I’m a Canadian myself, and honestly there’s nothing encouraging players to play after u18’s. And those who do stay are almost constantly talking about he problems you brought up here. Great video I think you really hit the nail on the head

"Theo Sauder's brother's a fan of the channel" Most of us canadians are friends of the players you mentioned there. You have a huge supporting of canadian rugby fans

Name a better feeling than seeing squidge has a new video

As a u18 player in Canada, so many players who are looked at by Canada choose not too based purely on the sacrifice you have to make for it and for no money, and when the team was successful people would do it but now people don't want to get paid next to nothing in order to live in Langford and get pumped by the Maoris once every 3 years.

Perhaps one of the biggest things you didn't mention in the video was that recently the Sports Association of Nova Scotia banned school rugby in the province as they said it was to dangerous. So yeah, thats helpful for player development

That Leicester Tigers joke hurt, as did our form this season

I’m Canadian and I love rugby. This cut deep but it’s so true, our senior team is a mess lol. It’s a shame, because my high school was a huge rugby school. Canada has a huge interest in the sport when it comes to the high school level, just as much as hockey does in some cities.

Not sure if there are any other rugby youtubers making such well made content. No one else making such indepth content outside of podcast format. It is so straight to the point and everything is said without fluff. Easiest content to absorb. Excellent work deserves recognition.

Great video... but I think the importance of MLR to Canadian International development has been understated. MLR means more games, more people coaching at a pro level, and more opportunity for players in Canada. Not to mention that players won't tolerate shit coaching at the National level if they're getting better at MLR level. All we need are a team in Vancouver, and perhaps a team in eastern Canada - Montreal, or perhaps east coast (Halifax, St John(s), etc.)

Video on Newcastle’s Relegation? After a top 4 finish the year before

Hopefully younger people in Canada are dedicated to Rugby! We hope they grow more along with the USA and their new league! Greetings from Argentina!

It’s nice to hear your take on lesser covered teams

Tyler Ardron has been incredible in Super rugby for the Chiefs. I hope he can inspire a few others in the forward pack and provide some turnovers during the world cup

BC Rugby News . com just shared this video as well as the post RWC19 video you made on Uruguay. I am now, officially, a fan. I'd like to see you hired to run RC. Last time we beat the US was when Francois Ratier (local) assisted by Jamie Cudmore (local) filled an interim position. Jamie recently turned down a coaching position with Stade Francais to come back and coach the U23 "Pacific Pride" (respect for that man).

As a South African I will always remember the 'Battle of Boet Erasmus' in the 1995 World Cup. The dirtiest game I ever saw and nearly cost the Springboks the tournament!

I've waited so long for the video on Rugby Canada, Thanks!

As a Canadian this video made me upset but your not wrong about anything, rugby Canada has been going down for years but I would say that the popularity and knowledge of the sport is rising but with all the restrictions on the sport it’s going to go downhill anytime now.

So nobody is going to comment on the mad editing skills?

Lucas Rumball was one of the first people I met at Queen's in 2013. Stand-up guy, it's nice to see him playing at the national level.

That abused lad joke was your best Owen Farrel dig yet

Another brilliant twelve minute video that took me twenty minutes to watch. Thanks Squidge. VFX and editing are just **chef's kiss**

Thank you for this send it to Rugby Canada!

I play in Vancouver, Canada (french expat here), andI can relate - there is hardly any grassroot teams even at amateur level, and not for the lack of initiation (most high schools in British Columbia provide some form of 'light' rugby programs) but for the lack of following thereafter. Competition with hockey and soccer is fierce and the cheer experience/skill/level brought in by expats sometimes discourages young adult rookies unfortunately (90% expats in my club).

DTH Van Der Merwe will overtake Bryan Habana’s World Cup try scoring record mark my words. Mans a machine.

You were at Canada vs Romania? SAME!! :) I'm not surprised to hear we've attended the same matches on occasion, I'm perhaps slightly surprised that it was something so obscure!! My girlfriend at the time was Canadian and I thought it would be a fun way to try to get her into watching rugby

You forgot to mention John Moonlight in the list of Canadian players

Dude that Scott Pilgrim intro was fucking awesome!! Didn't expect to see that in a rugby vid

I played with Nate. Great kid, lots and lots of heart. No support from rugby Canada.

