Article content

One big piss-up was the key to success for Canada’s entry to the 1991 Rugby World Cup, a tournament in which they would go on to impress observers far and wide.

Or, at least, that’s what assistant coach Rod Holloway believes — and so does a former player of his.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or 1991 Canadian rugby team credits big weights — and big booze-up — for Rugby World Cup success Back to video

Yes, the old days of rugby very much fit the stereotype: hard playing on the pitch, hard partying off.

The 1991 team, coached by Ian Birtwell and Holloway and featuring a cavalcade of Canadian stars, is to be inducted into the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame in May.

The night in question happened in England, a week or so before the Canadians moved to France for the second edition of the global tournament. They would go on to beat Fiji and Romania before close losses to France and New Zealand.

“The mayor of Windsor came down to see us, we were training there, and invited us to the guild hall, which is the city hall, for a dinner,” Holloway recalled Tuesday after the announcement was made about the team being honoured.