photo and article by Judy Teasdale. On Friday April, 8, 2011

The Canadian Rugby Foundation was pleased to bring together Kieran Crowley, Mike Cron and Neil Barnes for a fundraiser benefiting the Foundation’s U-20 National Player Sponsorship program. New Zealander’s Mike Cron and Neil Barnes who were on Vancouver Island for a scrum camp funded by the International Rugby Board for Rugby Canada in preparation for the upcoming Rugby World Cup. Mike Cron who had spent a number of years living in Victoria was very pleased to get back here and see his old stomping grounds and to give as much of his expertise on scrummaging and rugby on a whole to the Canada’s forward pack.

There was a cocktail hour with some delicious appetizers in the spacious MacKenzie Lounge at the Union Club in Victoria. Then Matthuw Ronald-Jones started the evening off by introducing all three of these rugby masterminds. Kieran Crowley, Mike Cron and Neil Barnes each gave their own impressions on how the Scrum Camp went and then there was a Q & A for half an hour in which the guests were able to get a clearer vision on how the camp assisted over 40 of Canada’s forward pack in preparation for the Rugby World Cup and the U20’s Junior World Rugby Trophy.

The evening wrapped up with an auction for 2 to Langara Fishing Lodge on the Queen Charlotte Islands. Over $7,500 was raised in support of the Canadian Rugby Foundation’s 4th Annual U20 Player Sponsorship program