Hay man, just want to say I love your work on KZfaq and your style is unique and funny which just makes this channel a gem! Love your work and just want to say keep it up and I wich that you grow as large as posable. Thank you, Aaron. Ps, I would become a patron but I'm broke so I give you love pennines.

lolol the bit about players coming up through the Provincial system then leaving the sport at ~ age 21 is too accurate

Watching this 3 years later, and unfortunately it has only gotten worse on the men's side. The worst part is that behind some of the decisions that are just strange on their face, like the move to Langford, those go much deeper in that they confirm the decades-old biases of other provincial organizations, who have always (and probably correctly) felt poorly treated by the BC-based leadership. Add to that the fact that rugby is a spring and summer game in the rest of Canada and it makes everything about organizing things across the country almost impossible. Now, I'm an old fart and played senior rugby (very poorly) in the days of Al Charron, and back then it was worse - selection was explicitly based on geography, with a certain number of spots "reserved" for players from Ottawa (everyone else had to come from BC). I have to say, though, I watched Canada beat France in the stands at Twin Elm Rugby Park in Ottawa, and it was glorious (though it wasn't a full-strength French side, even I have to admit that).

Also a lot of people don't play provincial team cause it cost the players at least 1,500

Another incredibly well researched video. Also loved seeing the Magali Harvey clip in there, have you thought of doing any women's rugby videos?

overly polite syrup guslers should be the new name of our national team 😂😂😂

One coach?! At national level?! A Schools team nearly has more than that!

As a Canadian and a massive rugby fan I can honestly say THANK YOU! You've hit the nail right on the head! we have incredibly talented, world-class players. Our program is being gutted from the top down. Rugby Canada have made absolutely terrible decisions and it is they who ah e let our team down. Our boys in the jerseys are doing what they can given what they have. We've all been saying it for years! But the last 5 years or so we've slid down roughly 10 spots on the rankings and we've been beaten by teams we used to trounce because they've moved on and we haven't. I'll forever support my team, but the same cannot be said of its management. Currently, all our hopes are resting on the mlr brining enough to slow the free fall. Courage lads! It's not been easy, and we know you're giving it your all! Here's hoping the executive team can get their heads out of their asses now too!

After high school only barely anyone plays after that. Such a shame

The Toronto Arrows will hopefully make a big difference now that they are in MLR and reached the play offs in their first season. ArrowsUp!! :)

Pls do a video on MLR

As a Canadian and a fan of your channel I've been waiting for this video for a longtime. Would love to see our guys win just one game in the world cup :( probably not going to happen though.

Can you do a rwc 2019 predictions video

Canadian Rugby management eerily reminds me of rugby management in Australia. As a Western Australian, I felt super betrayed when our Super rugby team was dumped. So betrayed I really don't wish the Wallabies well anymore (let alone support them). Watching them stuff, baste and bake the All Blacks last weekend was an odd feeling. I should have been Hell Yeah!! I was more "golf clap, well played"..

You made a very good point with the retention of younger players. What I have seen that hurts this massively is the pathways to play more rugby in Canada. Our best athletes play sports like hockey, Canadian football, track, etc. and can continue on into their university years with scholarships. As far as I know, the Canadian universities don't offer scholarships for rugby players and it isn't seen as the same varsity sports as hockey or Canadian football. It is unfortunate that there really isn't incentive to play it beyond some club level matches

4:08 Samoa - among the smallest player pool in the world = largest contingent of superstars in rugby

“Calm America.” Respect, Squidge. Respect.

As a Canadian I see this everywhere, I hope to make the national team tho.

This is actually the situation with South African rugby as well and has been for some time. We just have the luxury of a huge rugby pool thats been able to carry us through somewhat. But every year its getting smaller and smaller due to young players losing interest or frustrated players applying their trade over seas due to local governmental budget cuts and dodgy selection criteria at a provincial and school level. Due to this the public in general is losing interest in the game as can be seen by the super rugby fan turn up which, apart from Cape Town, is next to nothing.

Being a 16-year-old provincial player from Ontario this one hit hard

I love seeing people who really should not have green screens using green screens for my amusement

Competing with our lasses for support, coaching and financing is a part of it.

0:11 The Legend of Canadia

The MRL gives a platform for North American players to play regularly had a higher level.. Which is a good thing for both Canada and the US. But when it comes to coach of the Canadian national team it should be Phill Mack. When he retires. What he did as a player coach at Seattle and winning the MRL title last year is pretty solid. I know Phil's played over Europe. He has some experience mucking about on the paddocks of jolly old and maybe the land of the frogs. I think he's got a good mind and he has a more modern perspective on attacking rugby. Then some of the other coaches in Canada at the provincial level.

I had the pleasure of watching DTH Van Der Merwve in action in the 2015 Pro12 final. He went past three of Munsters back line, Irish internationals, as if they were standing still to score, so the talent is there in Canada. They just don't seem to harness it.

