#07| CANADA (1988)

35 boys | 34 days | 13 fixtures

Played: 13 |Won: 12 |lost: 4|Drawn: 1| CO-EFFICIENT: 3.20
PTS FOR: 365 | PTS AGAINST: 83 | PTS DIFF: 282 |BONUS PTS: 41.64

Calgary - Red Deer - Edmonton - Jasper - Banff - Kelowna - Vancouver - Victoria

tour itinerarY

TOUR RESULTS

WIN %: 92.3% | CO-EFFICIENT: 3.20 | BONUS PTS: 41.64

PLAYED: 13 | WON: 12 | LOST: 1 | DRAWN: 0
PTS FOR: 365 | PTS AGAINST: 83 | PTS DIFF: 382

1st XV RESULTS

WIN %: 100%| CO-EFFICIENT: 3.40|BONUS PTS: 23.78

PLAYED: 7 | WON: 7 | LOST: 0 | DRAWN: 0
PTS FOR: 169| PTS AGAINST: 30| PTS DIFF: 139

2nd XV results

WIN %: 83.3%| CO-EFFICIENT: 2.98|BONUS PTS: 17.86

PLAYED: 6 | WON: 5 | LOST: 1| DRAWN: 0
PTS FOR: 196| PTS AGAINST: 53| PTS DIFF: 143

Touring party

MASTERS

#001: Father Ninian McNamara S.J. (School Chaplain)
Interests: Classical Music, Architecture, Photography, Rugby (all in an amateur way).

#002: R. John Davies (1st XV Coach)
Interests: All Sports, good food, good wine and missionary work (trying to teach the English to play rugby). Many years ago, played rugby for London Welsh, Blackheath, Essex & Eastern Counties. Master.

#063: Mick Marmion

tour CAPTAIN

#091: Ian 'Jockey' Simpson (Capt, Prop)
Interests: Most sports, skiing, music, travelling, theatre and socialising.

TOURING SQUAD

#064: Robert Bailey (No. 8/Head Boy)
Interests; athletics, swimming, skiing, travel, most types of music.

#065: Spencer Bragg (Scrum Half)
Interests: Mad about all sports, socialising and many types of music.
Ambition: To play sport as long as possible and be paid for doing so!

#066: Daniel Buckley (Centre/Wing) 
Interests: All sports and music.
Ambition: A career in engineering.

#067: Patrick Chalk (Wing)
Interests: Music, girls, travelling and Thunderbird
Ambition: Eventually to go to university, to enjoy life and to enjoy Canada.

#068: John Davin (Wing Forward, Head Boy)
Interests include all sport (especially cricket), travel and socialising.

#069: Gregory Durr (Wing Forward)
Interests: All sports, music and socialising.
Ambition: To travel round the world, be happy and hopefully make money.

#070: Bruce Edwards (Centre)
Interests; all sports, music and socialising.

#071: Keith Haberlin (Full Back)
Interests: Playing most sports (especially cricket), watching Chelsea F.C. and music.
Ambition: To pursue a career in journalism.

#072: Gary Hadaway (Prop)
Interests; swimming, collecting militaria, venture scouting, Citizens Band radio

#073: Richard Hardy (Second Row/No. 8)
Interests include all sports and outdoor pursuits. 

#074: Justin Howard (Fly Half)
Interests: Socialising, golf, tennis and football.
Ambition: To work in finance in the 'city'.

#075: Michael Ives (Wing forward/No. 8)
Interests: Socialising, skiing, drama, travel, home brewing, tennis and music (especially Bryan Adams!)
Ambition: See the World, drive fast cars, make money and stay away from work as long as possible

#076: Christopher Jones (Utility Back)
Interests: All sports (especially athletics)
Ambition: To make a living out of sport.

#077: Gary Jones (Scrum Half)
Interests: All sports especially athletics and basket-ball.
Ambition: To be successful at work and rugby.

#078: Paul Kennedy (Hooker)
Interests: All sports and pop music
Ambition: To be happy and make everybody happy and the same time make 'loadsamoney'

#079: Paul Kromer (Centre)
Interests: Music, Sport and socialising.
Ambition: To travel the world working in different countries.

#080: Adam Langridge (Full Back/Wing)
Interests: Music, reading and swimming.
Ambitions: To go on to university and study law.

