Roughnecks coach to lead Team England
Published on October 26, 2006 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Calgary Roughnecks News Release
Calgary, AB - Calgary Roughnecks Head Coach Chris Hall will be going to the world indoor lacrosse championships in Halifax next year - as coach of Team England!
"It's not as strange as it seems," said Hall today. "My great grandparents came to Canada from England many years ago and through hard work
made a success of their lives in the Nanaimo area. As a result, my family have had it good here in Canada.
"Now I have a chance to give something back to England, and I am delighted to have the opportunity to do so."
Hall admits that indoor lacrosse is not a staple of the English sporting calendar. But he said field lacrosse is growing in popularity and now boxla has been introduced into the United Kingdom by expatriate Canadians.
In fact, it was an old friend of Hall's from Victoria, Jamie Tasco - now living in London - who asked Hall to lead England next May.
"It's important that all of us who love lacrosse grow the game whenever we can," said Hall, "and where better can that happen than at a world championship. I, like others, want to make lacrosse a global sport and this is a major step along the way."
A heritage rule - in other words, if a player's immediate family originated from elsewhere -- allows teams such as England to select up to four Canadians or Americans to their squad.
For example, Lewis Ratcliff, the Riggers' top scorer for the past three years, could technically represent England as his mother is English.
"But let's be practical," laughed Hall, "I'm pretty sure that when we get to Halifax, Lewis will be wearing the red of Canada rather than the white of England. Mind you, if Gary Gait (the Canadian coach) doesn't want him, I'll do my best to find Lewis a spot."
Hall continued, "Logistically it's going to be tough for me because my main job is to lead the Roughnecks to what hopefully will be another Champion's Cup. But to tell the truth, I'm really looking forward to it. It will be quite the challenge."
Phil Sanderson of the Philadelphia Wings will be one of Hall's assistant coaches.
National Lacrosse League Stories from October 26, 2006
- Jax Have Big Signing Day - Portland Lumberjax
- Roughnecks coach to lead Team England - Calgary Roughnecks
- Sting sign first-round pick Grimes - Arizona Sting
- Shamrox sign Wasson-McQuigge and Panos - Chicago Shamrox
- Taylor Wray top dog in Roughnecks physical tests - Calgary Roughnecks
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