North America 4, also known as IRB North America 4, was a North Americanrugby union competition launched in 2006. The competition was contested between two newly formed representative teams from each of Canada and the United States. The competition was funded by the International Rugby Board (IRB), and was part of their three-year global strategic investment programme which was designed to increase the competitiveness of international rugby union in Canada and the United States. The tournament was intended to act as a pathway to more exposure of domestic players and the national sides (Canada and United States).
The teams competing are Canada East and Canada West, and the USA Falcons and USA Hawks. Each team was founded in 2005 by the NA4 committee, comprising the IRB, Rugby Canada and USA Rugby.
Coached by Tony Medina, who is assisted by Ian Hyde-Lay, Canada West won the inaugural competition. Captained by scrum-half Ed Fairhust the team won their first match 98-0, the largest win of the competition. Fairhurst has represented Canada at test level, as well, the team has a front row with test experience.[1]
Coached by Simon Blanks, with assistants Jeff Prince and Greg Thaggard, Canada East finished third in 2006 after winning the consolation final. The team was captained by Derek Daypuck who also finished their leading points scorer on 78.
They are coached by Pete Steinberg, assisted by Bernie Hogan and Gordon Macpherson. The team finished last in the competition. They finished with one win from their seven matches.
StructureEdit
The tournament consists of twelve games played over two legs. Each team plays the other twice, the top two teams then play in the competition final, the other two in the consolation final. Points are awarded for a win or a draw, four points for a win, two for a draw. Bonus points are also awarded, one for scoring four tries or more in a match, also one for losing by less than seven points. If two teams have the same number of points at the end of round robin play, then the team with the greatest difference in points scored over points conceded is ranked higher. The competition is run by the NA 4 committee, which is made up of the IRB, Rugby Canada and USA Rugby, who operate and finance the competition.
HistoryEdit
The IRB planned to invest $CAN3.12 million over a three-year period to establish the competition as part of the "Tier 2 initiative", which aims to promote rugby in countries where the sport is less popular.[2] The tournament was created to provide an elite level of rugby below the international level for both Canada and the United States. The IRB and representatives from both Rugby Canada and USA Rugby held meetings during September 2005 in Boston, Massachusetts to finalise the inaugural tournament.[2]
The 2006 competition was held in both British Columbia and Columbus, Ohio. British Columbia hosted the first leg in May, 2006, and Ohio hosted the return leg two months later, in July.
It was hoped that the competition would introduce professional rugby to North America.[3] It was proposed that by 2008, cities and private owners would take ownership of the franchises.[3] It was also proposed that the competition would expand to six teams, and then eight. Two teams were expected to be added in 2008,[3] likely one each from Canada and the USA.[2]
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North America 4 also known as IRB North America 4 was a North American rugby union competition launched in 2006 The competition was contested between two newly formed representative teams from each of Canada and the United States The competition was funded by the International Rugby Board IRB and was part of their three year global strategic investment programme which was designed to increase the competitiveness of international rugby union in Canada and the United States The tournament was intended to act as a pathway to more exposure of domestic players and the national sides Canada and United States North America 4SportRugby unionFounded2005Inaugural season2006Replaced byAmericas Rugby Championship 2009 No of teams4Country Canada United StatesMost recentchampion s Canada West 2008 Most titlesCanada West 3 titles The North America 4 has since been replaced by the Americas Rugby Championship as of September 7 2009 The new tournament features six teams including four provincial sides from Canada playing in the Canadian Rugby Championship joined by the Argentina Jaguars and USA A Contents 1 Teams 1 1 Canada West 1 2 Canada East 1 3 USA Falcons 1 4 USA Hawks 2 Structure 3 History 4 Results 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksTeams EditThe teams competing are Canada East and Canada West and the USA Falcons and USA Hawks Each team was founded in 2005 by the NA4 committee comprising the IRB Rugby Canada and USA Rugby Canada West Edit Main article Canada West rugby team Coached by Tony Medina who is assisted by Ian Hyde Lay Canada West won the inaugural competition Captained by scrum half Ed Fairhust the team won their first match 98 0 the largest win of the competition Fairhurst has represented Canada at test level as well the team has a front row with test experience 1 Canada East Edit Main article Canada East rugby team Coached by Simon Blanks with assistants Jeff Prince and Greg Thaggard Canada East finished third in 2006 after winning the consolation final The team was captained by Derek Daypuck who also finished their leading points scorer on 78 USA Falcons Edit Main article USA Falcons Coached by Jim Love who is assisted by Kevin Battle Their captain was Patrick Bell The team finished runners up after losing the competition final USA Hawks Edit Main article USA Hawks They are coached by Pete Steinberg assisted by Bernie Hogan and Gordon Macpherson The team finished last in the competition They finished with one win from their seven matches Structure EditThe tournament consists of twelve games played over two legs Each team plays the other twice the top two teams then play in the competition final the other two in the consolation final Points are awarded for a win or a draw four points for a win two for a draw Bonus points are also awarded one for scoring four tries or more in a match also one for losing by less than seven points If two teams have the same number of points at the end of round robin play then the team with the greatest difference in points scored over points conceded is ranked higher The competition is run by the NA 4 committee which is made up of the IRB Rugby Canada and USA Rugby who operate and finance the competition History EditThe IRB planned to invest CAN3 12 million over a three year period to establish the competition as part of the Tier 2 initiative which aims to promote rugby in countries where the sport is less popular 2 The tournament was created to provide an elite level of rugby below the international level for both Canada and the United States The IRB and representatives from both Rugby Canada and USA Rugby held meetings during September 2005 in Boston Massachusetts to finalise the inaugural tournament 2 The 2006 competition was held in both British Columbia and Columbus Ohio British Columbia hosted the first leg in May 2006 and Ohio hosted the return leg two months later in July It was hoped that the competition would introduce professional rugby to North America 3 It was proposed that by 2008 cities and private owners would take ownership of the franchises 3 It was also proposed that the competition would expand to six teams and then eight Two teams were expected to be added in 2008 3 likely one each from Canada and the USA 2 Results EditYear Final Host Final Third place matchWinner Score Runner up 3rd place Score 4th place2006 Details Columbus Ohio Canada West 31 20 USA Falcons Canada East 34 18 USA Hawks2007 Details Abbotsford British Columbia Canada West 43 11 USA Falcons USA Hawks 34 29 Canada East2008 Details Glendale Colorado Canada West 16 11 USA Falcons USA Hawks Canada East 17 17 Third place drawSee also EditChurchill Cup 2006 North America 4 Americas Rugby Championship Canadian Rugby ChampionshipReferences Edit Canada teams choose for opening games of NA 4 NA Rugby Archived from the original on 3 March 2016 Retrieved 4 October 2006 a b c North America cross border tournament to provide new level of elite competition NA Rugby Archived from the original on 3 March 2016 Retrieved 4 October 2006 a b c NA could bring professional rugby to North America NA Rugby Archived from the original on 10 March 2007 Retrieved 4 October 2006 External links EditOfficial website North America 4 set for debut permanent dead link North America 4 to make debut Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title North America 4 amp oldid 999155543, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
