Ontario Blues Provincial Team 2024 Update
U19 - Men and Women
Rugby Ontario has partnered with the four provincial branches (EORU, TRU, NRU, and SWRU) to have selection competitions for athletes representing the U19 Rugby Ontario team competing in the 2024 CRC. This process will allow players to showcase their skills and abilities throughout three matches rather than relying on a single tryout session. This process ensures that selection is based on consistent performance rather than a one-off display. Provincial coaches and selectors will be present to observe players in competitive situations during the interbranch competition. This process will provide a more transparent and objective way of selecting players than tryouts, which can sometimes be influenced by subjective biases or limited observation time. Overall, competitions in provincial rugby offer a more comprehensive and effective method of player selection and development compared to tryouts, allowing for greater fairness, transparency, and growth opportunities for all involved.
Structure
Round-robin, each region will play each other once. This competition aims to create a high-octane, competitive platform for rugby while fostering provincial interest and showcasing the best talent from different regions. These competitions will identify the Top 26 Ontario athletes at the 2024 Canadian Rugby Championship, which will be held in August 2024 at Acadia University.
Teams
Four regional Branch Teams
NRU
EORU
SWRU
Schedule
Matches will be held between June 16th -July 7th, 2024.
Round 1 – June 16th, 2024
Round 2 – June 23rd, 2024
Round 3 – July 7th, 2024
Pre-Competition Preparation
The top 30 players will have the following dates to prepare together for the 2024 CRC Competitions:
July 14th,21st and 28th
The team will compete over ten days at Acadia University. The estimated cost is at $3000. Rugby Ontario has put together a fundraising team to support HP teams.
U18 Boys and Girls
Rugby Ontario has partnered with the four provincial branches (EORU, TRU, NRU, and SWRU) for the 2024 Ontario Summer Games. Each region will submit two U18 boys' and two U18 girls' teams, a total of 4. Each area must select its coaching staff and teams with players. Players born in 2006 and 2007 are the target age group.
Schedule
Pre- Competition Schedule
June 29th and 30th Great North Rugby 7's
Markham, On
OSG Competition Schedule
August 2nd and 3rd
University of Western Ontario
Structure
Round-robin, two pools of 4 teams will play three games on Day 1 and be ranked for Day 2 playoffs.
This competition aims to create a high-octane, competitive platform for rugby while fostering provincial interest and showcasing the best talent from different regions. Expect a cost of approximately $400
U17
A four-regional team model will encourage more young athletes to get the opportunity to participate. This broader inclusion encourages excellent participation rates and allows talent from various areas to be recognized and nurtured. The inter-branch competition allows for more focused talent identification. Coaches can closely observe players within smaller geographic areas, making identifying and developing promising athletes easier. This localized approach increases the likelihood of discovering hidden talents that might have been overlooked in a more extensive provincial setup. Regional teams generally require less travel than a single provincial team, as players are drawn from smaller geographical areas. This reduction in travel expenses benefits players and their families, making participation more accessible to a broader range of individuals regardless of financial constraints. Regional teams foster a stronger sense of community engagement. Local communities often rally around their teams, providing support and resources for player development. This grassroots involvement can strengthen bonds between players, coaches, and fans, creating a supportive environment for young athletes to thrive. With four regional teams, there's likely to be a higher level of competition within each team as players compete for positions and recognition. This increased competition pushes players to continuously improve their skills and performance, raising the overall standard of play within each region. This competition is a pathway opportunity that prepares young athletes for higher levels of competition, such as provincial and national tryouts and tournaments. The experience gained from competing in a regional setting equips players with valuable skills, resilience, and adaptability needed to succeed at the provincial, national, and even international levels.
Schedule
Round-robin, each region will play each other once. This competition aims to create a high-octane, competitive platform for rugby while fostering provincial interest and showcasing the best talent from different regions.
Teams
Four regional Branch Teams
NRU
EORU
SWRU
Schedule
Matches will be held between August 18th -September 1st, 2024.
Round 1 - August 21st,2024
Round 2 -August 24th,2024
Round 3 - August 31st, 2024
Top Performers
Rugby Ontario will lead and facilitate the top players in each age grade, who will be selected based on performance during the interbranch competition to participate in the Ontario Blue Builder Camp in partnership with Rugby Canada. The camp will occur on October 8th and 9th and focus on development and intrasquad matches.
ABOUT RUGBY ONTARIO
Rugby Ontario is the provincial sports governing body responsible for the organization of rugby in Ontario. Our mission is to lead, support and promote Rugby for All from communities to clubs to province. This mission signals a movement toward creating a more cohesive, supportive and progressive sporting environment that is responsive to the needs of all members.
To learn more, visit https://www.rugbyontario.com/
WANT MORE INFORMATION?
Sandro Fiorino
Manager, Technical High Performance
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