Oakville, Ontari

By Jefferson Hagen, Calgary Herald April 2, 2014

It’s a long way to the international rugby stage from the confines of snowy Calgary.

But that’s just what Ben Lesage is about to do this weekend in Hong Kong, when, as a member of Canada’s U20 squad he will butting heads against some of the top young rugby players on the planet at the IRB Junior World Trophy.

The 18 year old, who rose out of the Calgary Canucks ranks and also helped lead Henry Wise Wood to three city high school championships, figures to play a prominent role for a Red and White squad primarily composed of B.C. players, which is understandable.

Calgary is not exactly the easiest place to hone rugby skills year round. Vancouver is much more ideal.

“It’s definitely different because I’m one of two Albertan players on the team (Canmore’s Adam McQueen is the other one). We’re definitely a minority,” said Lesage, who moved to the West Coast last fall to join the UBC rugby team and begin a degree in engineering. “Rugby is not as big in Alberta just because you can’t play year round. The season’s restricted to June and July when you’re a junior. So it’s two months versus all the B.C. kids who play basically year round.

“So there’s definitely a bit of difference in the amount of time (on the field) and the skill development.”

That’s not to say it can’t be done. McQueen rose out of the Calgary Hornets organization and cracked Team Canada’s roster for the Americas Rugby Championship last year. Locals Nick Blevins of Calgary and Jeff Hassler of Okotoks are on the senior national radar, playing for Team Canada in exhibition action last fall, including against the New Zealand Maori All Blacks.

Lesage is well aware that Alberta rugby players with national team aspirations have to make up for less field time with more time in the gym, with a gigantic dose of determination.

“There’s still tons of really good coaches in Alberta,” he was quick to point out. “I’ve been dedicated enough to know that I have to work in the off-season, so even when it’s snowy out, I’ll be training in the gym with Rugby Alberta and (following) the program that they have in the off-season. And doing weights, maybe, instead of rugby stuff. Just trying to keep up with all the guys who are playing rugby all year.”

Whether or not that leads to a starting assignment in Hong Kong remains to be seen — (Lesage started two of three games at inside centre for the U20 squad during a recent England tour) — but he plans to help them win in anyway possible.

“I think we’ve got a pretty good chance this year,” said Lesage. “Last year Canada finished second behind Italy and so Italy moved up (to the Junior World Cup — the top tier of U20 international competition) and the (United) States moved down (after finishing last in that competition).

“We’ve got as good a shot as anyone, but obviously there’s a few tough teams in there that we’ll have to beat.”

Canada opens the tournament against Namibia on April 7 before facing other Pool B competition — Uruguay on April 11 and Japan on April 15. The U.S., Tonga, Georgia and Hong Kong are in Pool A. The top two teams in each group will meet in the final on April 19.

“We’ve got a big forward pack, so we’re definitely a physical team,” said Lesage. “There’s a lot of emphasis on being solid defensively and making big positive tackles, but we’ve also got some good speed. When we’re on offence we try to move the ball quickly and use the width and try to attack with a lot of speed and try to catch the other team on their back foot.”

Canada warmed up for Hong Kong with a tour to Leicester, England last month, which allowed them to see the style of play in one of the world’s premier rugby hotbeds.

“It was a really good experience,” said Lesage. “First of all, we got to play in Leicester Stadium, which is one of the most famous stadiums in England. Tons of famous players have played there. It was kind of an eye-opener to see just how good players are in England. They’ve been playing their whole lives. Kind of what level you’d have to get to if you wanted to look at playing rugby professionally.

“We played some pretty tough games and it was pretty impressive, seeing some of the players and how good they were. It kind of gave our team motivation, showing where we have to get to if we want to be a solid team.”

And another eye-opener on Lesage’s path to what he someday hopes will be a spot on Team Canada’s senior side.

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