The Canadian Classics are comprised of players who have represented their country in International rugby competition, are over the age of 33 and are still capable of playing at a high level. Players come from all across the country and unlike over 40's rugby; this level is highly physical, competitive and exciting to watch with many of the players currently under professional contracts and/or playing test level rugby. Canada has been represented at the Classic level by all of our World Cup Captains - Hans De Goede, Mark Wyatt, Gareth Rees, Al Charron and Morgan Williams. Also donning the classic jersey for Canada have been our most capped internationals like Scott Stewart, John Graf, Steve Gray, John Hutchinson, Ryan Banks and Winston Stanley. The Canadian team alternates yearly in a home or away fixture against either the USA and sometimes Argentina, then caps off the season with the highlight - The World Rugby Classic in Bermuda.

February 2010 The Canadian Classics will play the Eagles this summer during Stampede Week. Two games (A and B) are set for Friday evening July 9th. We will then likely enter a team or two in the one day Stampede 7’s so the fat guys can watch and drink beer while the athletic guys get fitter. If you are interested, as a player, coach, trainer or cocktail getter, let me know – individuals would have to cover their air and accommodation plus kick in a bit for some spectacular Ookpik X-treme Rugbywear kit. Loveday and Duchscherer have a line on some downtown hotels but they are going very fast. We will only allow 25 in the A game but can have as many as we like in the B game – nothing like a 45 second hockey shift. October 3, 2009 Things are in full swing, as the Canadian Classics prepare for the annual trek to Bermuda. The dates for this years World Rugby Classic are November 8th to 14th. The team will arrive in Bermuda on Friday the 6th. At this time we will begin "oiling the wheels" in preparation for this years matches. We will play South Africa on Monday evening at 8:30 If you are planning to make the trip you need to get your monies in to Tom Woods ASAP if not sooner. You can do that right here on our website. Just visit the donations section and use Paypal to send Tom $750.00. You have less that a week to get it in so you name goes on a ticket with Air Canada. As they say "Git 'er dun!" April 22, 2009 The Canadian Classics are gearing up for their Annual one-off fixture against the U.S. Eagles and the squad is excited about the venue this year - beautiful San Francisco. The sixth North American Classics Challenge Cup is at stake with the Yanks holding the upper hand with victories in Aspen 05, Regina in 06, and New Jersey 07. Canada is vying to retain the Cup they won previously in Edmonton in 04 and again last year in Victoria 08. Behind 3-2 in the series, the Canadian Classics are shooting for the elusive victory this year around on U.S. soil. Veteran Classic stalwart Rob 'Vader' Waddell who took a year off after signing a professional contract with the Red Bull Warriors states "We know the Yanks are tough at home so I will be leading the boys through some focus and communication exercises so that we have our game faces on come June 27." Other notables touring to SF with the Canadian Classics will be Mike Pajic, John Thiel and Adam Vanstaveren from the powerful Bayside club plus a bevvie of less distinguished chaps from Alberta and Ontario. Tour organizer Albert Ipoundmartinis - a Canadian with two Italy "A" caps says "The plan is to take close to 50 guys for the two teams so we can choose a more competitive squad for the World Rugby Classic this year in Bermuda". Guests and supporters always welcome - please email the Canadian Classics for more info (Click on 'CONTACT' in the link bar above). December 6, 2008 What's Next for the Canadian Classics? The Classics will recover and re-group for three exciting fixtures in 2009. 1. MIAMI BEACH: Several expatriate Pumas living in the Miami area have begun the process to have a four team four day event in April 2009. Invited are Canada, the USA, Argentina and either the British Lions or France. The format is simple with two games Thursday night and two on Saturday and a large post-event party in downtown Miami Beach. The Pumas are confident they have several big corporate sponsors and want to tie in some rugby legends to provide some motivational speeches during the event for corporate personnel. 