Bring on the All Blacks and Springboks.
The Langford-based Canadian men’s rugby team kept alive its streak of qualifying for every World Cup and will be going to its ninth consecutive next year in Japan following the 27-10 victory on Friday over Hong Kong in the rain-drenched final game of the last-chance qualifier in Marseille, France, to decide the 20th and final berth.
“We look forward to being in Japan and continuing the great legacy Canada has of being in the World Cup,” said head coach Kingsley Jones, the Island-based Welshman.
Canada will be in Pool B and open the World Cup on Sept. 26 in Fukuoka against Six Nations-side Italy. Then come the games against the overwhelming pool favourites and world powers New Zealand on Oct. 2 in Oita and South Africa on Oct. 8 in Kobe.
Canada will close pool play Oct. 13 against African-qualifier Namibia with what is expected to be near home-crowd advantage at Kamaishi Recovery Stadium in the prefecture of Iwate. The capital of Iwate is Victoria’s sister city, Morioka. While many rugby fans in Japan were hoping Hong Kong would join the host team to make it two Asian nations in the World Cup, most fans in Iwate were cheering Friday’s result with plans to welcome the Canadian team in a big way because of the Victoria connection.
After having qualified directly out of the North American qualifier for the previous eight World Cups since 1987, Canada took the circuitous route this time through three qualifying tournaments and much angst and self-reflection, but are finally Japan-bound
“We’re over the moon,” said Canadian captain Phil Mack of Victoria.
“We knew it was going to be tough. But all the support from home . . . and the boys digging in and getting the work done and building up to this in the last year has been awesome. We just wanted to get into this World Cup. We had a goal in mind.”
It wasn’t easy achieving it.
“We were in a bad spot when Kingsley Jones took over [in September of 2017],” said Mack.
“He upskilled us all and put us in position to go to the World Cup. That goal is done. Now the hard work really starts. We’ve got to go to the World Cup and perform. We’ll enjoy this moment but then we’ll have to hit the afterburners and work toward the World Cup.”
Canada had to work hard to get there. The deciding game of the repechage tournament in a soggy Marseille turned on two gritty goal-line stands against Hong Kong as Canada barely touched the ball in the first 12 minutes against the driving Hong Kong pack. Forward Ray Barkwill, out of the Castaway Wanderers of Oak Bay, scored Canada’s first try. It went against the grain of play and turned the tide in Canada’s favour.
Two opportunistic tries by winger DTH van der Merwe of Victoria sealed the deal, as did the three converts and two penalties kicked by Gord McRorie. Van der Merwe, the all-time career Test tries leader for Canada, finished the tournament with five tries.
“It was a super-scrappy game,” said captain Mack, who is out of Oak Bay High, the University of Victoria Vikes and James Bay Athletic Association.
Canada finished the last-chance repechage tournament 3-0, Germany 2-1, Hong Kong 1-2 and Kenya 0-3.
“It was a monsoon before kickoff and we knew it would be an arm-wrestle for [80] minutes against Hong Kong,” said Canadian coach Jones.
“Closing the game out and getting the result we needed was very professional. This is something for which we have worked very hard.”
It has been reported the 2019 World Cup appearance could mean up to $10 million for Rugby Canada in terms of sponsorships, endorsements and World Rugby funding.
“It is a massive boost for Rugby Canada [based in Langford],” said Jones. “Every rugby club in Canada deserves credit today. We felt the support with everybody really behind us.”
Canada’s 12 overseas pros will now return to their professional teams. The rest of the players, up to 50 on the Canadian long list, will centralize and train over the next nine months at Westhills Stadium in Langford.
The Canadian team is scheduled to arrive at YYJ tonight at 10:25 p.m.
Island fans can see Canada play when it hosts Chile on Feb. 22 and Argentina XV on March 1 in the Americas Rugby Championship at Westhills Stadium.
