With a second-place finish at the womens rugby World Cup, Canada showed it deserved a place among the sports elite teams.Figuring out how to stay there is the next challenge, and it could be a big one.The Canadian womens team received unprecedented exposure during its run to the final of the World Cup, which ended in a tough 21-9 loss to England on Sunday. Canadas games were televised live, and winger Magali Harveys brilliant 100-metre try against France in Canadas semifinal win made highlight reels across the country.But even after such a successful tournament, head coach Francois Ratier said in an interview after the final that its possible the team might be forgotten after what he called its 15 minutes.It remains to be seen how Rugby Canada builds on the historic World Cup performance, the precedent set by the sustained interest in womens soccer after Canadas bronze-medal performance at the London Olympics could serve as a possible model.I think the fact that it was shown on TV is going to make a huge difference, because women around the world and especially in Canada got to see what we were doing on the field and see what it was all about, Harvey said on a conference call Wednesday. So Im hoping that its going to promote the sport and push females around Canada to try that sport or any other sport.But as helpful as the exposure is, there are hurdles. Ratier said fundraising for the team was a considerable obstacle and getting fixtures against quality teams is a challenge for Canada, but not European teams.Ratier said Wednesday one of the key challenges facing Canada over the next three years is developing depth. While Canadas roster has star power — Harvey won the IRB womens rugby player of the year award, while captain Kelly Russell, who Ratier calls Canadas best player, was a finalist — heavyweights like New Zealand, England and France have more overall depth and can overcome injuries and fatigue easier.Its increasing the depth in certain positions, and making sure that when we have an injury we can replace her with a (quality player), Ratier said. Its identifying more talent and developing more players in the key positions. This is the key for the next three years.And those players will likely have to incur a substantial cost to participate in the next World Cup. Ratier estimated that Canadian players spent around $10,000 out of their own pockets to attend the World Cup and the preparation tournaments leading up to it.Ratier said its a big commitment considering we are playing teams that are funded, like New Zealand, England and France.When you see the French who are paid 120 euros a week when they are away, its not big but at least they can survive, he said. For us, some of the girls had to resign from their job to go to this World Cup.Money doesnt appear to be an issue for Harvey, who said she doesnt think about the big contracts athletes of her calibre get in mainstream professional sports.I do it for the love, I do it for the passion, and I do it because I love representing Canada, she said.But representing Canada is not always easy, especially in the three years that follow a World Cup. Ratier after Sundays final that Canada has trouble lining up quality opponents at the same time that France and England are playing in the prestigious Womens Six Nations Championship.There are also some lingering infrastructure issues compared to countries where rugby is considered a top-tier sport for women. Harvey said she was offered little guidance when she first got into rugby in high school, though she added the level of coaching in Canada is improving.It was pretty scary because there were no coaches who knew how to play rugby so they would just put you on the field and tell you to play, she said. Now its getting better. Coaches are more informed and teach you more. Jim Kelly Bills Jersey . Kerber will next play Estonias Kaia Kanepi, who beat American qualifier Victoria Duval 6-1, 6-3. In other first-round matches, Lucie Safarova beat 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone 6-4, 6-4 and American Bethanie Mattek-Sands had a 6-4, 6-3 win over Canadas Eugenie Bouchard. Josh Allen Bills Jersey .com) - The San Francisco Giants delivered plenty of big hits to tie the World Series. http://www.shoptheofficialbills.com/Elit...y-Bills-Jersey/. Just ask Arsenal fans. However, Arsene Wenger has repeatedly told anyone willing to listen that finishing in that spot is more important than winning a cup competition. AJ McCarron Bills Jersey .Y. -- A month ago, Syracuse was unbeaten, ranked No. Eddie Yarbrough Bills Jersey . -- In the stadium program sold at the Miami Dolphins game on Halloween, Richie Incognito was asked whos the easiest teammate to scare.AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- For the first time in nearly three decades, Joe Dumars wont play a major role in shaping the future of the Detroit Pistons. Dumars stepped down as Detroits president of basketball operations Monday, a day after the Pistons lost their home finale and fell to 29-52 with one game remaining in the season. Detroit will miss the post-season for a fifth consecutive year. "Its time to turn the page on a wonderful chapter and begin writing a new one," Dumars said in a statement. "Ive had the pleasure of working with some great people throughout the last 29 years as both a player and executive, and Im proud of our accomplishments. Tom Gores and ownership is committed to winning and they will continue to move the franchise forward." Gores took over as owner in 2011, with the team clearly in a rebuilding mode, but expectations were higher this season after the Pistons signed Josh Smith and traded for Brandon Jennings. The new-look roster flopped, and now somebody else will be in charge of the next effort to bring Detroit back to the post-season. "Joe Dumars is a great champion who has meant so much to this franchise and this community," Gores said. "We are turning the page with great respect for what he has accomplished not only as a player and a front office executive, but as a person who has represented this team and the NBA with extraordinary dignity." A message was left with Dumars seeking additional comment. Dumars will remain an adviser to the ownership team, but this is the end of an era. Drafted by the Pistons in 1985, Dumars spent his entire 14-year playing career with the franchise, winning NBA titles in 1989 and 1990. He was Detroits vice-president of player personnel during the 1999-2000 season before being promoted to president of basketball operations. Dumars was named the NBAs 2003 executive of the year, and the Pistons won another title the following season. For the first half of his tenure as team president, Dumars Pistons were a model of consistency, even as players and coaches came and went. Detroit reached the Eastern Conference finals every year from 2003-08, but after the team slid back into mediocrity, some of Dumars most aggressive moves backfired.dddddddddddd In 2008, Dumars traded Chauncey Billups in a deal that brought Allen Iverson to the Pistons. That didnt work out well, and neither did the decision to sign Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva to big contracts during the 2009 off-season. Dumars had another chance to turn Detroits fortunes around last off-season. When he acquired Smith and Jennings, the Pistons looked like they could become a playoff team, but the new lineup never really meshed, and this ended up being another frustrating season. Coach Maurice Cheeks did not even make it through his first season as Detroits coach. He was fired in February, and the team fell well out of post-season contention under interim coach John Loyer. "Its been tough, guard Rodney Stuckey said after Sundays loss. "From Day One, our mindset was making the playoffs, and unfortunately we didnt do that. We underachieved, and now were going home. Theres always next year. ... To be honest, I really dont know what we need. Thats not my decision." Stuckey might not be back with the Pistons next season. Hes set to become a free agent. "Its going to be a lot of changes here," Stuckey said. "Im going to sit around and see what happens, and once July comes Ill make my decision." Detroit does have one of the games top young big men in Andre Drummond, but the Pistons have struggled to draw fans, and this uninspiring season did little to help in that regard. After taking over the Pistons, Gores ended up giving Dumars three more seasons as general manager, but now the pressure is on ownership to find someone who can put together a roster -- and identify a coach -- that can help the Pistons at least become relevant again. "We know that we can move in the right direction if theres the right moves being made and the attitudes are good in the locker room," forward Kyle Singler said. "My message is: Well be better." White NFL Jerseys Cheap Youth NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys 2020 Stitched NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Autographed Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Discount Jerseys ' ' '
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