NEWS REPORT

For the fourth consecutive year, twenty-two National Senior Men's Team squad members, who are resident in Canada and not under professional contract, will benefit from Sport Canada's Athlete Assistance Program.

Monthly stipends from the Government of Canada's Canadian Heritage funds, will allow the selected players to receive financial aid while pursuing their rugby careers. Keith Wilkinson, who negotiated the support with Sport Canada, reports that eighteen of the group, will now receive a Senior Athlete card worth $ 1, 100 a month, while the other four are designated C-1 first-year cards and will receive $ 500 a month. The first-year cards are provisional, and players will become full Senior carded athletes if they remain selected for a second year.

The AAP financial support allows Canada's non-professional rugby players to pursue athletic excellence at home in Canada. As long as they observe the terms of their Athletes Agreements with Rugby Canada, meet the high training commitments, and play in Rugby Canada’s matches and competitions, the athletes receive their monthly stipends. In addition to receiving the $13,200 a year in grants, those athletes who are studying in post-secondary education can receive tuition support, and the Program has paid out some $35, 000 for Rugby athletes to date.

Three of the four new Players to join the list of development cards include Ed Fairhurst, Mark Lawson and Jesse Frender of the University of Victoria Club. Ed Fairhurst started in the 2001 PARA Tournament, while Mark Lawson is a past National Junior Player, and Jesse Frender was Canada’s leading scorer in the IRB World Sevens Series. The other card goes to Colin Yukes of the Edmonton Druids Club in Alberta, who plays for Pacific Pride and earned his first Senior cap in 2001.

"The Government's support of our home-based players continues to help Rugby Canada immeasurably," says Graham Baldwin, Chief Operating Officer. " For the 2001- 2002 period, the government's financial support, negotiated with Rugby Canada, amounts to almost a quarter of a million dollars in direct payments and tuition support of our home-based athletes. Since 1998, Rugby Canada players have benefited to the tune of almost a million dollars. Sport Canada remains a major sponsor of Rugby Canada, and gives us an opportunity to improve individual performances and our National Team's program."

Players to receive grants under the Athlete Assistance Program:

Senior Cards
Fred Asselin, James Bay Athletic Association, British Columbia.
Ryan Banks, Burnaby Lake, British Columbia
Jared Barker, James Bay Athletic Association, British Columbia.
Dale Burleigh, Toronto Irish, Ontario
Garth Cooke, Pacific Pride, British Columbia
Gregor Dixon, Cowichan RFC, British Columbia
Patrick Dunkley, James Bay Athletic Association, British Columbia.
Sean Fauth, Castaway-Wanderers, B.C. & Calgary Hornets, Alberta
John Graf, University of British Columbia Old Boys, B.C.
Mark Irvine, Bayside RFC, British Columbia
Ron Johnstone, Capilano, British Columbia
Ed Knaggs, Castaway Wanderers, B.C. and Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia
Nick Milau, Bayside RFC, British Columbia
Kyle Nichols, Toronto Wanderers, Ontario
Bob Ross, James Bay Athletic Association, British Columbia.
Shane Thompson, Montreal Barbarians, Quebec
Adam Van Staveren, Bayside RFC BC, and Toronto Wanderers, Ontario
Jeff Williams, University of Victoria BC, and Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia

First Year Cards
Ed Fairhurst, University of Victoria, British Columbia
Jesse Frender, University of Victoria, British Columbia
Mark Lawson, University of Victoria, British Columbia
Colin Yukes, Edmonton Druids RFC, Alberta and Pacific Pride, BC