#081: Jonathan Martin (Full Back/Wing)
Interests; Would like to stay in education as long as possible (to avoid working!) and travel widely. Enjoys listening to music, reading and most sports.

#082: Dominic McEvoy (Prop)
Interests: Sport, travel and singing.
Ambition: To go to university to study History and/or Economics, work in the 'city' and travel the world to earn a million.

#083: Michael McQuillan (Wing)
Interests include all sports-especially athletics, (Athletics Captain of school 1987-88), enjoys 60's music and socialising!!

#084: Peter Midson (Prop)
Interests: Rugby, football and photography.
Ambition: To be famous, travel the world, make a million.

#085: Charles Murray (Capt U16's, Wing Forward)
Interests: Socialising, skiing, basket-ball, water-polo and singing.
Ambitions: To travel the world and get rich quick.

#086: John Myers (Vice Captain, Centre)
Interests: sport, music, socialising - not always in that order.

#087: Eugene O'Herlihy (Centre/Wing)
Interests: Skiing, basketball and socialising.
Ambitions: Hope to work in the 'city' in the money market or become a P.E. teacher (have an easy life!)

#088: Darren O'Leary (Centre/Wing)
Interests: Cricket, basket-ball and volley-ball.
Ambitions: To make a living as a professional sportsman! and be happy.

#089: Joe Ryan (Second Row)
Interests: Travelling (hopes to travel the world!), reading, all music, playing the piano and guitar.

#090: Kieran Sherlock (Second Row)
Interests: All sports, good music and socalising
Ambition: To be successful and happy

#092: Daniel Smith (Full Back)
Interests: Football, weight training and volley-ball.
Ambitions: To join RAF as an officer in Electronic Engineering

#093: David Smith (Second Row)
Interests: Basket-ball, tennis, drama, singing, listening to Bryan Adams and other good hard Rock music!
Ambitions: To be the first doctor who has time to play first class rugby.

#094: Stephen Smith (Wing Forward)
Interests: Art, music, skiing and car restoration

#095: Nick Walsh (Wing)
Interests: Sport, travelling music and socialising.

#096: Chris Wood (Wing Forward)
Interests include skiing, horse-riding and socialising.

#097 John Wright (Prop/Hooker)
Interests: All sport, music and travelling.
Ambition: To be happy in work and play.

#098: Nicholas Wright (Wing/Centre)
Interests:  Rugby, squash, travelling, skiing, skating and socialising.
Ambition: To gain a good position in the financial world - to earn 'loadsamoney'

Tour Awards

The following Tour Awards were made at the Tour Dinner:

• Most Improved Player: #094: Stephen Smith (Wing Forward)

• Player of the Tour: #069: Gregory Durr (Wing Forward)

Match reports

Calgary Saints, Calgary

Established in 1958, the Saints are the oldest rugby club in Calgary. The Saints have a tradition of fielding competitive teams at all levels and have won a number of Alberta Cup and Calgary Cup championships

TOur MEMORY

• Discovering that most houses had basements with a drinks bar and a pool table (see photo).

• Visiting Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, scene of Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards ski jump heroics earlier that year.

1st XV

final score: 22-13 (W)

Team: Kromer (15); McQuillan (14); Edwards (13); Myers (12); Walsh (11); C Jones (10); G Jones (9); Bailey (8), Wood (7); Smith (6); Sherlock (5); Ryan (4); Hadaway (3); Durr (2); Simpson (1 - Capt.

2nd Xv

final score: 40-4 (W)

Calgary Irish | Calgary Rep

The Calgary Canadian Irish Athletic Club (CCIAC) or the “Calgary Irish” (as we are better known as) was founded in 1971 by Derek Wright and Jim Sullivan as an athletic club based on Irish values and heritage, but open to all-comers whatever their heritage or background.

Since its inception the club has been honoured by the selection of many of its members to play for Canada; men’s honours include the captain of the inaugural Sevens World Cup in Edinburgh in 1993 and representation on the Canadian 1999, 2003 and 2007 World Cup squads. Our women have also been honoured at the international level at both 7’s and 15’s including several members representing Canada in the 2010 Rugby World Cup.