Please do a video on Madagascar rugby 🏉. Madagascar is one of the few countries where rugby is the national sport!

as a Canadian i feel sorry for you if Toronto is your favourite place you've ever been

Was lucky enough to go to Vancouver and everyone there loved 7’s

Well this is relevant especially now that they’ve just failed to qualify for 2023 rugby World Cup

Thx man. Great video, the arrows are huge for us no doubt. So many good players were previously stuck at the Ontario Marshall division. This gives us a path and the arrows have integrated themselves with the local clubs

Great points and thank you so much Squidge for this analysis. That said, you went too easy on our men's organisation and the RCanada Board. The one thing you missed is that the men's team has NEVER PLAYED A BLOODY MATCH in the second largest media market in the country, Montréal​. Rugby Canada doesn't even do ads here or consistently speak any French in communications. That's 25% of the country. So if you're a French Canadian U20 player you also get the extra barrier of language and culture. Slow clap to the old fucks at Rugby Canada.

Kudos for mentioning Rugby 08 :)

Enjoyable video, as always.

I feel this entire video. You are right in a lot of ways, but how broken our system is, will take years to fix. Give us time.

Great coverage.

Finally another videos!! But nice one

Love how you say Ontario like a French Canadian ;-) da iawn!

Learned a lot from this vid. I just wish guys like Milan Lucic played rugby 😁

I loved the reference to Scott Pilgrim at the beginning of the video 😂

More specific What went wrong with Canadian "Men's" Rugby... The Women's program is light years ahead and internationally respected...

Rugby 08, oh how I love thee! But seriously, how is this still the best game more than a decade later :(

Rugby in Spain? Love ur videos btw!!

Don't forget Jeff Hassler.

Only 30,000 players... That’s rough.

Watched this after watching Canada get eaten in the 7s. Squidge will you cover the London 7s? I know Wales aren't so strong this year but...

Great content

What went wrong? In a word, the Weather. Canada has what you could term a structural disadvantage, much like Russia.

I’ve got a pound on Canada losing against Namibia

@squidgerugby mate your contents is always awesome, great in depth analysis with a lil humor here and there lol. Will you be making a video in the future of how the North has seemingly overtaken the South in recent( perhaps last 3 - 5 years) ? As a Saffa I never thought this would happen, the All Blacks are basically carrying the SH ( international and Super Rugby ) while the BOKS AND AUSSIES go from bad to worse.

I wish that there was more than just a like button for all your videos.

Could you make a video explaining all the different leagues for rugby union. I’m American and really am trying to get into more rugby than 7s and the World Cup but am confused on what I should watch. If you could please make a video explaining them that would be awesome. Love your vids as well

Had no idea that Crowley came from coaching Canada before going to Benetton, which, while we're now on the topic of, pleeeeeaaaasssseeeee make a video about their miraculous rise this season!! Crowley has dramatically lifted spirits in Treviso since their depths of losing to Zebre two years ago. Shame he couldn't do the same for Canada eh

I only got on this cause I was thinking about my freinds the Huston boys from the Charlottes. They won Rugby gold medals in the 90s. I dont remember the details that much, but it sad that its sagging now.

thanks for your video!

As usual mate, a top video on top form. However, how can you possibly do a Canada RWC video without including the 1995 RWC Battle of Boet Erasmus. This summarised Canadian rugby for decades - "we may get beaten in score, but we'll physically beat you to make sure you want it".

Loved seeing my sister's head in this video, but it definitely hurts to see the men's team lacking behind. Just have to keep watching the women's 7s team

Caillou analogy was on point 🤦🏽‍♂️

Excellent! Thank you!

Giving young players a clear cut way to make it would be a good start. Mlr teams having something like an academy for young players would be a very good idea

This video is informative, entertaining and funny thank you

As a Treviso supporter, thank you Rugby Canada for the blessing that Kieran Crowley has been for Benetton this season😊 By the way, what about a video about Benetton Rugby, eh?

It would be super cool if you could do a video on MLR and how it's changing rugby in North America.

It would be an interesting exercise were you to update this essay in light of what has happened to Canada's men's rugby over the past four years. Some part of the problems that you have touched upon in this video have been addressed. I am thinking here of the introduction of a professional rugby league in North America. Major League Rugby finally creates a channel through which younger players can establish themselves as professionals in the sport, and is the beginning of a deepening of the pool of players on which the Canadian national team can draw. I suspect, however, that the problems with Canadian rugby are far deeper than this and extend into Canadian club rugby and college rugby. This has been a bitter World Cup season for me and, I expect, many other Canadian fans of the sport. I hope that the failure to qualify will have prompted a more extensive consideration of the future of the sport in this nation.

Please please please do a video on Hong Kong rugby please 🤗

On life support atm

New intro🔥🔥🔥😍

I'm in U17 right now, and it isn't really worth it past U19 ALSO: the rugby plays on a national level are less complex than my U17 plays

Much love from Toronto

Imagine how much it sucks for provincial rugby athletes like myself, there is no funding for any of the rep teams at all, I spend 1000s of dollars for my trips all over the world making development really hard

Looking forward to your profile of Romania, including their recent sanction and exclusion from WC 2019.

australia next? really interested to see whats going on with them going into the world cup

You Lift It sean Ive only started one other League game this seson