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TORONTO -- Its a sport Brian Burke loves, and one that he is happy to follow closely whenever he gets the chance. Rugby, not just hockey, has been in Burkes heart for decades. Hes played it, watched it and will now take part in directing it as well. Rugby Canada announced Tuesday that Burke is joining its board of directors, giving the former NHL executive a chance to get involved in what he calls his "second favourite sport." "Im really excited about it," said Burke. "I think its a great sport and I think the future of rugby in Canada is very bright." The former general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs first played rugby following a brief playing career in hockey. When he was a 23-year-old law student, Burke said he noticed the Harvard Business School Rugby Football Club practising near where he lived and asked if he could join. "I never played before, never watched before. My older brother played a little bit but I wasnt familiar with the sport," he said. "But I learned to love it. I played for two years after I graduated even though I was practising law." Now 58 years old, Burke is an avid fan of the game. He said he goes to as many of Canadas international games in Toronto as he can, and once even saw the senior mens team play Japan in Bordeaux, France in 2007. "Brian has a deep understanding of professional sports in North America and, with his successes and contacts across the National Hockey League and beyond, were happy to have him involved with Rugby Canada," Graham Brown, chief executive officer of Rugby Canada, said in a release. Burke has had a long relationship with Rugby Canada. Hes spoken at several events put on by the organization and said hes known former president Rick Bourne since around 1990. He said his first priority will be to get more familiar with the senior womens team, who captured its first Nations Cup title earlier this month after beating England, 27-13, for the first time in 20 years. Burke is already impressed with the men, who defeated the U.S. Eagles 27-9 on Sunday in the first leg of qualifying series for the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England. Canada, ranked 15th in the world, hosts the U.S. in the finale Saturday at Torontos BMO Field. The winner of the total-points series advances directly to the World Cup, while the loser gets another shot with a series against Uruguay. "Theyre beating sides that used to beat them easily, theyre in most matches. Theyre not in the elite group yet but theyre on their way," he said. Burke also sees potential in rugby sevens, which will make its Olympic debut at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. "It bears very little resemblance to 15s. But I think to me, the most exciting thing about sevens is we can attract an audience with our sevens program," he said. "We can get people watching rugby to say, This is cool, and then next thing you know theyre watching 15s." Prior to his tenure with the Leafs, Burke served as a GM with the Hartford Whalers, Vancouver Canucks and Anaheim, winning a Stanley Cup with the Ducks in 2007. Hockey is still the priority for Burke, who is currently a part-time scout with the Ducks. A dual citizen, Burke was also GM for the United States mens team that won a silver medal at the 2010 Winter Games and is the director of player personnel for the 2014 Sochi Games.Adidas Stan Smith Mujer Baratas . As the crowd erupted, Davis knocked the ball off the glass and back into his hands. With 1:14 to go in overtime, Davis sixth block also became his 17th rebound. That, along with his 32 points -- which tied a career high -- proved too much for Denver to overcome, and the Pelicans held on for their third straight victory, 111-107 on Sunday night. Comprar Adidas Stan Smith Baratas . - Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is not a fan of his teams use of the wildcat formation, saying "it makes you look like a high school offence. http://www.baratastansmith.es/ . PAUL, Minn. Adidas Stan Smith Hombre Rebajas . Varlamov made 33 saves and Ryan OReilly had a goal and scored in the shootout as the Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Thursday night. Adidas Stan Smith España . LOUIS -- St. DENVER -- Even as Masai Ujiri accepted the NBAs executive of the year trophy from club President Josh Kroenke on Thursday, the Denver Nuggets general manager said he would have given it up gladly in exchange for a deep playoff run. "Its a little bittersweet for me," Ujiri said at a news conference a day after the Nuggets George Karl took the trophy for coach of the year. "I would trade that to be playing right now." Ujiri, the first African-born GM in major American sports, built the Nuggets team that won an NBA franchise-record 57 games and went an NBA-best 38-3 at home before going down in the first round. "There was an unbelievable energy in this city and thats why we had kind of a little disappointment when we lost to the Golden State Warriors, whos not such a bad team from what they are doing right now," Ujiri said. "We hope to kick their butts next year but theyre not too bad right now. We understand we are a growing team. We knew there were going to be pains. This is part of the process and well continue to grow." Ujiri assembled a team that had nine players average between 8 and 16.7 points and the city, the Nuggets fans and the organization embraced the clubs persona as a team without a superstar that nevertheless got the job done. Until the third-seeded Nuggets were beaten in six games by the sixth-seeded Warriors, led by their fast-rising star, Stephen Curry. Ujiri said that after the Nuggets first-round exit, his disappointment was so keen he didnt even watch basketball for several days. He finally tuned in Wednesday night to watch an NBA playoff game and came to the office Thursday recharged, spoiling to get started on next season. "Weve got work to do," he said. "I think were beginning to get over our emotional state. You know what? You have to move on." Ujiri said hes confident his deal, which expires in the summer, will be renewed or extended. "Josh and I continue to have conversations. Im very positive that things will work out," he said. And he said a top off-season priority will be to lock up Andre Iguodala with a long-term deal. "Hes a great kid and I think hes great for our basketball team," Ujiri said. "Theres a lot he brings to our program and were proud of him and the year he had. We hope we auditioned ourselves well for him. Its going to be his decision, but well do everything on our part as an oorganization.dddddddddddd. We want him back." He vowed the Nuggets will be back for another playoff run next season. "Our goal is to be better and to be better in the playoffs, and were going to do everything we can to get there," he said. Ujiri totalled 59 points and received eight first-place votes from a panel of his fellow team basketball executives throughout the league. The Los Angeles Clippers Gary Sacks finished second with 28 points (three first-place votes) and the Houston Rockets Daryl Morey and the New York Knicks Glen Grunwald finished tied for third with 25 points (four first-place votes). Ujiri, who spent three years with the Toronto Raptors before joining the Nuggets, was named to his current position on Aug. 27, 2010. He worked for the Nuggets organization as a scout from 2003-07, and served as the teams director of international scouting during the 2006-07 season. Ujiris predecessor, Mark Warkentien, won the honour in 2009. Denvers Vince Boryla also won the award in 1984-85. "Hes a great kid and I think hes great for our basketball team," Ujiri said. "Theres a lot he brings to our program and were proud of him and the year he had. We hope we auditioned ourselves well for him. Its going to be his decision, but well do everything on our part as an organization. We want him back." He vowed the Nuggets will be back for another playoff run next season. "Our goal is to be better and to be better in the playoffs, and were going to do everything we can to get there," he said. Ujiri totalled 59 points and received eight first-place votes from a panel of his fellow team basketball executives throughout the league. The Los Angeles Clippers Gary Sacks finished second with 28 points (three first-place votes) and the Houston Rockets Daryl Morey and the New York Knicks Glen Grunwald finished tied for third with 25 points (four first-place votes). Ujiri, who spent three years with the Toronto Raptors before joining the Nuggets, was named to his current position on Aug. 27, 2010. He worked for the Nuggets organization as a scout from 2003-07, and served as the teams director of international scouting during the 2006-07 season. Ujiris predecessor, Mark Warkentien, won the honour in 2009. Denvers Vince Boryla also won the award in 1984-85. And he said a top off-season priority will be to lock up Andre Iguodala with a long-term deal. ' ' '