Planet Rugby Forum

Yeah, right. I expect the Yanks to start making excuses, but not one of our own. The boys kicked arse. King Karl is back on the job.

Holy shit! This result made TSN: https://www.tsn.ca/canada-routs-usa-in- ... -1.1111119

This must be Canuckles wet dream.

canuckles wrote:Yeah, right. I expect the Yanks to start making excuses, but not one of our own. The boys kicked arse. King Karl is back on the job.

Well he is right. Still some talent there, but I reckon they could put together a team with equal or better talent of players who weren't there. Anyway, congrats to the Canucks.

Anyone here going to Twin Elm on Saturday?

Hey OttawaKat, no. I'd like to, but kids' rugby getting in the way, so not a bad trade-off.


Hopefully they get a decent crowd out, although might be tough to get people excited after the Scotland result.

goeagles wrote:

canuckles wrote:Yeah, right. I expect the Yanks to start making excuses, but not one of our own. The boys kicked arse. King Karl is back on the job.

Well he is right. Still some talent there, but I reckon they could put together a team with equal or better talent of players who weren't there. Anyway, congrats to the Canucks.

Cheers , getting a bit excited as we haven't had a lot to get excited about for quite some time.

Morgan14 wrote:

goeagles wrote:

canuckles wrote:Yeah, right. I expect the Yanks to start making excuses, but not one of our own. The boys kicked arse. King Karl is back on the job.

Well he is right. Still some talent there, but I reckon they could put together a team with equal or better talent of players who weren't there. Anyway, congrats to the Canucks.

Cheers , getting a bit excited as we haven't had a lot to get excited about for quite some time.

That might even make Nieghorn smile at something in Canadian Rugby.

full match is up on youtube now.

I was able to catch the first 10 minutes and a good chunk of the second half.

Our #9 was outstanding. The best player on the field. I think he may have been a late addition to last year's squad, if I remember correctly. This young man is a player.

Vertkas runs good lines from inside centre. James played well from what I saw.

Has Vegas set the line yet that Rugby Canada will make Smith the fourth U20 #8 in a row to go 7s?

Team for Saturday been announced / rumoured at all yet?

eldanielfire wrote:
That might even make Nieghorn smile at something in Canadian Rugby.

I'll reserve a 'smile' for the U20s if they do well at the second tier tournament. Knowing our luck, they'll give away a red card and have the Yanks turn the tables.

If there's something to be excited about, I hear from a club I used to work with there's going to be a Mixed Ability Rugby showcase on Saturday. Assuming / hoping it'll be at halftime?

I'm up on Friday for a lecture with (I hear former RFU) coach educator Richard Shuttleworth. Someone posted a lecture of his years ago and it both confirmed some of the different things I was doing and gave me more ideas to move out of old school coaching and do things for the betterment of the players.

Also contributing no money to RC this year, so wont' be at the game.

Morgan14 wrote:Team for Saturday been announced / rumoured at all yet?

I assume it will be awkwardly late today.

I’ve accepted that Barkwill will start, but I hope they pull him after 50 or so. We need a second option.

I’m sure Parfrey will start at 15. He won’t be judged for that horrendous brain cramp where he mishandled the ball and kicked it out on the full, giving up possession and territory. I’m a prop and knew the rule.

This is the perfect game to give Howard a start and see how he goes. Not to mention that it's also his home town. Some added pressure / a boost in what's really a 'nothing' game.

I wonder if both Kingsley and Eddie consult on making head-scratcher selections?

Is it not on one is the TSN channels?

It doesn't look like it, although they're (TSN) showing the NZ-Fra, SA-Eng and Arg-Wal tests. Very odd!

RC has tweeted that itwill be on their fb page. Guess tsn doesn't want to show a victory.

Pretty sure RC pays TSN for the production costs to show the games. TSN is in business to make money. It costs much less for it to buy the rights and put on various crappy American shows. More people would probably watch them, too.

