Try and Tackle

With the Canada Sevens here, the idea of how Canadian rugby develops is here too. This week, Patrick Johnston speaks with Mike Jamieson, who has coached and played throughout the BC rugby system. He’s coached rugby league. He’s got good thoughts on what we need more of. And there’s also time to chat with Canadian men’s sevens coach Damian McGrath about what he’s seen since first joining Rugby Canada last October. This is the Try and Tackle podcast, powered by Province Sports Radio.

With the World Rugby Sevens Series shifting to Las Vegas this weekend and then Vancouver next week, the Try and Tackle podcast is back. Host Patrick Johnston brings aboard Matt Trenary of Trenarian.com. Matt’s taking the power of statistical analysis to the world of rugby sevens – for the public. Teams track their own in-game numbers but no one shows their work like Matt has started to do. How important are kickoffs? Why does South Africa not bother trying to win them back? What other things has Matt noticed? All that, and more on the Try and Tackle podcast, powered by Province Sports Radio.

Extraordinary is one word to describe rugby’s August. There’s going to impact felt in North America — and around the globe. The Canadian women won bronze. The country is jazzed. But what about the disappointment felt by the Americans, will that be a problem? Martin Pengelly of The Guardian and Curtis Reed from This is American Rugby join Patrick Johnston to ponder the meaning of sevens, and the future of professional rugby in North America. Will Pro12 sniffing around make any impact? And what of the Premiership/Saracens/Toulon’s interest in the USA? This is the Try and Tackle podcast, on Province Sports Radio.

Yes, we’re back. Patrick Johnston and Curtis Reed preview the men’s and women’s competitions in Rio. It’s going to be a great spotlight for a great game. Plus, how are things looking for PRO Rugby in 2017 now that the inaugural season is all done and dusted? How will Canada fit into expansion? What were the marketing and team management lessons learned? This is the Try and Tackle podcast.

Yes, we’re back after another hiatus. Host Patrick Johnston chats with Samoa 7s coach Damian McGrath about what’s gone well for his side this season; they won the Paris 7s and now are hot favourites to win the Monaco 7s and the spot on the line for Rio. Plus, Curtis Reed from This is American Rugby sits in to talk about the sevens season that was for Canada and the US, and the fellas also look at how PRO Rugby is doing. This is the Try and Tackle podcast.

Las Vegas was quite the weekend – and Vancouver will be just as huge. Patrick Johnston of The Province is joined by Curtis Reed of This is American Rugby to review a weekend where the Canadians finished a disappointing 14th but the Americans played to their strengths and pulled out 4th place finish. What does it all mean for this coming weekend in Vancouver?

This week, Americas Rugby News’ Bryan Ray sits in the guest chair. He and host Patrick Johnston of Province Sports discuss the recent visit of Rugby Canada big wigs Gareth Rees and Jim Dixon to Halifax as part of their cross-country meet the fans tour. It was an interesting event, Bryan said. He shares what he learned about the senior men’s program going forward, the state of Rugby Canada in general and more. And of course, there’s always time to chat about the sevens. This is the Try and Tackle podcast.

Holy moly, what a January for Rugby Canada and USA Rugby. A new coach south of the border, a coach leaves in the north, and there’s lots of chatter about professionalism. The Province’s Patrick Johnston and This is American Rugby’s Curtis Reed break it all down. This is the Try and Tackle podcast.

November came quickly – and so has ProRugby. Patrick Johnston and Curtis Reed look at the nascent American rugby circuit and what lies in front of it. Plus, the Dubai 7s are in a week, an early look at what the coming sevens season holds for the Canadian and American men and women. And some final thoughts on the late, great Jonah Lomu This is the Try and Tackle podcast.

It’s been a glorious six weeks of rugby. While Canada and the US didn’t have the on-field success they hoped for, there are still plenty of positive lessons to come out of RWC 2015. Also, the way the Southern Hemisphere teams have shown the way is nothing but a good thing. Patrick Johnston and Curtis Reed make their picks for the final and take a look at what needs to happen next in the North American game – can a professional league really happen and can it really make a difference in the growth of the game? This is the Try and Tackle podcast.

