Our team-mate and Canada U20 Men’s coach, Mike Shelley, requires some more billets for players May 12 -23. He has received confirmation from four members and is seeking billets for 6 – 8 more players.

Todd Silverthorn, U20 Men’s manager, is coordinating the process. Please read Todd’s email below for more information and consider opening your home to one or two of these young men.  Thank you - ‘Prez’ Shane

Dear Ebb Tide,

I hope this all finds you well and we really appreciate your partnership and support of the Rugby Canada U20 program. Our U20 National Men's team is setting out to participate in the Junior World Rugby Trophy in Chile later this month May 23rd to the June 9th. Before we head to Chile we have a short camp and some exhibition games with the USA in Minneapolis Minnesota May 2nd until the 12th. Upon completion of that camp, we return to Victoria and are looking to engage our players with the local rugby community and help them understand who they are playing for and what it means to represent our country. We feel that with support from your club and the interaction with your members this will benefit them greatly.  With your assistance we are able to provide these players with more opportunities that have not been provided in the past.

During their week in Victoria the players will be run through on field sessions with Rugby Canada coaches as well as work with nutritionists, analysts and psychologists to help them achieve a higher level. 

Players arrive back in Victoria May 12th 8pm and depart May 23rd in morning. If you are able to billet one or more of the players you would be asked to provide them with a bed to sleep in and 2 meals a day during the week (breakfast and dinner). The players and yourselves will be given a complete itinerary of their schedule and will notify you of any changes and any meals they would be in your house for. You can count on us to provide you with some money for groceries during their stay as well as organize rides to and from training for them so they don’t impede on your busy lives. 

Once again we thank you for your support as we believe this is a positive opportunity for these young men as they set out to represent our country.

Todd Silverthorn – Manager U20 Men 

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Travel Updates

As announced at the beginning of January, we are trialing group walk-on with bus pick-up/drop-off at Tsawwassen ferry terminal for our lower mainland games the second half of this season.

We will meet, as usual, at Chatterton this Sunday (March 3) @ 7:15 am and car-pool from there to Swartz Bay. Each car-load will share the cost of parking and gas. Parking is $12.00 for the day.

We need to purchase those tickets ½ hour before the sailing to receive the group discount so it’s important that we know our numbers in advance.

Please let Harold, Andy and I know if you are meeting us at the terminal or have arranged for a pick up along the way there so that we can add you to the head-count taken at Chatterton. Same goes if you have to withdraw at the last minute. You can find our numbers under ‘Contact Us’ above.

An appointed player will purchase ferry tickets for the group and then hand them out as we pass through to the waiting area.  All travellers pay $25.00, which we will collect when we’re in the waiting area in Swartz Bay.

Walk-on and bus transfers are more cost effective than our current practice of using rental vans and personal vehicles and the club will see significant travel cost savings over the course of several games. Travelling as one group on a bus should also add to the camaraderie and even allow our captain and his assistants an opportunity to discuss ‘game plan’ with the road warriors.

Change has its challenges and I truly appreciate your support in making this initiative a success.

Cheers,

Shane, aka ‘The Prez’