Howlers Return from Caribbean Tour With 2 Championships

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After going 6 - 0 in the preliminary games the Dog River Howlers's women's team defeated the Cuban National Women's team 29-0 to claim the top prize at the Havana Howlers Rugby 7's on December 1 and 2, 2012. The men also won 5 games including beating the Mexican National team in the semi final game before loosing to the Trinidad and Tobago Enthusiasts 27 - 7 in the championship .

Besides the rugby we witnessed the world renowned Tropicana show, the 1998 Grammy Award wining Buena Vista Social Club and had our traditional visit to the local orphanage  that the Howlers support.

The men went undefeated in the 14 team, 6 country men's division on the International Tobago Rugby 7's Tournament culminating with a 27 - 15 victory in the championship game over Harvard RFC (Trinidad) who had not lost a game all year.The women lost a squeaker(14-12) to a fellow Canadian team the Beavers RFC (invitational select side from Ontario) in the semi final of the 10 team, 6 country women's division but then went on to defeat the Atlanta Harlequins USA) for 3rd place by 20- 10. The tournament championship was won by Rugby Eccosse ( 37- 0 over Beavers), a very high level team made up of international players from Scotland, Wales, England and Sweden.

This Tobago tour/tournament a few things to remember besides the actual rugby, There was goat racing, boat racing, mud wresting and sliding competitions , sunset cool down swims, X-mas Carol sing songs, Paul van Wyck " Juice" turned local DJ and a 55 year old player named John Law (father of fellow teammate Rob Law) who had players from all teams on their feet and cheering for his amazing performance.

Karl Fix - president of the Dog River Howlers Rugby Club where "it's more than a game, it's a way of life"  - www.dogriverhowlers.com   and Facebook  -http://www.facebook.com/dogriverhowlers?fref=ts  -  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq2CLUdzri8

Pictures by Judy Teasdale on the below facebook pages.
www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151134218271254.432727.514726253&
www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151134704471254.432785.514726253&

Howlers Havana Howlers Rugby Sevens Men's Side
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1. # Thomas Aponte - CRUM , Venezuela (Venezuela cap) 
2. Jorden Best - UBC Thunderbirds, BC 
3. Liam Burke - UBC Thunderbirds. BC 
4. # Jered Douglas - Abootsford Rugby Club , BC
5. Connor Hunter - Abbotsford Rugby Club, BC
6. # Wade Lavalle - Regina Campion Grads, Saskatchewan 
7. Jeff Nish-Miller - University of Victoria, BC
8. Cole Mosychuk - Kelowna Crows, BC 
9. # Shane Thompson - Montreal Barbarians, Quebec
10. # Patrick Young - Regina Rogues/Saskatoon Badgers, Saskatchewan 
11. # Sean Young - Regina Rogues, Saskatchewan

a - denotes Canadian senior cap ( 7's or 15's)
# - denotes Howlers cap

Manager - Leo Lane
Head Coach - Shane Thompson
Assistant Coach - John Thompson

Havana Howlers 7's Women's Team:
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1. # Davine Burton - Toronto Scottish RFC (Toronto, ON / St. Thomas, Jamaica)
2. # Julia Folk - Regina Rogues RFC (Regina, SK)
3. Taylor Hawkins - Regina Rogues RFC (Regina, SK)
4. Robin Hunter - Town of Mount Royal RFC (Montreal, QC)
5. @ # Shannon Kane - Velox Valkyries Rugby Club (Victoria, BC)
6. @ # Andrea Letal - University of Lethbridge / Calgary Hornets RFC (Calgary, AB)
7. # Marlene Nedved - University of Alberta / Strathcona Druids (Edmonton, AB)
8. Miranda Seifert - Queens University (Regina, SK)
9. # Danielle Spice - Oakville Crusaders RC (Oakville, ON)
10. Amanda Thompson - Regina Rogues Rugby Club (Regina, SK)
11. Angela Thompson - Regina Rogues Rugby Club (Regina, SK)

@ - denotes Canadian senior cap (15s and/or 7s)
# - denotes Howlers cap

Manager - David Thompson
Head Coach - Andrea Letal
Assistant Coach - Shannon Kane
Assistant Coach - Bill Folk

Tobago 7's Women's Team :
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1. Emily Belchos - Barrie Central Collegiate (Barrie, ON)
2. @ Arielle Dubissette-Borrice - Toronto Scottish RFC/Western University (Toronto, ON)
3. # Davine Burton - Toronto Scottish RFC (Toronto, ON / St. Thomas, Jamaica)
4. @ # Michele Helmeczi - Calgary Hornets RFC (Calgary, AB)
5. Lori Josephson - Western University / Aurora Barbarians RFC (Beaverton, ON)
6. @ # Shannon Kane - Velox Valkyries Rugby Club (Victoria, BC)
7. @ # Andrea Letal - University of Lethbridge / Calgary Hornets RFC (Calgary, AB) 
8. Natasha Loucks - University of Calgary / Calgary Hornets RFC (Calgary, AB)
9. Janine Martin - Leprechaun Tigers RFC (Edmonton, AB)
10. # Marlene Nedved - University of Alberta / Strathcona Druids (Edmonton, AB)
11. Emily Ricketts - Mississauga Blues / McMaster University (Hamilton, ON)
12. Natasha Smith - Carleton University / Barrhaven Scottish RFC (Ottawa, ON)

Head Coach/manager- Andrea Letal
Assistant coach /manager - Shannon Kane
Assistant coach/manager - Michelle Helmeczi

@ - denotes Canadian senior cap (15s and/or 7s)
# - denotes Howlers cap

Tobago 7's Men's Team:
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1. # James Acker - Montreal Irish RFC ( Montreal, Quebec)
2. # Thomas Aponte - C.R.U.M. RFC , Venezuela (capped)/Regina Rogues RFC
3. @ # Derek Daypuck - London St. George's RFC ( London Ontario)
4. # Matthew Heaton - St. Anne - de - Bellevue RFC (Ormstown, Quebec)
5. Rob Law - Montreal Irish RFC/Regina Camion Grads(Regina, Saskatchewan)
6. John Law - Regina Campion Grads ( Regina Saskatchewan)
7. Jeffery Lohse - West Kelowna Grizzlies RFC (Kelowna, BC)
8. # Gord McRorie - Calgary Hornets RFC ( Calgary, Alberta) 
9. Conrad Rybkowski- Abottsford RFC ( Abottsford, BC)
10. Daniel Smith - Regian Rogues RFC (Regina Saskatchewan)
11. Jordan Wilson - Barrie RFC ( Alliston, Ontario)
12. # Paul van Wyck - Montreal Irish RFC ( Montreal, Quebec)

Head Coach - Derek Daypuck
Manager - Leo Lane

@ - denotes Canadian senior cap ( 7's and or 15's)
# - denotes Howlers cap