TOUR MEMORY

• The size of the Calgary Irish forwards pack. ABSOLUTELY HUGE!

• Discovering how the Canadian players relished the physicality of tackling and their love of the big hit!

1st XV - calgary irish

final score: 32-7 (W)

Team: Kromer (15); McQuillan (14); Edwards (13); Myers (12); Walsh (11); C Jones (10); G Jones (9); Bailey (8), Wood (7); Davin (6); Sherlock (5); Ryan (4); Hadaway (3); Durr (2); Simpson (1 - Capt.) 

2nd Xv - Calgary rep

final score: 34-7 (W)

Red Deer Titans, red deer

TOUR MEMORY

• Trying to recreate U2's The Joshua Tree album cover with endless, posed photos in Alberta's Badlands near Red Deer.

1st XV - Red Deer Titans

2nd XV  - calgary irish

final score: 22-0 (W)

Team: Kromer (15); McQuillan (14); Edwards (13); Myers (12); Walsh (11); C Jones (10); Martin (9); Bailey (8), Wood (7); Davin (6); Hardy (5); Ryan (4); Hadaway (3); Durr (2); Simpson (1 - Capt.)

final score: 36-6 (W)

Edmonton St. Albert, edmonton

Rugby was first introduced in St. Albert at Sir Alexander Mackenzie Elementary School in 1961-62 by Welshman Myrddin Jones.  The game was resurrected in St. Albert, upon the request of Roger Scott, a physical education teacher. He made a request for help to start a rugby team at Paul Kane High School in 1980. Gareth Jones and Rod Adams volunteered and offered their coaching expertise to help Roger.

On the administrative side, SARFC made a presentation to City Council for thirteen acres of land for playing fields and a clubhouse. They were successful in obtaining a twenty five year lease with the fields being levelled, top soiled and seeded in 1983 and were available for use in 1985. After obtaining a federal grant in 1983, the plans to start building a clubhouse were underway. The clubhouse officially opened in February 1985.

SARFC came of age with reference to hosting International matches in 1989 when Australia, the current world champions, played the North American Wolverines. The latter being made up of players from both the Canadian and USA National Teams. Since that year, St. Albert has hosted National teams from England, Wales, Scotland, USA as well as hosting International Tournaments such as the Canada Cup and IRB Women's Rugby World Cup.

tour memory

• In a St Albert population of approx. 35,000, JD not only finding a fellow Welshman – but one with his own rugby club! Result.

• Playing St Albert RFC in 34°C heat. It was the only time we saw the backs stop for more water breaks than their customary mirror and comb ones

• 4 of the party forming an impromptu pop group called ‘Don’t Larf’ and recording George Michael’s ‘Faith’ in the West Edmonton Mall Recording Studio. Enthusiastic? Yes. Sounded anything like ‘Faith’? No.

1st XV

2nd XV

final score: 21-4 (W)

Team: Kromer (15); McQuillan (14); Edwards (13); Myers (12); Walsh (11); C Jones (10); G Jones (9); Bailey (8), Wood (7); Davin (6); Hardy (5); Ryan (4); Hadaway (3); Durr (2); Simpson (1 - Capt.)

final score: 39-0 (W)

Kelowna RFC, kelowna

Kelowna RFC, also known as  "Crows Rugby"is the home of amateur rugby in the Okanagan Valley.

Kelowna is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. The name Kelowna derives from an Okanagan language term for "grizzly bear".[4]

With a population of around 127,000 people - this was the birthplace of Lilly Evangeline(Actress/Model) from Lost.

1st XV

final score: 24-0 (W)

TEAM: Kromer (15); McQuillan (14); Edwards (13); Myers (12); Walsh (11); C Jones (10); Martin (9); Bailey (8), Wood (7); Davin (6); Sherlock (5); Hardy (4); Hadaway (3); Durr (2); Simpson (1 - Capt.)

2nd Xv

final score: 23-36 (L)

Oak Bay Wanderers, lower Island
Vancouver

The Castaway Wanderers RFC is a Canadian rugby club based in Oak Bay, British Columbia. The Oak Bay Wanderers rugby club was founded in 1906 and merged with the Castaways rugby club in the 1990s.  Gareth Rees - who was WASP's player of the year in 1997 began his career at this club before he left for Harrow school 

Oak Bay is a seaside town on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, home to several popular beaches, most notably Willows Beach.

tour memory

• Mick Marmion (#65) calling everyone a wimp following complaints that the North Pacific Ocean off Vancouver Island was too cold to swim in.
  