1. Noah Barker – James Bay AA/BC Bears (Courtenay, BC)
2. Ray Barkwill – Seattle Seawolves/Ontario Blues (Niagara Falls, ON)
3. Cole Keith – James Bay AA/Atlantic Rock (Sussex, NB)
4. Josh Larsen - Otago (Parksville, BC)
5. Evan Olmstead – Auckland/Prairie Wolf Pack (Vancouver, BC)
6. Dustin Dobravsky – Castaway Wanderers/BC Bears (Hanover, Germany)
7. Lucas Rumball – Balmy Beach RFC/Ontario Blues (Mississauga, ON)
8. Luke Campbell – James Bay AA/BC Bears (Victoria, BC)
9. Andrew Ferguson – Oakville Crusaders/Ontario Blues (Mississauga, ON)
10. Theo Sauder – UBC Thunderbirds (Vancouver, BC)
11. Cole Davis – Calgary Saints/Prairie Wolf Pack (Calgary, AB)
12. Nick Blevins – Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack (Calgary, AB)
13. Doug Fraser – Castaway Wanderers/BC Bears (Ladysmith, BC)
14. Jeff Hassler – Unattached/Prairie Wolf Pack (Okotoks, AB)
15. Brock Staller – Seattle Seawolves
16. Eric Howard – New Orleans Gold/Ontario Blues (Ottawa, ON)
17. Djustice Sears-Duru – Unattached/Ontario Blues (Oakville, ON)
18. Ryan Kotlewski - Westshore RFC/Prairie Wolf Pack (Calgary, AB)
19. Conor Keys – UVIC Vikes/Atlantic Rock (Stittsville, ON)
20. Matt Heaton – Darlington Mowden Park/Atlantic Rock (Godmanchester, QC)
21. Jorden Sandover-Best - UBC Old Boys/BC Bears (Abbotsford, BC)
22. Shane O’Leary – Ealing Trailfinders (Cork, Ireland)
23. Guiseppe du Toit - UVIC Vikes/BC Bears (Maple Ridg

I like the 9-10 pairing, and the change at FB.

Surprised to see LeSage dumped entirely, but maybe he doesn’t work on the subs bench.

OttawaKat wrote:1. Noah Barker – James Bay AA/BC Bears (Courtenay, BC)
2. Ray Barkwill – Seattle Seawolves/Ontario Blues (Niagara Falls, ON)
3. Cole Keith – James Bay AA/Atlantic Rock (Sussex, NB)
4. Josh Larsen - Otago (Parksville, BC)
5. Evan Olmstead – Auckland/Prairie Wolf Pack (Vancouver, BC)
6. Dustin Dobravsky – Castaway Wanderers/BC Bears (Hanover, Germany)
7. Lucas Rumball – Balmy Beach RFC/Ontario Blues (Mississauga, ON)
8. Luke Campbell – James Bay AA/BC Bears (Victoria, BC)
9. Andrew Ferguson – Oakville Crusaders/Ontario Blues (Mississauga, ON)
10. Theo Sauder – UBC Thunderbirds (Vancouver, BC)
11. Cole Davis – Calgary Saints/Prairie Wolf Pack (Calgary, AB)
12. Nick Blevins – Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack (Calgary, AB)
13. Doug Fraser – Castaway Wanderers/BC Bears (Ladysmith, BC)
14. Jeff Hassler – Unattached/Prairie Wolf Pack (Okotoks, AB)
15. Brock Staller – Seattle Seawolves
16. Eric Howard – New Orleans Gold/Ontario Blues (Ottawa, ON)
17. Djustice Sears-Duru – Unattached/Ontario Blues (Oakville, ON)
18. Ryan Kotlewski - Westshore RFC/Prairie Wolf Pack (Calgary, AB)
19. Conor Keys – UVIC Vikes/Atlantic Rock (Stittsville, ON)
20. Matt Heaton – Darlington Mowden Park/Atlantic Rock (Godmanchester, QC)
21. Jorden Sandover-Best - UBC Old Boys/BC Bears (Abbotsford, BC)
22. Shane O’Leary – Ealing Trailfinders (Cork, Ireland)
23. Guiseppe du Toit - UVIC Vikes/BC Bears (Maple Ridg

I like the 9-10 pairing, and the change at FB.

Surprised to see LeSage dumped entirely, but maybe he doesn’t work on the subs bench.

Another scrumhalf was called into the team. Surprised Heaton drops to the bench. He made numerous tackles against Scotland, and I thought he was our best forward. Rumball had a disappointing game last week. Larsen is in the XV. We should be fine at the lineouts. Who is the captain?

