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As
a former #8 of strong RMC rugby teams in the late 70s
it is nice to hear that rugby is returning. This will
give cadets another option to pursue a team sport
outside the intramural walls of RMC. I do hope this is
a start to a re-evaluation of the recent restrictive
nature of the RMC varsity athletics program. There are
several sports that cadets could take part in programs
outside of the intramural program that would be
relatively low cost and with cadets being quickly
competitive. I hope present college staff does not shy
away from revisiting the issue. A wider range of
sports outside the RMC intramural program can do
nothing but improve the exposure cadets receive from
Canadian society and the exposure they provide
representing RMC and the CF.
12524 Mikola Czich
I
would like to say thank you to The Commandant, BGen J
Leclerc and the Senior Staff of RMC for reintroducing
Rugby as an RMC Varsity sport. Rugby dates from the
very beginning of RMC history-predating hockey and
football due to the College British traditions. There
have been a number of cancellations and
reintroductions of the sport over the years. We are on
the upswing today! The College had a great season last
year, with three teams playing an interdivisional IM
program, along with Queen’s third side.
This participation rate nearly beats the old Royal
Roads system where three intramural teams once played
alongside the College Vancouver Island Rugby Union
Second and Third Division Rep teams. With a Cadet Wing
of about 300 in size, a lucky Cadet could get in three
games a week, not counting the practices! No wonder
Royal Roads developed the “Rugby Only” Light Duty
medical chit. This ensured parades did not interfere
with recuperation!
13731 Steve France
As
a former member of the pistol team and a high school
rugby player I am glad to see the return of rugby even
if it means the demise of Rep Pistol and Rifle. I
remember the years I was on the pistol team being down
in the basement of the Old Gym with the fans going.
It was an old range in 1979, let alone 2005. The
pistol competition of highest interest to my team
mates and I was the West Point competition, and then
it was only to minimize the score by which we lost. I
remember our best shooter being able to beat only
their worst shooter, even under those conditions. I
did enjoy the trip to West Point; they had the nicest
indoor range I had ever shot at. The Pointers enjoyed
the trip to Kingston and relative civilization.
Nothing starts a day with a hangover off better than
indoor shooting at 7 am (especially given we were out
as late as permitted).
In
terms of value to the College and the experience for
cadets I'm glad to see the return of rugby to the
College. I'm hoping that if there isn't a women's
program in place already there soon will be one. When
I was at the College in the late '70's and early '80's
the rugby program had a first and second team (no IM
rugby) and there was a great deal of interest in the
program. It's a great team sport and I think the
College and cadets will be far better served with an
active rugby program than pistol or rifle.
13189 Guy Warwick, Late of Mackenzie Sqn.
Here in California, the US Marines play rugby because,
as they say, it is in the “the warrior tradition”.
Glad to hear that RMC is returning to its roots. Rugby
is also the most sociable game on the planet (unlike
armadillo rugby).
There is a lot for the Cadets to learn from that. I
hope that they will be able to contribute players to
the Canadian team.
RCNC 326 JK Kennedy, Royal Rodent 1949
While reflecting on John's comments, ( Ed - just
above) especially the first sentence of the second
paragraph, I had memories of sitting after the game in
an 18 inch deep and 12 x 12 foot bath of hot water
along with a dozen or so other players, both ours and
theirs, with a mug of bitters in my hand. A truly
sociable game... Well said, John.
RCNC 327 Rip Kirby |
Perhaps we could combine both sports rather than scrap
one. Give each rugby player a sidearm. We’d establish
some instant respect in our first season.
8572
Raymond S. Riddell
Great
to see that some logic has crept into the decision
making process at RMC in regards to varsity sports.
Rugby was one of the only sports that RMC fielded a
competitive team in within the OUAA and I feel that
RMC will be competitive almost immediately. It fits
into the model of a cadet at RMC - tough and demanding
combined with some skill and good looks.
Besides the athletic benefits - the Rugby team always
had the most fun on their trips!!!!
16945
Rob Burke - Class of 89 -
RMC
Rugby 87-89, Roads Rugby 85-87
Shooting Teams views
Mixed views.
I
am delighted that intercollegiate rugby is back. It
should never have gone! It is a good sport for anyone
and a good military sport.
I
am appalled at the cancellation of indoor shooting,
instead of bringing the range up to specifications.
This is a forces-wide problem that has not been
handled well. We have spent millions on simulation
for instruction which is exactly what small bore
shooting on indoor ranges is. Moreover, it is
probably the only actual military skill
taught/practiced at RMC. Good grief!
6250 Lou Grimshaw
It
is an odd irony that the e-Veritas announcement of the
elimination of the shooting team at RMC would come in
the same issue as a trivia question that highlights an
ex-Cadet who won three gold medals for shooting while
still in attendance at RMC, and who was inducted into
the Canadian Forces Hall of Fame for that very same
thing.
Shooting, like Rugby, requires a high degree of
physical fitness. Shooting, unlike Rugby, is a
military skill - a skill that is not well exercised
for those members that are not in the combat arms. As
a former captain of the RRMC rifle team, it saddens me
to see the shooting team eliminated in favour of
resurrecting a ball team when that money could be
spent supporting a team that promotes a militarily
useful skill.
16078 P.D. Cowan
I
am extremely disappointed with the decision to cancel
the shooting team.
This was one of the few teams open to both male and
female cadets. It is also one of the few teams that
one truly expects to have at a military college. I
have fond memories of the various holiday shooting
events that the shooting teams hosted.
When I was a cadet, I found there was a definite
shortage of shooting opportunities available to
cadets. Before going to RMC, I had expected
marksmanship to be a regular part of the College
curriculum.
I
believe team funding should be directly proportional
to the level of success that such a team can
reasonably expect to achieve. Since our shooting team
usually produces champions, they should be fully
funded. Any team that is not competing at the College
and University level or higher, should be cancelled.
Any team that does not make it to the playoffs at
least once every four years, should be cancelled.
If
the cadets have to use facilities on the base to
train, so be it. If a fund-raising effort needs to be
made to refurbish the College range, that would be a
worth-while effort of the Ex-Cadet Club.
16923 C.E.M. (Beth) Webster
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