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The Canadian Rugby Club
‘THE season 1930-31, in Canadian Rugby history, has been the most
1I successful yet. In many ways it has been epoch-making: Varsity held
the first real training-camp in Western Canada, played the first game of
night rugby in Canada under floodlights, and was the first coast team to
play on the Prairies.
Increasing interest in the Canadian code is apparent on all sides in
the larger and more enthusiastic support and in the larger early-morn
ing turnouts. All in all—stripped of silver and championships (Var
sity lost the Hardy and failed to recapture the Lipton Cup), the past
season is at least a criterion of the much improved game played in the
West, and in keeping pace Varsity can look forward with confidence to
the future.
One of the great features of this season was the training-camp.
When first mooted, doubt was expressed as to the feasability of the
scheme. The town executive, however, under Dr. Burke and Scotty
Mclnnes worked indefatigably on the plan and “zero” hour, September
1st, found forty men on the way to Bowen Island, and all doubts of
success dispelled. The camp was an unqualified success. Ten days of
rugby and nothing else, fine playing fields, excellent accommodations
and strict training rules combined to produce results. Clipping, tackling,
running, bucking, double-teaming, kicking, signal practices and chalktalks
at night, not to mention “time” served on the “dummy” soon put
the boys in shape to enjoy those Mt. Strahan Lodge meals, the swimming,
bridge, tennis and fishing that formed the other side of the picture.
When the team returned to Varsity it had glorious memories of days
spent there and nicknames acquired (some printable, others not, but
all suitable, doubtless). It is hoped this camp will become a tradition
for future “Blue and Gold” gladiators and for those who were at Bowen
this year, the next camp will mean that “Happy Days Are Here Again!”
The season opened with an exhibition between Varsity and Hamilton
Tigers in Canada’s first game of night rugby. U.B.C. played its first
game of the season, with a half-green team against the most experienced
champions of Canada in midseason form and, as was inevitable, lost.
The Big Four League opened and Varsity upset the “dope” by
defeating the highly-praised Vancouver team and losing to the Mera
lomas. Given a bye in the League, Varsity travelled to defend the Hardy
Cup on the Prairies. The “Blue and Gold” won easily at the University
of Alberta but lost the Hardy Cup and the Western Intercollegiate Cham
pionship to a much improved University of Saskatchewan team at Saska
toon. The team returned to the coast and fought its way to the finals
where, in the most keenly contested game seen in Vancouver, the Mera
lomas just nosed out Varsity and its hopes fo.r the Lipton Cup.
The success of the past season, and it was a great success in spite of
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