When I put the challenge out to our favourite photographers in Canada to choose their favourite twelve photos of 2009, I especially looked forward to what Jose Lagman would produce for us.

The Toronto, Ontario IT specialist is fanatical about the sport of rugby since he first shot a game a half dozen years ago. Since then he has made it his focus when he is not working for a large finanacial services firm.

A recent conversation epitomizes the lengths to which Jose goes to shoot the sport he loves. Instead of taking two weeks of vacation like most people, Jose opts for getting a Friday off for travel and then going to the venue he will be shooting that particular weekend. In Vancouver for the Russia vs Canada match I asked Jose what he had done the previous weekend. "He said - 'Oh - I went to Cancun to shoot the 7s tournament there - Great time!'

Of course - Jose would travel all the way to Mexico for a weekend photo shoot. As you look at the datelines of Jose's pictures this year - you will be able to see that he nearly got to every province to take pictures for an upcoming rugby photography book. So as 2009 comes to an end - enjoy and understand the effort that Jose Lagman puts into bringing you some of the best images we see each year!

Doug Crosse
Editor - RC Website

Chauncey O'Toole signing autographs for young fans
Edmonton, AB  11-Jul-2009

-- One of my favorite things about rugby in Canada is the after-game meet&greet with the players.  Even at international matches, any kid can approach his or her favorite player after the game for a chat and autograph.  Chauncey wears an intimidating face during the game, but saves his smiles for the young fans afterwards.


Canadian fans' warrior cheers
Vancouver, BC  23-May-2009

-- Rugby may not be the #1 sport in Canada, but Canadian rugby fans are never short on enthusiasm.  I saw these rambunctious kids on the sidelines of UBC Thunderbird Stadium and rushed to them at halftime for this shot.  Ever the smart fans, they made sure GO CANADA was spelled correctly when they bared their painted torsos and posed for the shot.  This is one of my favorite photographs in my many years as a photographer.



Canadians take on the Americans
Annapolis, MD  04-Apr-2009

-- It was a very special privilege to cover this game between the Royal Military College and U.S. Naval Academy cadets on the historic Annapolis grounds. Josh Whiteside's breakaway run in this photograph was one of the highlights of that game, which the Canadian boys won by a big margin. Several of the RMC boys graduated this year and will probably be shipped to Afghanistan after further combat training.  That realization makes these game pics particularly special.




White men can jump!
Playa del Carmen, México  21-Nov-2009

-- The II Cancún 7s tournament in Playa del Carmen (just south of Cancún) was successful both on and off the pitch.  The Canadian team consisted of players from all over Canada.  One of them is 18-year old Tanner Danylczuk from Saskatoon, who I've photographed before at the Canada Games in PEI.  In this photograph, Tanner jumped and successfully blocked a kicked ball, challenging the myth that white men can't jump!


Fast pace, angry face
Fredericton, NB  25-Jul-2009

-- Before the 2009 Americas Cup tournament began, the New Brunswick Black Spruce hosted the Canada East Selects in a friendly at the Loyalist Field in Fredericton.  Jason Picco from Paradise, Newfoundland played for the Selects.  In this photograph, just like in many action photos I have of him, he wears his 'angry warrior' face.  Any photograph with a priceless expression like that is worth the effort!



Wet and wild in St.John's
St.John's, NL  19-Sep-2009

-- I've covered two games in St.John's and both times, it rained at Swilers Rugby Park.  And it was chilly, even in the summer.  This Americas Cup game between The Rock and BC Bears was rain-soaked.  In this photograph, Neil Meechan managed an impressive tackle in spite of the slippery conditions. This photo was worth the trouble of shivering in the rain and mud.  I've always believed that if rugby players can do it in the rain and cold, so should rugby photographers!


Tumbling in Truro
Truro, NS  03-Oct-2009

-- This pitch in the middle of Nova Scotia farmlands and rolling hills was one of the most picturesque fields I've worked at.  On this day, the Dartmouth PigDogs travelled to Truro for their division finals.  Chad Devon Hall, carrying the ball in this photograph, was one of a few 'boys' who played with bigger and older guys.  I particularly like this photograph for its pure rugby content: rugby ball + ball carrier + tackler + rugby uprights in the background + beautiful hills farther away.  The fall colors make it even better.



Scrum at The Hill
Ottawa, ON  27-May-2009

-- There's rugby 15s, rugby 7s, and on this rainy day at The Parliament Hill in the nation's capital, rugby 10s.  Canadian rugby international greats like Al Charron and Morgan Williams were among the guest players, so was Defense Minister Peter MacKay.  It was the first ever game officially played on the great lawn of the Parliament buildings.  This composition of the scrum and the Peace Tower in the background is beautifully Canadian. The only missing element is snow on the ground.

Summerside vertical
Summerside, PEI  22-Aug-2009

-- The 2009 Canada Games are the last games that will include rugby.  Ontario prevailed over the favored BC team to win, making them the last and final rugby champions in the history of the Canada Games.  In this photograph, Barrie's Robert Paris jumps to catch the ball, while provincial flags flutter in the background.  Team Ontario flew home that evening, escaping hurricane Bill.  I wasn't as fortunate, as all the airports in the east coast were closed for days due to the stormy weather.  I endured a 26-hour bus ride back to Toronto, as I had to get back to my day job.  When I look at these photos from PEI, I remember that long bus ride.  The pictures are worth it.


French collision
Montréal, QC  09-May-2009

-- All of the rugby games I've covered in Montréal were on the astro-turf surface at Concordia University Stadium.  On this wet and gloomy day, a friendly was played between a Montréal team and a visiting team from Halifax.  Although the visitors won, the locals kept at it and didn't give up.  Even when they were tackled and tossed like rag dolls, just like the ball carrier in this photograph.  As a rugby photographer, I'm always amazed how resilient rugby players are.  After they get knocked down, they simply stand up and carry on.


Elevation
Charleston, SC  04-Jul-2009

-- Matt Evans, the wonderboy of Canadian rugby, never hesitates to challenge for a ball in the air.  On this unbearably hot day in Charleston, on American Independence Day, tons of locals came to see the game and cheer for the Americans.  They won the game but Matty won the jumping competition against the captain of the U.S. side.  This photograph was picked up by the CBC website and has been selected as the cover for Wyman Publishing's 2011 Rugby Calendar.  Personally, I'm just amazed how high he can jump!


Big sky rugby
Regina, SK  26-Sep-2009

-- People always say that the sky in the Prairies is bigger.  The landscape is so flat that the sky seems wider, more immense.  I had the privilege to shoot the Saskatchewan provincial finals in Saskatoon this year and I can't help but be distracted by how big the sky really is.  No picture can do it justice, you just have to be there.  The Regina Rogues were warming up for the game when I took this picture, lying on the ground, facing up.  It doesn't capture how big the sky is, but I did feel really small when I was there.  I hope to be back, with wider lenses.