Russia is a poorer side than us. If we cannot run against them, we will not be able to run against anybody. We beat Russia by +20 two years ago and anything less Saturday would not be a good sign.

canuckles wrote:

OttawaKat wrote:1. Noah Barker – James Bay AA/BC Bears (Courtenay, BC)
2. Ray Barkwill – Seattle Seawolves/Ontario Blues (Niagara Falls, ON)
3. Cole Keith – James Bay AA/Atlantic Rock (Sussex, NB)
4. Josh Larsen - Otago (Parksville, BC)
5. Evan Olmstead – Auckland/Prairie Wolf Pack (Vancouver, BC)
6. Dustin Dobravsky – Castaway Wanderers/BC Bears (Hanover, Germany)
7. Lucas Rumball – Balmy Beach RFC/Ontario Blues (Mississauga, ON)
8. Luke Campbell – James Bay AA/BC Bears (Victoria, BC)
9. Andrew Ferguson – Oakville Crusaders/Ontario Blues (Mississauga, ON)
10. Theo Sauder – UBC Thunderbirds (Vancouver, BC)
11. Cole Davis – Calgary Saints/Prairie Wolf Pack (Calgary, AB)
12. Nick Blevins – Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack (Calgary, AB)
13. Doug Fraser – Castaway Wanderers/BC Bears (Ladysmith, BC)
14. Jeff Hassler – Unattached/Prairie Wolf Pack (Okotoks, AB)
15. Brock Staller – Seattle Seawolves
16. Eric Howard – New Orleans Gold/Ontario Blues (Ottawa, ON)
17. Djustice Sears-Duru – Unattached/Ontario Blues (Oakville, ON)
18. Ryan Kotlewski - Westshore RFC/Prairie Wolf Pack (Calgary, AB)
19. Conor Keys – UVIC Vikes/Atlantic Rock (Stittsville, ON)
20. Matt Heaton – Darlington Mowden Park/Atlantic Rock (Godmanchester, QC)
21. Jorden Sandover-Best - UBC Old Boys/BC Bears (Abbotsford, BC)
22. Shane O’Leary – Ealing Trailfinders (Cork, Ireland)
23. Guiseppe du Toit - UVIC Vikes/BC Bears (Maple Ridg

I like the 9-10 pairing, and the change at FB.

Surprised to see LeSage dumped entirely, but maybe he doesn’t work on the subs bench.

Another scrumhalf was called into the team. Surprised Heaton drops to the bench. He made numerous tackles against Scotland, and I thought he was our best forward. Rumball had a disappointing game last week. Larsen is in the XV. We should be fine at the lineouts. Who is the captain?

Russia is a poorer side than us. If we cannot run against them, we will not be able to run against anybody. We beat Russia by +20 two years ago and anything less Saturday would not be a good sign.

No DTH, more serious than I feared? Same with the ongoing absence of Ardron, although why risk him in a bit of a nothing match


But we need to build some momentum, cohesion. Hope to see them do so

Just got home from mountain biking and thought I'd see how the game was going ...

canuckles wrote:

OttawaKat wrote:1. Noah Barker – James Bay AA/BC Bears (Courtenay, BC)
2. Ray Barkwill – Seattle Seawolves/Ontario Blues (Niagara Falls, ON)
3. Cole Keith – James Bay AA/Atlantic Rock (Sussex, NB)
4. Josh Larsen - Otago (Parksville, BC)
5. Evan Olmstead – Auckland/Prairie Wolf Pack (Vancouver, BC)
6. Dustin Dobravsky – Castaway Wanderers/BC Bears (Hanover, Germany)
7. Lucas Rumball – Balmy Beach RFC/Ontario Blues (Mississauga, ON)
8. Luke Campbell – James Bay AA/BC Bears (Victoria, BC)
9. Andrew Ferguson – Oakville Crusaders/Ontario Blues (Mississauga, ON)
10. Theo Sauder – UBC Thunderbirds (Vancouver, BC)
11. Cole Davis – Calgary Saints/Prairie Wolf Pack (Calgary, AB)
12. Nick Blevins – Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack (Calgary, AB)
13. Doug Fraser – Castaway Wanderers/BC Bears (Ladysmith, BC)
14. Jeff Hassler – Unattached/Prairie Wolf Pack (Okotoks, AB)
15. Brock Staller – Seattle Seawolves
16. Eric Howard – New Orleans Gold/Ontario Blues (Ottawa, ON)
17. Djustice Sears-Duru – Unattached/Ontario Blues (Oakville, ON)
18. Ryan Kotlewski - Westshore RFC/Prairie Wolf Pack (Calgary, AB)
19. Conor Keys – UVIC Vikes/Atlantic Rock (Stittsville, ON)
20. Matt Heaton – Darlington Mowden Park/Atlantic Rock (Godmanchester, QC)
21. Jorden Sandover-Best - UBC Old Boys/BC Bears (Abbotsford, BC)
22. Shane O’Leary – Ealing Trailfinders (Cork, Ireland)
23. Guiseppe du Toit - UVIC Vikes/BC Bears (Maple Ridg

I like the 9-10 pairing, and the change at FB.