Japan sent the shockwave felt around the Rugby World Cup world on Saturday by beating South Africa. Deep breath. Patrick Johnston is joined by former Canadian national teamer Glenn Ennis to look at the impact made by Eddie Jones on the Japan squad. Jones coached Ennis in Japan – and Ennis was one of the first professionals in Japan to boot. What are the lessons for Canadian rugby? Curtis Reed from This is American Rugby returns as well to take stock of the American loss to the Samoans and the overall picture in Pool B, now that the Japanese are sudden quarterfinal favourites. And what of Canada? They lost to Ireland, they figure they have a chance to beat Italy this weekend…there’s lots to talk about. This is the Try and Tackle podcast.

On to the big show. The Canadians had a good win vs. Georgia and a hard loss to Fiji. The US showed well enough but still lost vs. Australia. So, all that in mind, what are the prospects for these two Tier 2 countries heading into men’s rugby’s biggest show. Bryan Ray from Americas Rugby News and Curtis Reed from This is American Rugby join Patrick Johnston of The Province on this week’s episode. This is the Try and Tackle podcast, powered by Province Sports Radio.

Patrick Johnston and Curtis Reed are back! The Pacific Nations Cup is over – where do Canada and the USA stand with just over a month to go until the Rugby World Cup? This is the Try and Tackle podcast, powered by Province Sports Radio.

Canada and the USA played an intense rugby sevens final last weekend in North Carolina. This is American Rugby’s Curtis Reed was there – what are his thoughts, four days after the Americans won and qualified for Rio? Patrick Johnston wonders how Canada will plan over the next year, with another shot at Olympic qualification in June 2016? Also, it’s inside three months to the Rugby World Cup. What are the early thoughts on the Canadian and American squads?

It’s all down to this for Rio. (Well, ok, the loser gets another chance. But you know what we mean.) Canada. USA. 20 minutes. Are you ready Curtis Reed? The editor of This is American Rugby joins Patrick Johnston to look at the two teams vying for North America’s spot at the Rio 2016 summer games. This is the Try and Tackle podcast on Province Sports Radio.

Following Canada’s big win in the women’s event in Amsterdam, Patrick Johnston of The Province and Curtis Reed of This is American Rugby look back at the season that was on the World Rugby women’s series. Just as there were lessons to be taken a week ago in London with the American men, there are lessons on how to build a program from the Canadian women. This is the Try and Tackle podcast, powered by Province Sports Radio.

We’re back! Real life forced a hiatus. But with so much to talk about – the USA’s win in London, a resurgent Canada men’s sevens, interesting times for professional rugby in North America – Patrick Johnston and Curtis Reed rolled out the ol’ podcast. Crusaders vs Saracens in NOLA? The two rugby games in Philly in August? The Wallabies in Chicago? Pro games in Canada? It’s all happening. This is the Try and Tackle podcast, powered by Province Sports Radio.

The big weekend is here. It’s time to head to Las Vegas. Patrick Johnston and Curtis Reed set up the big home weekend for the North American squads and take a peek at some of the action slated for the Las Vegas Invitational. This is the Try and Tackle Podcast.

The Rugby Canada women had an adventure to get to Sao Paulo. Patrick Johnston brings in Kyle Phillips from Last Word on Sports to set up the Brazil 7s, the second stop on the Women’s Sevens World Series. That Chicago snow storm threw a wrench into the team’s pre-tournament plans but the show must go on. This is the Try and Tackle podcast.

The Wellington and Las Vegas Sevens loom. It’s a pair of big tournaments in a vital season for both Canada and the USA Sevens. The men are heading to Wellington and Las Vegas – the women to Brazil. What are the coaches saying about the Olympics and what they’re looking to build in the next few months? Plus it’s getting warmer for the 15s. Canada’s men will go to Fiji in March. The USA forwards are having a camp in San Diego. Can you feel it? This is the Try and Tackle podcast.