AN INTERESTING START SCHEDULED FOR BRAMPTON’S RUGBY SEASON  8th April 2008

   by Hedley Benyon and The Brampton Guardian

While Canadian Rugby International, World Cup Player and Brampton Rugby legend Ryan Smith continues his professional career with French club Montauban in Europe, his former colleagues and friends prepare for

 an extremely important domestic season, here in Ontario.

In preparation for the challenges ahead, training has commenced and the schedule is being finalized for the Exhibition games in late April and early May. Part of the preparation will see the club take three teams to Montreal for games on Saturday May 03. The U21 Men will play the strong Quebec Caribou representative team, the Women’s senior team will play the Montreal Barbarians and the Senior Men’s team will battle it out against Ste. Anne-de-Bellevue, winners of last season's Quebec Cup.

The squads then return for a huge day of Rugby in Brampton on Saturday May 10, the opening day of the Marshall Premier League. The Senior Men’s teams play three games against defending champions, Aurora Barbarians commencing at 12:00noon. The Highlight game of the day will be the first team game commencing at 3:00pm. This game will also be the Ralph Lee Memorial Game in recognition of a great past club president.

In addition to the Senior Men’s games the Club has asked that the Ontario Rugby Union schedule a home game for the Brampton Women’s team. This should be confirmed shortly and details will appear in the next report in the Guardian together with whatever junior games will be scheduled that day.

Following the game, presentations will be made to outstanding former players and administrators who will be inducted into the Brampton Rugby Hall of Fame to mark the second annual Alumni Event. In addition Rugby Canada Recognition Certificates will be presented to a number of players and volunteers to recognize their enormous contribution to Rugby and the Brampton Club.

May 10^th will be a great sporting occasion in the Brampton area and all sports fans are urged to visit the MGS Playing fields on Kennedy south of Steeles.