Surprised to see LeSage dumped entirely, but maybe he doesn’t work on the subs bench.

Another scrumhalf was called into the team. Surprised Heaton drops to the bench. He made numerous tackles against Scotland, and I thought he was our best forward. Rumball had a disappointing game last week. Larsen is in the XV. We should be fine at the lineouts. Who is the captain?

Russia is a poorer side than us. If we cannot run against them, we will not be able to run against anybody. We beat Russia by +20 two years ago and anything less Saturday would not be a good sign.

Didn't watch the game. Glad I didn't.

Anyone not afraid of Germany, Hong Kong, Kenya/Zimbabwe yet?

Every time I think we've hit bottom, it's like the Simpsons with Homer falling down the canyon.


Well done Russia, congratulations, but wtf Canada

I just watched the US beat the Scots. We are getting smashed next week. They are wsy too big and way too strong for our club players.

I got in last night saw the sore and thought that's about right, until I saw Russia won.

Our loosehead was killed in the scrum; our back row was awful; Barkwill could not throw; Blevins could not hold onto the ball; we were completely outclassed at #10 and #15. We did not get any points when the Russians were down two men. What was wrong with Hassler? It appeared he either played hurt or was disinterested in playing!

There is little use saying more, because things have all been said on the Canadian threads previously.

Edit: I meant score not sore, but I guess it feels the same.

For years and years, we were known for standout back row players. Now it seems like Ardron is our only top flight option. We don’t develop players who punish in the tackle, poach the ball, or are destructive runners. Is sevens to blame? I have no clue.

Saturday shows how the USA has blown past Canada. I don’t see us competing with them at any time in the future.

OttawaKat wrote:For years and years, we were known for standout back row players. Now it seems like Ardron is our only top flight option. We don’t develop players who punish in the tackle, poach the ball, or are destructive runners. Is sevens to blame? I have no clue.

Bubble wrapped generation coming of age? Work-shy private school / academy kids? Good old heartland-based working class kids can't afford it?


... seriously, though, on that last one. I was looking at the site of a club I'll be helping this summer. Charge nearly $400 to play U19/U17 rugby. They'll get 5-7 games out of that. I wondered if I could have afforded that as a kid (parents weren't able to chip in too much), especially with having to drive an hour or more for some away games.

Nieghorn wrote:

OttawaKat wrote:For years and years, we were known for standout back row players. Now it seems like Ardron is our only top flight option. We don’t develop players who punish in the tackle, poach the ball, or are destructive runners. Is sevens to blame? I have no clue.

Bubble wrapped generation coming of age? Work-shy private school / academy kids? Good old heartland-based working class kids can't afford it?


... seriously, though, on that last one. I was looking at the site of a club I'll be helping this summer. Charge nearly $400 to play U19/U17 rugby. They'll get 5-7 games out of that. I wondered if I could have afforded that as a kid (parents weren't able to chip in too much), especially with having to drive an hour or more for some away games.

What do Matt Mullins, Luke Bradley, Jake Thiel have in common?

1 They wore #8 for Canada's U20 teams from 2014-2017.
2 They no longer play rugby, club or higher.
3 They are now on the 7s team.

I do not give a hoot about 7s, buy my understanding is the three above players are not even regulars on the 7s; they are fringe players. We have no idea if the three guys would have progressed to the NSMT, because RC took them out of the XVs system.

Bogus question: If Hanko Germishuys' family would have moved to Regina would he be playing 7s now?

I remember Luke, I thought he was a very promising #8. Always seemed to get over the gainline. RC is burning all of its bridges and now it is coming home to roost. This Saturday does not even deserve a game day thread, it will be a slaughter.

Nieghorn wrote:

OttawaKat wrote:For years and years, we were known for standout back row players. Now it seems like Ardron is our only top flight option. We don’t develop players who punish in the tackle, poach the ball, or are destructive runners. Is sevens to blame? I have no clue.

Bubble wrapped generation coming of age? Work-shy private school / academy kids? Good old heartland-based working class kids can't afford it?


... seriously, though, on that last one. I was looking at the site of a club I'll be helping this summer. Charge nearly $400 to play U19/U17 rugby. They'll get 5-7 games out of that. I wondered if I could have afforded that as a kid (parents weren't able to chip in too much), especially with having to drive an hour or more for some away games.

