After a number of attempts to bolster an already impressive slate of clubs from across the country, the decision to cancel the second National Invitational Club Championships has been made.

Hosted successfully in Edmonton in 2006, the 2007 event was scheduled in Toronto for this coming labour day weekend, but withdrawals by a number of club sides through the course of the summer forced organizers to pull the pin.

"It just didn't make sense to try and push this any further this year, but we will certainly look to re-vamp and revise the NICC formula in 2008 so that it fits better with club's requirements across the country," said Rugby Canada CEO Graham Brown.

Chair for the event, Peter Harcourt of Edmonton, Alberta, was disappointed but remains confident that the event will be back next year.

"Obviously not being able to get the British Columbia sides committed to this year's event was the real sticking point for a number of other clubs, so if we can work it in such a way as to guarantee their involvement that will be the difference in 2008," said Harcourt from Alberta.

As late as August there were eight sides from across the country confirmed for the event, but none from British Columbia or Newfoundland, leaving organizers concerned that despite holding the event it would not truly be a national club championship.

In last year's final James Bay (2006 Rounsefell Cup champs) beat the Toronto Irish Canadians (who went on to win the McCormick Cup that season) in an exciting final at Ellerslie Park, the first meeting between two of the country's top sides. It is hoped that picking a different time of year and setting the agenda now for 2008 will re-ignite the passions of the nation's clubs to face each other and determine club supremacy from coast to coast.