A new era of rugby in Canada gets under way on Saturday with the opening match of the 2008 IRB North America 4 tournament.

The match between Canada East and two time NA4 champions Canada West in Markham, will also serve as a key trial for Canada’s prospective test stars ahead of a summer of Barclay’s Churchill Cup and international action. And, with a new head coach at the helm, the competition for places is set to be intense.

Keiran Crowley, the man behind New Zealand’s age grade successes in recent years, and a highly regarded coach, took over from Ric Suggit as Canada National Coach at the beginning of the year and the Kiwi believes that the IRB North America 4 format, with its regional set up, provides the perfect platform to trial potential test players and blood the next generation of stars.

Crowley has spent the last two months settling into his new job, but the real work will start on Saturday when the two Canadian sides go head to head in a match that will afford the New Zealander the opportunity to look at the players who will form the core of his squad for June’s Churchill Cup series.

Physical team

"My impression of them at the moment is that they are a very physical team and they have very good set-piece plays," Crowley said on his appointment as head coach. "There is still work to be done in those areas but they have done well and the area that possibly needs improvement I think is the vision or the ability to change things when things are not as structured as they should be.”

The 2007 North America 4 competition was particularly successful and provided the invaluable platform for over 120 locally identified players to gain exposure to a high-intensity tournament structure that bridges the gap between club and test rugby.

Indeed the tournament provided a vital component of the Rugby World Cup 2007 preparation programme for both Rugby Canada and USA Rugby. Over 80 percent of the players representing both countries at Rugby World Cup 2007 in France had participated in the Tournament.

High hopes

Both Canada East and Canada West sides enter the tournament with high hopes that they can maintain the Canadian stranglehold on the North America 4, but with USA Rugby recently appointing former Wales and Australia coach Scott Johnson as the man to launch their Rugby World Cup 2011 bid, there is a certain air of unexpectancy which has heightened anticipation.

The two representative sides include a mix of members of Canada’s Rugby World Cup 2007 squad, players who have appeared on the IRB Sevens World Series this season as well as others will be in action at the IRB Junior World Championship next month.

Canada West, who beat USA Falcons 43-11 in the 2007 final to retain their grip on the cross-border tournament’s trophy, have RWC 2007 veterans in Adam Kleeberger, Pat Riordan and DTH van der Merwe in their ranks, along with former Canadian hooker Pat Dunkley and Luke Cudmore, the younger brother of senior international Jamie.

Canada East finished fourth in 2007 after losing the third place playoff 34-29, but have also opted for a blend of youth and experience with Aaron Carpenter, Mike Pletch, Mike Webb and Ciaran Hearn having played for the national side at Rugby World Cup 2007.

Hearn, Dean van Camp, Kris Witkowski and Jarod Selby have all played on the IRB Sevens World Series, while Russ Ward, Jamie Mackenzie and Mike Scholtz are other members of the Under 20 squad heading to Wales to spearhead Canada’s challenge in the inaugural tournament.
Rivalry
Canada West came out on top 26-24 when the sides met in the opening fixture of the 2007 tournament and will be looking to once again get their title defence off to a winning start in Ontario on 17 May – a game both coaches expect to be a tight affair.

“This game is a major opportunity for players new and old to put their hands up for selection to the Churchill Cup,” said West assistant coach John Tait, who takes charge for the opening match as head coach Tony Medina is unavailable.

“Both teams will be looking to run and show they can play fast attacking rugby. I expect it to be a physical match and the toughest game any of our domestic based players will have had this year.”

The North America 4 then takes a break after this opening match, resuming on 10 July with the all American affair between USA Falcons and USA Hawks in Gresham, Oregan with the final taking place in Glendale, Colorado on 2 August.

Canada West: Team to appear here

Canada East: Team to appear here