AARON ABRAMS SELECTED TO NA4 FIRST LEG      20th March  2007

The second annual IRB North America 4 (NA4) Tournament is set to kick off in one month’s time, and Rugby Canada’s national selectors have included Aaron Abrams in the Canada East team. Both Canada East and West, have announced their final 26-man rosters.

 

Rugby Canada hosts its first match of the 2007 NA4 tournament, between Canada East and defending NA4 champion Canada West, on April 7th. The US Hawks take on the US Falcons on the same date in San Diego.

 

The two Canadian teams are set to kick off at 5 pm, at Thunderbird Stadium on the University of British Columbia campus in Vancouver. “Rugby Canada’s recent move to have all carded players training together on the west coast, augmented by many more elite players competing in BC’s CDI Premier League, has meant a great deal of competition for these NA4 roster spots,” said Canadian Senior Men’s Head Coach Ric Suggitt. “We think this competition will give our domestic based players further quality competition as they continue to improve their overall playing strength leading into the World Cup later this year. The players who earned selection are all to be congratulated on their efforts.”

 

The event then shifts to Stanford University in California on May 9 and 12. Two sets of double-header games are scheduled for Wednesday at 6 and 8 pm, with Saturday kickoffs at noon and 2 pm. Rugby Canada then plays host to the US sides starting in late June for the final round of the 2007 tournament. The first match day is scheduled for June 29, at Brockton Oval in Vancouver, with start times at 1 pm and 3 pm. The next match day is July 3, at the Burnaby Lake Sports Complex in Burnaby, where the four teams will play evening matches starting at 5 and 7 pm.

 

The 2007 IRB NA4 Finals are set for early afternoon at Rotary Stadium in Abbotsford on Saturday, July 7 with kick-off times of 1 pm and 3 pm.

 

CANADA WEST NA4 TEAM ROSTER  First Leg, April 2007

 

PLAYER	CLUB
1 Hubert Buydens	Wild Oats
2 Mark Lawson	Velox Vallhallians
3 Jon Thiel	Bayside
4 Tyler Hotson	U. of British Columbia
5 Aidan Buan	Meraloma
6 Nanyak Dala	Regina Rogues
7 Adam Kleeberger	U. of Victoria
8 David Biddle	Meraloma
9 Pat Fleck	Meraloma
10 Dave Spicer	Castaway Wanderers
11 Chris Pack	Bayside
12 Mark Fisher	Sydney Southern Districts
13 Craig Culpan	Meraloma
14 DTH van der Merwe	James Bay AA
15 Eric Wilson	U. of British Columbia
16 Patrick Desaulles	U. of British Columbia
17 Pat Riordan	Burnaby Lake
18 Scott Franklin	Castaway-Wanderers
19 Mike Mackay	U. of Victoria
20 Cody Berg	Burnaby Lake
21 Spencer Dalziel	James Bay AA
22 Daniel White	Velox Vallhallians
23 Robbie Corcoran	Meraloma
24 Brendan Singbeil	Bayside
25 Player to be named
26 Player to be named

 

Canada West Staff
Head Coach: Tony Medina                Coach: Ian Hyde-lay
Manager: Des Lynch                         Therapist: Isabel Grondin

 

CANADA EAST NA4 TEAM ROSTER First Leg, April 2007

PLAYER	CLUB
1 Aaron Abrams	Brampton & Castaway Wanderers
2 Aaron Carpenter	Brantford Harlequins
3 Chauncey O’Toole	Belleisle RFC
4 Brian Mckenzie	Dogs RFC
5 Carl Pocock	Calgary Rams
6 Ciaran Hearn	Swilers RFC
7 Dan Pletch	McMaster U.
8 Dave Neilson	Velox Vallhallians
9 Dean Van Camp	Velox Vallhallians
10 Derek Daypuck	Castaway Wanderers
11 Frank Walsh	Vandals RFC
12 Jarod Selby	Lindsay RFC
13 Jeb Sinclair	Loyalists RFC
14 Jordan Kozina	Brantford Harlequins
15 Kevin Parfrey	Swilers RFC
16 Kris Witkowski	Cole Harbour RFC
17 Matt Phinney	Markham/Meraloma
18 Matt Weingart	Castaway Wanderers
19 Mike Pletch	McMaster U.
20 Mike Simpson	Swilers RFC
21 Mike Webb	Swilers RFC
22 Robert Wilson	Swilers RFC
23 Scott Dunham	Balmy Beach Club
24 Steve Piatek	U. of Victoria
25 Steven Lamb	Ottawa Irish
26 Stu Ault	Barrhaven Scottish

 

Canada East Staff
Head Coach: Simon Blanks                  Coach: Greg Thaggard
Manager: Rodger Swany                       Trainer: Timberly George
Massage: Leslie Clisby