Here is what I payed for my boy to play U-13 rugby:

Rugby Canada
TOTAL 80.00
Alberta Rugby U13 Boys Rugby Alberta / AJRA
TOTAL 49.00
Calgary Rugby U13 Boys Rugby Alberta / AJRA
TOTAL 5.00
Calgary XXXXXXX U13 Boys Rugby Alberta / AJRA
TOTAL 174.50

Sub total 308.50
Provider Fees 12.03
Total To Pay 320.53

The club only charges $174.50, the rest is "taxes", I should add that for this money the local union can't provide refs that even know the U-13 RC law adaptations. The local union pick and chooses which adaptations they want, ie: we have 13 on 13 playing on a full size field, it is stupidity.

My boys played 11 rugby games this year (or will by the end).



In comparison, my boy also plays A level lacrosse, which is $400 for near 25 games by the end of the season.

Rugby was a cheap alternative, it ain't any phucking more.

I said this before the 2015 WC and I still firmly believe it. RC selection policy is about justifying Langford and the carded athletes to the decision makers. We are losing out on so many players because of this. Canuckles had a good example earlier about losing players to 7s. Which is a mickey mouse sport. He is right, RC took the easy way out and decided to focus on 7s for the golden pay day of government funding. What we are seeing now is the results. Funnily enough, I think they are reversing this as they have realized the error of the way and the views of the rugby public but it will be years if not a decade before they undue the damage they have done. The real question is, how many of the rugby supporters they alienated will still care by the time the finish turning the ship around.

Well, it is still cheaper by some margin in comparison to say, soccer and hockey. Our club for my kids was approx. $250-$350 apiece (so ~$200 to the club). This covers training from May 1 - Aug 31 (~30 practices), uniforms, refs, medics, coaching fees, etc., and 9 festivals (3 games in each), and league games (~10 or so) for the older age grades. Also nice for families with more than 1 sibling to be able to take both at the same time / same place. Soccer, baseball and hockey all far more expensive in our neighbourhood. To your point, Lacrosse (a good comparison for a 'minor' sport here in Canada) is a little cheaper or the same price depending on club / league, yes.

I remember when Canada defeated Scotland in 2002. They won 26-23, while the US lost 65-23. The shoe/boot is now certainly on the other foot sixteen years later.

The Wolfpack (rugby league) were on TV this weekend, while thankfully the game vs. Russia was on Facebook. The entire RC board needs to resign. No idea who should replace them...does it matter? Provincial rugby administrators seem to be equally inept. The senior men's team somehow making the next World Cup will just delay the inevitable and keep this horror show going.

Finally, most kids (boys) are not interested in playing rugby seriously. The elite athletes are attracted to other sports. If you can't attract and keep top athletes from a young age (RC seems to excel at this) then your elite teams are going nowhere. Poaching players from other countries is not a viable solution. A pro league...who will watch it? More worrying, who will coach/teach the youngsters?

World rugby rankings has Canada at 22, just below Hong Kong...how low can they go?

Wrote this on a rival rugby board.

2 things.

Listening to some of you whine about O'Leary reallly makes me shake my head. No he was not good against Scotland, but who was? He was playing behind a well beaten pack, Carter or Wilkinson would have looked bad as well. He nearly got us the victory against Uruguary in the 2nd leg of the qualifier being at 80 percent health and not playing any game of rugby, at any level, before that qualifier. He is by far our best 10, probably the best we have had, easily since Munro, possibly since a pre-buffet Rees. Is he the next coming of Carter? No, but he is a good player.

Our program now is a disgrace, the steering of any quality U20 player into 7s has finally caught of to RC. It will be years before this ship is righted. The question is, how many of us fans will still care when it is righted and will we qualify in November. I think we will, as I don't think they will mess around with the selections then and all our healthy pros will be selected, but it is not a shoe in. If Spain and Romania were not DQ'ed, I actually don't think we make it. One last thing, I think a lot of our selections in June are dictated by who is carded and who is not. It is RC trying to justify Langford to the rugby public and to the federal goverment. The selections for this summer have been a joke and we should be selecting our healthy European based players.

CanNZ2000 wrote:Wrote this on a rival rugby board.

2 things.

