[av_three_fifth first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=” mobile_display=” av_uid=’av-23dt6′]

[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av_uid=’av-15dyu’]
Top level coaching and success on the field has led to numerous BLRC players being selected for regional, provincial and national representative sides. Below are profiles of BLRC’s most successful representative players.

Pat Riordan
Pat Riordan played hooker and captained the national rugby team in the lead up to and during the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand. He earned his first cap as a hooker for Canada in 2003. As well, Pat has captained the BC Bears provincial Men’s rep team. Pat has played club rugby in Wales, New Zealand, Australia and captained the Uvic Vikes to the CDI Premier Championship in 2010. Pat trained with the national team in Victoria for a number of years, but returned to the Blue and White, before his retirement from rugby.

Mike James
Canada second row, Canada captain and Canada’s most successful professional player, Mike James is now retired from professional rugby and back home in Vancouver. Mike played for and captained the prestigious French Barbarians, and was featured in the 2005 team that included New Zealand greats Justin Marshall and Kees Meeuws. He ended his career with Stade Francais, and was part of the Stade Francais teams that won the French Premiership titles in 2003, 2004 and 2007, and went to the finals of the Heineken Cup in 2001 and 2005. He has earned 50 caps for Canada, 9 of which have come from World Cup matches. He has captained Canada on several occasions, including a match against France at Nantes. James has appeared in 4 World Cups – in 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2007. Mike also spent some time as Head Coach of the BC Bears Men’s Provincial Rep Side, and can be seen helping the BLRC coaching staff in the development of our up and coming players.

Julia Sugawara
A former member of the Canadian Under-23 Development Program Julia earned her first full cap in 2004 against the Black Ferns. Since then Julia has gone on to earn 40+ caps with the Canada team. Recently, she competed in her 3nd Women’s Rugby World Cup where she helped the team to a second place finish. Aside from the Blue and White, Julia has also represented the Province of BC in Senior Womens’ and Age Grade competitions as well as the Saracens in the UK.

Ryan Banks
Ryan Banks represented Canada 36 times on the national men’s rugby squad. The former Team Canada captain and No. 8, played for the national team at the men’s World Cup in 1999 and again in 2003. Banks played one season professionally for Bedford in England. Upon his return to Canada, he took over Head Coaching duties as well as starting on our Premier team. It is rumoured that his former opponents still wake in the middle of the night with nightmares of straight-arms.

Anna Schnell
Anna Schnell was first a member of the National Senior Women’s Team since November 2005. Anna earned her first cap against the USA in June of 2006,and has 30+ caps to her name. She was a member of both the 2006 and 2010 World Cup squad’s. At the 2010 World Cup she scored 46 points, making her the second highest point scorer of the tournament. Now retired, Anna spent some time as captain of the BLRC Premier Women’s team for a number of years and was named BC Rugby’s 2010 Womens Player of the Year.

Colin MacKenzie
Canada #8 and Canada captain, Colin was playing top grade rugby before many of BLRC’s current Premier players were even born. “Yeller” continues to suit up and lead the BLRC into battle every Saturday.

Maria Gallo
Originally from Argentina, Dr. Maria Gallo(Phd in Exercise Physiology from the University of Alberta) is one of Canada’s most accomplished female Rugby Players. Maria’s debut for the NSWT came against the USA in 1999. Since then, she has earned 55 caps in the 15’s game, and 8 caps in the 7’s game. She has played in 3 Womens Rugby World Cups,(Spain 2002, Edmonton 2006, England 2010) being named as Alternate Captain in 2010. She was also named Captain of Canada’s team at the Womens 7’s World Cup in Dubai in 2009. In addition to her contributions to our National Senior Womens Teams, Maria also represented Alberta from 2002 to 2006, and British Columbia from 2007 to 2010.

Corinne Jacobsen
Corinne has represented British Columbia at the Women’s National Championships since 2002, helping the team place 1st in 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2010. In 2009, she made her Canadian National Senior Women’s Team debut in Dijon France. Corinne started the game wearing the #3 jersey, and helped Canada defeat the French by a score of 14 to 5. Since then, Corinne has earned 7 more caps with our National Team; four of them coming at the 2010 Women’s World Cup.

Kim Donaldson
Kim Donaldson has represented Canada as Hooker at the 2010 and 2014 Rugby World Cups in England and France respectively. In addition to playing and touring with the national side, Kim was a part of the Rugby BC program for 7 years. Kim now resides in Quebec.

Brad Major
Brad Major has represented Canada twice against Fiji and Japan. He played at flanker. Brad now works as a fire fighter. He once ran the entire West Coast Trail.

Dave Milne
Dave represented Canada in the late sixties versus the Lions and England. He was heavily involed in coaching at the local high school level after his playing career. He introduced many players to the sport. He also was one of the people respoinsible for the formation of the BLRC.

Steve Gray
Steve Gray’s international career spanned 13 years 1984-1997. He earned 47 caps and represented Canada in the 1987, 1991, and 1995 World Cups. Chosen for numerous 7’s tours, he also played in the inaugural 7’s World Cup. Capped at both centers and wings, Gray also captained Canada versus the USA. Steve was on the pitch for some of Canada’s most memorable and famous victories, over France, Scotland, England, Argentina and Wales.

Barry Ebl
Barry played on Canada’s 7s team from 1995-1998. His test debut was against New Zealand in Aucland. His last test was played versus Hong Kong in Hong Kong. He played on the wing, sporting a mullet.
[/av_textblock]

[/av_three_fifth][av_two_fifth min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ link=” linktarget=” link_hover=” padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background=’bg_color’ background_color=” background_gradient_color1=” background_gradient_color2=” background_gradient_direction=’vertical’ src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=” mobile_breaking=” mobile_display=” av_uid=”]

[av_masonry_gallery ids=’8643583,8643582,8643584,8643581,8657663,8657662,8657658′ items=’10’ columns=’2′ paginate=’pagination’ size=’fixed’ orientation=” gap=’large’ overlay_fx=’active’ container_links=’active’ id=” caption_elements=’none’ caption_styling=” caption_display=’always’ color=” custom_bg=” av-medium-columns=” av-small-columns=” av-mini-columns=” av_uid=’av-1akgq’]

[/av_two_fifth]