The Guelph Rugby Football Club was formed in 2012 to meet the growing demands of rugby in Guelph and surrounding areas. Though the sport had always been popular within the city’s high schools and at the University of Guelph, there had been few opportunities at the club level following the disbanding of the Guelph Satyrs in 1996.
In its inaugural season, the club fielded three teams (senior men, senior women and under-18 boys), all of which were members of the Niagara Rugby Union (NRU) and played their home games at the University of Guelph’s Varsity Field. All took to the pitch as the Redcoats, in honour of the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 which took place that year.
The club’s inaugural season was a resounding success, with each of the club’s teams finishing in the top three of the NRU: the men came third with a record of 5-3-0, while the women went 8-2-0 and the under-18 boys 6-1-0, both coming in second place in their respective divisions.
By the following spring, the club’s membership had tripled and teams were added for girls and boys at all of the junior age-grades (under-14 to under-18). Additionally, the club could now boast a successful minis program, with coed, non-contact flag rugby for children ages four to twelve.
In 2019 the club announced its partnership with Gryphons Athletics. Since then athletes ages 18 and under have dawned the trademark logo of the Guelph Gryphons. This move aligned the club with six other minor sports associations across the city with which approximately 10,000 youths are involved, allowing it to reach a broader audience and introduce more kids to its exceptional programs.
Throughout its growth and increased popularity, Guelph Rugby has maintained its desire for excellence in play, quality in coaching, fostering the development of passion for the sporting culture that surrounds the game of rugby.
Rugby has been growing in the City of Guelph, where we have seen teams host national tournaments, development camps, and player identification combines. Additionally, the Guelph Rugby Club is looking to host its third annual Minis tournament, where teams from across the province, will come to Guelph to participate! Moreover, we are now able to boast that our senior womens, team are the current Ontario Womens, League champions, and our senior mens, team are the current Niagara Rugby Union champions, and have been promoted to the Marshall Division of the Provincial League.
Growing the game in a fun family environment, fostering growth as an athlete, knowledge as a rugby player, and character as a person.