Listening to some of you whine about O'Leary reallly makes me shake my head. No he was not good against Scotland, but who was? He was playing behind a well beaten pack, Carter or Wilkinson would have looked bad as well. He nearly got us the victory against Uruguary in the 2nd leg of the qualifier being at 80 percent health and not playing any game of rugby, at any level, before that qualifier. He is by far our best 10, probably the best we have had, easily since Munro, possibly since a pre-buffet Rees. Is he the next coming of Carter? No, but he is a good player.

Our program now is a disgrace, the steering of any quality U20 player into 7s has finally caught of to RC. It will be years before this ship is righted. The question is, how many of us fans will still care when it is righted and will we qualify in November. I think we will, as I don't think they will mess around with the selections then and all our healthy pros will be selected, but it is not a shoe in. If Spain and Romania were not DQ'ed, I actually don't think we make it. One last thing, I think a lot of our selections in June are dictated by who is carded and who is not. It is RC trying to justify Langford to the rugby public and to the federal goverment. The selections for this summer have been a joke and we should be selecting our healthy European based players.

Injuries aside, Canada has to put its best on the field in every Test match it plays. The big question is, do we have any idea who are our best players? So many guys have been pulled from the system, my guess is we do not know.

What did Josh Donaldson say about MLB: "This isn't the try league." In rugby, Men's XVs is the big leagues. "Trying their best" doesn't cut it. Test rugby is about winning games. A union has to either compete or go home and stop wasting everyone's time.

If that board is the one I am thinking of, I would pay little attention to things that are said on it.

Canadian experimental team or not, getting spanked by a Russian team that lost by 49 to the US the previous week is embarrassing. I actually think you guys might keep it close this week, though, if you field your best side and we give our top European players a rest.

Nice try goey, we are not keeping it close. Hell, we'll probably end up playing DSD at 12. Most of our backline is healthy, but they weren't even picked so we can give the guys in Langford a run. I hope RC is reading this thread, they need the wake up call.

Morgan14 wrote:Well, it is still cheaper by some margin in comparison to say, soccer and hockey. Our club for my kids was approx. $250-$350 apiece (so ~$200 to the club). This covers training from May 1 - Aug 31 (~30 practices), uniforms, refs, medics, coaching fees, etc., and 9 festivals (3 games in each), and league games (~10 or so) for the older age grades. Also nice for families with more than 1 sibling to be able to take both at the same time / same place. Soccer, baseball and hockey all far more expensive in our neighbourhood. To your point, Lacrosse (a good comparison for a 'minor' sport here in Canada) is a little cheaper or the same price depending on club / league, yes.

That's quite good, but do you know what it would be like for a teenager in your area?

It'll never happen, but I'd like to see the school season east of the Rockies move to the fall (easier for girls because it only has to compete with basketball, whereas boys football is in the fall... though surely there are fewer schools playing it now?). Then start the club season in April / May parallel with adults. More games to develop, keep teens interested.

Nieghorn wrote:

Morgan14 wrote:Well, it is still cheaper by some margin in comparison to say, soccer and hockey. Our club for my kids was approx. $250-$350 apiece (so ~$200 to the club). This covers training from May 1 - Aug 31 (~30 practices), uniforms, refs, medics, coaching fees, etc., and 9 festivals (3 games in each), and league games (~10 or so) for the older age grades. Also nice for families with more than 1 sibling to be able to take both at the same time / same place. Soccer, baseball and hockey all far more expensive in our neighbourhood. To your point, Lacrosse (a good comparison for a 'minor' sport here in Canada) is a little cheaper or the same price depending on club / league, yes.

That's quite good, but do you know what it would be like for a teenager in your area?

It'll never happen, but I'd like to see the school season east of the Rockies move to the fall (easier for girls because it only has to compete with basketball, whereas boys football is in the fall... though surely there are fewer schools playing it now?). Then start the club season in April / May parallel with adults. More games to develop, keep teens interested.

For a U17 boy or girl, I think it's in the ~$500 range. That doesn't include any provincial or academy training, which you would know more about than I would and what that would cost. But there's a good little organization called Toronto Inner city Rugby Foundation (TIRF) that is trying to get rugby into schools in lower income neighbourhoods (and to help those athletes that want to play club find one and perhaps help a little with those expenses). Nothing huge so far in terms of numbers but helps create awareness, and hopefully can convert a few that otherwise wouldn't have gone near a rugb pitch.

I agree with you about rugby in the fall in schools. Developing more of a presence in schools is a must, and it's hard to improve much if your 'season' consists of 8 weeks of training and a total of 5-7 games. I'm always amazed by how many kids have played some high school rugby, and yet so few convert into clubs, or stop playing altogether once high school ends.