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Oshawa Vikings RFC

(13 posts)

  1. Ad Bot

    Posted 2 months ago

  2. Bulldogs2
    Member

    Want to know what is wrong with Canadian rugby? Just see below. On the Oshawa RFC website.

    International Rugby Players
    The Vikings are looking for International Rugby Players from New Zealand, the UK and Australia to come and join us for a season. If you are interested and would like more information please contact our Recruitment Director Jeff McDiarmid at mcdiarmid_10@msn.com or our Director of Rugby Chris McKee at kaisermckee99@hotmail.com

    Posted 2 months ago #

  3. shack
    Member

    I don't see the problem. If an English ice hockey club advertised for North American hockey players would you see that as detrimental to English Ice Hockey? I say get as many people playing the game here in Canada as possible regardless of where they come from.

    Posted 2 months ago #

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  5. Bulldogs2
    Member

    I don't totally disagree with what you are saying but you can alienate a club by doing this. Happened to the Ottawa Indians several years ago by bringing in imports. Also happened to Peterborough to some degree a few years back. Belleville RFC played the Toronto Dragons on Saturday and we counted from the sidelines that out of the 38 guys we had for 2 men's sides that 35 or 36 were from our local Bay of Quinte high school league. Very impressive I must say. Did Oshawa get to the Marshall by bringing in imports? Do they need imports to stay there?

    Posted 2 months ago #

  6. Popo
    Member

    IMO clubs playing imports is not an issue. Where I have a problem is when the imports get preferred treatment from the club. i.e. like not paying dues, no grief for skipping practices, free beer and not having to earn a spot on the teams and so forth.

    Nothing sucks more when you bust your hump, pay your dues and so forth and your club parachutes a guy in from somewhere else and gives them all sorts of opportunity that they do not provide for the local loyal club guy.

    Saw this happen at a club I played for on the Island and is probably one of the biggest reasons I have been embittered towards the sport of rugby in Canada as a whole.

    Posted 2 months ago #

  7. Bulldogs2
    Member

    You are also correct Popo but it would be different if the players came over and stayed for the long term. I just can't stand it when they take Canadian club guys spots. We are the grassroots for club rugby in Canada.

    Posted 2 months ago #

  8. Popo
    Member

    Don't get me wrong bulldog I am a huge proponent of grassroots rugby... I have had many positive experiences playing alongside imports and call some my friends, with the noted exception above and to tell you the truth the imports that the club I played for bent over backwards for at the expense of their own players were not the type with accents but the ones who were funded by sport Canada, and came to play from other provinces....

    Posted 2 months ago #

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  10. Harry Craig
    Member

    There is no answer to theis question. I generally prefer homegown talent if possible but don't rule out foreigners as evil. It all depends on how each club handles it. I, as a life member of the Ajax Wanderers will not say many good things about the Vikings but there recent import form Australia, Ben, a flanker seems to be a great guy who helped them a lot. From what I understand he is back in Australia for a year but will then relocating here permanently. One or two imports can help a team if they are incoporated properly into the club and aren't seen to be hurting the chances of a good Canadian player but rather filling a vacuum in the club and it's player depth. In my thirty-seven years at the club I don't recall the Wanderers ever going out and recruiting players from out of province, but we have welcomed many players to our club, either by chance or by an individual in the club inviting them. I will always personally support developing Canadian talent, but sometimes the best way of doing that is by having a good foreign player as a mentor to local talent.

    I have in the past seen many different clubs import players year after year and mostly hurt the club spirit by taking first team spots away from deserving players who then either change clubs or give up the game.

    Clubs located in the downtowns of big cities are more likely to recruit these foreigners as that is where these players tend to congregate.

    Posted 2 months ago #

  11. Bulldogs2
    Member

    Can you say the Toronto Nomads Harry?

    Posted 2 months ago #

  12. playing too long
    Member

    As a Nomad, I can tell you that we have certainly had our share of traveling players and still do. I will correct the fact that we DO NOT recruit players from overseas.
    We have absolutely had years where we've been overwhelmed by travelers and the result is rarely more than a short-term gain. We learned this the hard way by winning promotion to the Marshall and then losing 10 first team starters (foreign and Canadian).
    We have since enjoyed the development of our young homegrown talent who have risen from u16s to men's firsts.
    We will never turn away a player from anywhere. The experience of foreign players is often helpful but more importantly, rugby is a game that can create friendships that last a lifetime. It opens doors for guys to experience the world. This is evidenced by the fact that we will be celebrating our 60th anniversary this weekend and we'll be welcoming players back from around the globe to celebrate.
    ALL ARE WELCOME

    Posted 2 months ago #

  13. shack
    Member

    I especially like the sound foriegn players make when you knock the wind out of them. I don't think the host club should be giving preferential treatment to the "Travelers"
    but I think if they can fill a position better than the homegrown telent then it should be seen as setting a higher level of rugby in the club and that should become a target for the others.

    Posted 2 months ago #

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  15. Bulldogs2
    Member

    If the "travelers" leave after a few months then the homegrown talent could have gone elsewhere or won't return next season so the club could be at a higher level the next season but no players.

    Posted 2 months ago #

  16. Harry Craig
    Member

    I can say Toronto Nomads but at various times over the last 40 years I could just as easily have said Toronto Scottish or the Irish Canadians. There are many who have gone down that road and are free to do whatever they want. I have seen teams bring over players who have ended up staying long term and contributing greatly to their club and to Canadian rugby and I have seen clubs burned by it. It is never going to change and it doesn't happen only here in Ontario or Canada but all around the world. I've played in Britain, Austalia and New Zealand, even if I wasn't recruited. I don't think I ruined any of the clubs I joined and certainly contributed to their beer sales while I was around. Travel the world, play rugby, enjoy yourself.

    Posted 2 months ago #

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  18. Frank Levick
    Member

    There are currently very few places in the rugby world outside of Canada where our better players can get a game. Doncaster & Rotherham in Yorkshire; in the West Country - Cornish Pirates & Plymouth; Esher in the London area; Glasgow in Scotland and of course that new regional team in Wales that reads like a car license plate. A few others dotted here and there. I wonder how many of those relationships were initially formed by overseas players with not much more than a have boots will travel philosophy.

    Posted 2 months ago #

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