  Then watching him confidently stride in to prove a point... and run out again after about 2 mins! Kudos, nonetheless.

1st XV - Oak Bay Wanderers

final score: 18-0 (W)

TEAM: Kromer (15); McQuillan (14); Edwards (13); Howard (12); Walsh (11); C Jones (10); G Jones (9); Bailey (8), Wood (7); Smith (6); Sherlock (5); Hardy (4); Hadaway (3); Durr (2); Simpson (1 - Capt.)

TRY SCORERS: Walsh, Kromer, C Jones, Simpson. Conversion x1: Howard.

Cowichan RFC, Victoria

Club History

Rugby has been played on Vancouver Island well before WW1, introduced by naval personnel on nearby bases such as Esquimalt. Record immigration in 1911, lead to the establishment of The Cowichan Cricket and Sports Club - who ran a rugby team in the twenties.

The Cowichan Rugby Club was founded in 1962 - with no pitch, no clubhouse, no changing rooms. Fixtures were arranged and a field found for the occasion. The club was the team on the field on that particular day. When the game ended and the beer was consumed, the club vanished.

By 1982, after raising $20,000 (and getting a mortgage of $55,000) a ground was bought and the club, as it is now, was properly borne. By the time we arrived, an all weather pitch had been laid and the club was well on its way to becoming the successful club it is today.

1st XV

final score: 30-6 (W)

Team: Kromer (15); McQuillan (14); Edwards (13); Howard (12); Walsh (11); C Jones (10); G Jones (9); Bailey (8), Wood (7); Smith (6); Sherlock (5); Ryan (4); Hadaway (3); Kennedy (2); Simpson (1 - Capt.)

2nd XV

final score: 24-0 (W)

tour memorieS

WITH THANKS TO TOURIST #079: Paul Kromer (Centre)

• Kitted out in our No.2s, being mistaken at the airport for a Youth Band – even though there wasn’t an instrument in sight.

• Landing in Canada and being in awe of how big/vast everything was.

• And not knowing how to react when complimented on how posh our Essex accents sounded!

• Feverish anticipation amongst some of the group at seeing a grizzly bear/grey squirrel/beaver for the first time…

• On seeing French signage, the bemusement on the faces of those who’d never paid much attention in geography class. And their surprise at how close we were to France...

• Tour soundtracks: Kick by INXS, Steve Winwood's Chronicles and Reckless by Bryan Adams.

• On long coach journeys, enthusiastic renditions of Bill Withers' Lovely Day - with one side repeating "Lovely day, lovely day" and the other half singing "Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay" for as long as possible. (Only 2 people passed out from over-expiration, with 1 other suffering a burst eardrum.) A bit of 'Cool for Cats' by Squeeze too.

• Visiting Athabasca Glacier in the Columbia Icefield and everyone panicking when told to put on their seat belts as we headed down a steep decline – only to find there were none. Composure regained, everyone concluded the driver must have done that gag so many times...

• Altitude-training on a pitch in the middle of the Rocky Mountains. Breathtaking – both literally and metaphorically!

• One of the team sleeping through/missing the whole of The Rockies road trip after too much of a late night (revising)...

• Embracing the ethos of touring being all about new experiences and scaling new heights. Like visiting 3 different McDonald's in 1 day in Vancouver.

• The entire tour party getting up/returning to the hotel at 5am to say goodbye to Fr Nin before he set off for his flight back to the UK.

• And then missing him even more when we attended one of the longest masses ever on Vancouver Island.

• The celebrations at the 1st XV going unbeaten and the 2nd XV winning all but one of their matches.

• Most of the party landing back in the UK with at least 1 piece of ‘Roots Athletics’ merchandising.

• Upper VIth and 5th year members of the squad returning to A-Level and GCSE results; with the Lower VIth players suddenly remembering they still had homework left over from the summer…

• End of tour stats: Played: 13. Won: 12. Lost: 1. Grizzly bears seen: 0. Grey squirrels sighted: 0. Beavers glimpsed: 2 (allegedly).