2. SAN FRANCISCO: Our annual fixture against the US Classic Eagles is scheduled for late summer 2009 and as fate would have it they have chosen beautiful S.F. California as the venue. The Yanks are already making arrangements and unlike us in Victoria will probably keep things a little simpler and maybe even have the police play a positive role in the event. 3. BERMUDA 2009: There is only 337 days until we head to our second home in Bermuda and we will ensure we are far more competitive next year. With Vades having served his ‘time-out’ we will certainly increase our bar tab and guarantee the hosts are entertained once again. NEW PAGES ADDED TO THE SITE: Under the 'Links' tab: - History of the World Rugby Classic - Canada Comes Up Short at the 21st World Rugby Classic Under the 'Pictures' tab: - 2008 World Rugby Classics Canada Vs Australia October 23, 2008 Update on this year's World Rugby Classic Yes with sad news Vader and the Moss’ (who have been attending for the past 14 years) will not be coming this year. However the crappies and the rest of the team are. It is a strong team this year. We think bar revenue will be down this year on the island without Vader. - Guido August 19, 2008 Pictures from the June 2008 Challenge are up May 13, 2008 Information on the 2008 World Rugby Classic posted under the 'Links' page Breaking News CANADIAN CLASSICS TO HOST FRENCH AND US SQUADS French Barbarians Coming to Victoria to Play Canada on June 28th Venue: Bullen Park Esquimalt BC with seating capacity between 3000-3500. East-West field configuration full iRB regulation size. Beverage Garden called the Touchline Tavern North. VIP Tents and full wrap around seating trucked in. Games: Friday June 27th . 5:30 KO Vancouver Island High School All Star XV versus Lower Mainland High School All Star XV . 7:00 KO Canadian Classics versus US Eagle Classics (game one - featuring less capped players) New pages added to the site: Under the "Links" tab: - History of the World Rugby Classic - Saturday June 28th . 12:00 KO Crimson Tide versus Fraser Valley Under 20 game . 2:00 KO Canadian Classics (game two - featuring multi-capped players) versus US Eagles . 3:30 KO Canada versus the French Barbarians The Classics expect to field a line-up of previous or recently retired internationals in their 33rd year or above including Morgan Williams, Jeff Williams, Nik Witowski, Winston Stanley, John Thiel, Adam Vanstaveren, Gregor Dixon, Rob Robson, Fred Asselin, Jeremy Cordle, Scott Stewart, Rod Snow, Gareth Rees, Roger Robinson, Spencer Robinson, John Graf, Mike James, Eddie Evans, Norm Hadley, Tony Healey, Jared Barker and many more so even the undercard games will be big crowd pleasers. The Bullen Park venue was set up for a Canadian Classics weekend and Rugby Canada just very recently received word that the French Barbs wanted to come to the West Coast and their preferred date was June 28th. Rather than try and build an event from scratch, the Classics are teaming up and it will be interesting to see a bunch of past Internationals working in a volunteer capacity to put on an event for our current National team. Although the seating capacity is limited the venue will be intimate and if the weather cooperates, the day(s) will be awesome. On the really positive side, there is very limited financial risk or overhead costs to Rugby Canada or the Canadian Classics and even in this short time frame the venue has some revenue potential. This should be a big day for Victorian and Canadian Rugby! Huddy Huddy! Feb 22, 2008 !!!!NEWS FLASH!!!! THE YANKS ARE COMING - THE YANKS ARE COMING This year's International fixture VERSUS THE Classic Eagles will be help in Victoria on June 28th. The Americans will be bringing two full squads, including many veterans from the 2007 World Cup campaign, and a great weekend of rugby is in the cards so don't miss it. We were hosted last year by our American friends in beautiful Stine Harbor New Jersey and we will have our hands full to put on the same quality event they did for us! Nov 2, 2007 Christmas came early this year for the Lads of the Canadian Classics as they head of to Bermuda this Thursday. It is going to be a tough year, with Canada playing South Africa Monday Nov 5 at 7pm, at the National Spots Center Frog Lane Bermuda. And yes it is also a sad note that Guido is not going to be with the Lads in Bermuda. He will be crying at Darcy's Pub thinking about the chaps and his friends and family in Bermuda.