Fyffe lands Canada top job
Rugby Canada
April 4, 2007

Rugby Canada has announced the appointment of a new head coach and new program manager.

Former Canadian senior men's team player Quentin Fyffe has been given the helm of the women's squad, while the National Senior Women's Team program will be coordinated by Eva Havaris out of Rugby Canada's Toronto office.

Fyffe replaces Neil Langevin, who guided the Canadian team to the Women's Rugby World Cup held last September in Edmonton, where they lost a semifinal match-up to England in a 20-14 encounter.

Geraint John, Rugby Canada's high performance director based in Victoria, BC, praised the hiring of Fyffe. An Australian, Fyffe has made Calgary, Alberta, his home since completing his playing days for the men's team after the 2003 World Cup.

"Quentin's appointment is a very positive step in the women's program and one which the High Performance Committee and Rugby Canada Board of Directors fully support," stated Geraint John.

"He has worked extremely well with the under-21 men's program with excellent reviews and appraisals. As a former Canada player, it is also good to see players putting something back into the program."

While a number of other Canadians were in the running for the post, it was the overseas applications that surprised John, who says it augers well for how Canadian rugby is perceived internationally.

The hiring of Havaris is also seen as key to moving the women's program forward. In 2007, a new National Women's League (NWL) has been created, and the numbers of women playing rugby in Canada is burgeoning.

"The women's program is now in an exciting stage with the new women's league in place," added John. "Women's sevens started this year and hopefully a women's North American Four (NA4) program will follow.

"These appointments will be of great benefit to this and help in putting together a strategic plan to move the game forward towards the next two Women's Rugby World Cups in 2009 (sevens), 2010 (fifteens) and beyond."

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