David Brown described rugby as a game for hooligans played by gentlemen and gentlewomen.
The Cold Lake Penguins Rugby Football Club is hoping that people in Bonnyville will get on the ball and sign-up for next year's season.
“We like to promote our club as a social club with a rugby problem. We know that we're a third division team, which is really the equivalent of beer-league hockey,” explained Brown, president of the rugby club.
“What that means is we're being inclusive to everybody. We have players on our team that could easily be on a division-one rep team, but then we also have players who fill a spot. The nice thing about rugby is there really is that opportunity for everyone to touch the ball no matter what size, shape, or skill level you have.”
This season, the club had 21 men and five women registered for the teams. Unfortunately for them, it simply wasn't enough.
In order to guarantee that both the men and women's teams met the necessary 15 players on the field to play, they collaborated with clubs in nearby communities.
For the women, they merged with the teams out of Fort McMurray and Lloydminster, while the men relied solely on the players offered by the men's Lloydminster team who was also in the same predicament.
“We amalgamated to make a joint (men's) team this year. Thank heavens we did, because it's worked out really well,” Brown added.
For next season, they will be expanding their horizons into Bonnyville. In order to test the waters, the club will be joining other sports clubs and organizations at the Bonnyville Registration Night on Sept. 7.
Brown recommends that anyone interested in trying out the sport come and ask questions, or attend one of their practices.
The rugby season starts in May and runs until August or September. There are 12 games, half at home and half away. The club practices every Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. in Cold Lake.
Should Bonnyville show high interest, Brown said the team would consider rotating where their practices were held in order to accommodate all players.
“We have shift workers, we have professionals, and we have moms and dads that play the sport. Because it is a third division, that's possible. All we ask for is that people give us what they can give,” emphasized Brown.
Their end-goal is to turn the small Cold Lake club into a regional organization, open to anyone who wants to join.
“We're really hoping that we can invite more of the community from Bonnyville and turn it into a Lakeland organization. I think everyone wins in that kind of scenario,” Brown said.
Over the years, the team has grown from its start as a small touring club in 1974. Now with both a men's and women's team, the organization is celebrating it's 27th year as a community organization in Cold Lake.
“Over those years we have gone from being a men's third division team to adding a women's team, and then working specifically with development in youth at both Assumption and Cold Lake High School,” Brown noted.
One thing Brown couldn't stress enough was how high impact, unique, and team-driven the sport was.
“It's hard to describe, because if someone is more into non-contact sports like golf or tennis, they may not enjoy rugby, but for those who like to know how tough they are… There really is no other sport like rugby that can test what you're made of,” he said.
