Edmonton
Rugby
Most
information in this compilation was obtained from the publication “A
History of Rugby Football in Edmonton”, written by Mr. Patrick Lamb.
He cleverly wrote this publication as a thesis to obtain his
Master’s degree from the Department of Physical Education and Sports
Studies from the University of Alberta in 1990. According to Lamb, the
modern revival of rugby in Edmonton and Alberta owes a great deal to
the Leduc Oil Well No. 1 in 1947. As a result, a large number of jobs
opened up and there was a huge influx of new, young people into
Edmonton. Thanks to the large number of immigrants from the British
Isles, rugby was revived with the formation of the Edmonton Rugby
Football Club in 1953.
Tigers
R.F.C.
Although
rugby continued to make slow but steady progress in Edmonton, it was
not until 1958 that another club was successfully formed. At this
time, Mr. Norm Suvan headed a breakaway group of players, mostly
Canadian, who then formed the Edmonton Tigers R.F.C. In 1982, the
Tigers won the first division title, becoming the first club other
than the Leprechauns and the Clansmen to do so since 1970. In the
provincial final the team was again successful, this time defeating
the Calgary Hornets.
The
Tigers’ achievements owed a great deal to the coaching expertise of
Byron Tucker but this was also a young team consisting of many players
who had developed their rugby skills solely in Edmonton, a fact that
was highly encouraging to many observers.
The
Tigers went on the win the Edmonton 1st Division City
Championship in 1962, 1963, 1982. They also won the u-19 championship
in 1980 and were voted most sportsmanlike in 1986.
Leprechauns
R.F.C
During
the spring of 1962, another club, the Edmonton Leprechauns R.F.C. was
formed by a group of Irishmen, Pat Braiden, Sam Hogg and Jimmy Gordon
and a Scotsman, David Graham. Soon after its formation the Leprechauns
emerged as the strongest team in Edmonton. In common with other clubs,
its major emphasis was on the social aspect of the game. The
Leprechauns held frequent parties at the Corona Hotel on Jasper
Avenue.
These
social gatherings were used to show rugby films, entertain visiting
sides, and recruit players. The success of these socials was still
very much dependent on the participation of all the clubs, for no one
group was large enough to host such events independently. In 1964, The
Leprechauns won the Kenann Cup and the Carling Cup, a new trophy
presented to the club champions in Alberta. In 1965, the Leprechauns
began operating a second team due to the strength of their program.
The 70’s saw the Leprechauns have an unprecedented run of success,
winning the Kenann Cup five years in a row from 1971 to 1975.
The
Leprechauns R.F.C. were Edmonton 1st Division city
champions in 1964, 1965, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1981,
1986. They were also Edmonton 2nd division champions in
1972, 1979. 3rd division champions in 1979 and 4th
division champions in 1983. They were Edmonton’s best overall club
in 1979, won the u-19 championship in 1983
Coven
R.F.C.
A
History of women’s rugby would have to include mention of the
Edmonton Rockers, the first women's club in Edmonton. In 1977, the
Edmonton Rockers Women’s Rugby Football Club was formed. Originally
there were approximately 25 members and several inter-squad games were
arranged. The club maintained its numbers, strengthened its abilities
on the field, and soon made a sizeable contribution to the
administrative and fundraising duties of the Union
In
1982 a breakaway group from the Rockers formed the Coven Women’s
Rugby Football Club. The founding members were Ruth Hillerud, Terry
Nelson, Corinne Skrobot, and Helen Wright. Even with the addition of
another women’s club in Edmonton it was still necessary to travel
frequently in order to play more games.
The
Alberta Women’s Rugby Union was able to introduce a provincial
representative team in 1983 and an Alberta team, composed of players
from the Rockers, the Coven, and the Calgary Renegades, dominated the
inaugural Western Canadian Women’s Rugby Championships. Progress at
the club level remained slow however, as all teams struggled to
attract top female athletes may of whom still considered the game too
rough. The Coven capitalized on strong university contacts to add to
its strength.
With
the introduction of rugby to the High School league in 1989, rugby for
women was introduced into mainstream youth sport. With the help
of many Coven players coaching these teams the league took off,
attracting players from all backgrounds. This subsequently
caused an influx of players at the club level and the Coven was able
to start a second division team. Other teams in the city also
capitalized on the new player base, and competition throughout the
city skyrocketed to what it is today. In 1997, the Coven Women merged
with the Leprechaun/Tigers R.F.C.
Since
it's first days in 1982, the Coven has had the privilege of supplying
the National Womens' Team with eleven players, and numerous players
being long listed. The club has also had an untraceable number of
players named to the Alberta Womens' squad, both senior and junior.
These accomplishments culminated in 2000 with the 1st
division women winning the provincial championship. A year later they
suffered a last minute loss in the semi-finals to the eventual
champion Calgary Renegades. That same year, the women’s 2nd
division team, packed with youth and resilience, surprised all by
winning five rounds of playoffs games to make it to the provincial
finals. Unfortunately, they were bested by the Calgary Saints,
considered by most as a first division team, and supported by the fact
that the Saints are competing in First division this year.
Leprechaun
Tigers R.F.C.
The
club, as it is currently known, was formed in 1992 and complimented
with a women’s side in 1997. The Leprechaun/Tigers boast a full
facility clubhouse and two fields on the south side of Edmonton,
Alberta, Canada. The club's active membership of over 300 currently
comprises 3 Men's teams, 2 Women's teams, Old boys, juniors of both
gender, and a Mini-rugby program.
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