The Lindsay Rugby Club - A Historica Project
Glen Tarver, the director of Jr. Development for Rugby Ontario commented on Lindsay's contribution to rugby and said, "We at the Ontario Rugby Union consider Lindsay Ontario a rugby factory based on the numbers of quality players they turn out." The Lindsay Rugby Club has an important influence on the development of our local youth. History has shown that players from the club develop personal qualities such as leadership, self confidence and respect. The teams have produced many national and world players. After having memorable experiences within the club, players have returned to pay - it – forward, by coaching and holding executive positions within the club. The Lindsay Rugby Club, since its inception has influenced many strong individuals, all with positive qualities that are carried over into their everyday lives.
The Lindsay Rugby Club has had much success since it was founded on August 10th, 1978, by a group which included Vince Jones, who continues to inspire and coach young players today. In their 1st season the club only played four games, finishing with a record of two wins and two losses. The following year the Lindsay club exploded with a final record of 16 wins, two losses and two ties. Since then, teams have continued to carry that legacy forward. All three junior boys XVs (15 players a side) have won the provincial championships, often two or three years in a row. The men's senior XVs won the Provincial Millennium Cup and the Toronto Rugby Union Championship. They were finalists in the Keenan Cup Competition and, in 2007, won the Consolation Championship for the McCormick Cup which is the major rugby trophy in Ontario. The women's senior XV won their division five years in a row (2003-2007). The U19 women also won their provincial championships during the same time period. The Lindsay Rugby Club has produced many great quality players that have made it to higher levels of competition with other clubs. Sam Evans and Bobby Grant were on the 2010 Ontario U16 team that won gold against B.C. Both have been selected to represent Canada at the Wellington Festival in the U.K in April 2011. Unfortunately Bobby can't participate due to back problems. Brett Beukeboom played at the world U20 championships in Moscow in 2010. Jared Selby did the same in South Africa in 2006. Jake Webster represented Canada at the Wellington International Rugby Festival in 2010. Doug Wooldridge (Wales), Sebastian Pearson (England) and Wally Gerow (New Zealand) all play professionally. Other players from Lindsay such as Rachel Spearing, Keegan Selby, Matt O'Leary, Luke Gledhill, Lauren Wizowski and Tanya Ness have all played on national teams. With a list of names mentioned above it is easy to see that the Lindsay Rugby Club has a rich history built upon successful players and their accomplishments.
Playing rugby with the Lindsay Rugby Club has many benefits. Not only does it help develop the body, but also the mind. While playing you develop the skills to anticipate, be mentally agile, and creative. Your balance, running, catching, and passing skills all improve while playing rugby and these skills can be transferred to other sports. A player's self confidence and leadership ability will be improved by the team spirit and commitment to the team. Players have the opportunity to travel to different places to play against other teams and meet new people. If you are really successful you can play on the provincial or national teams and be able to travel to places like England and Wales. Being on a rugby team helps you develop more friendships. Some players say that rugby helps them relieve stress, stay out of trouble, come out of their shell, increase their fitness level, and become healthier. Rugby teaches you that hard work always pays off and that team goals are important. Players share successes as well as failures ending up with great memories of personal and team successes when they play rugby with the Lindsay Rugby Club.
Coaches have their own philosophies on playing and coaching the game of rugby. Most coaches try to take extra time to help improve their player's skills by giving them positive encouragement on and off the field. Some go the extra distance to call injured player's to check on their condition or even touch base with them before the season starts to see if they're returning to the team. The coaches from the Lindsay Rugby Club are all past players, who because of their love of the game, continue to teach and nurture the younger players coming up through the league. Rugby coaches teach that commitment to the team and the club are especially important. Perseverance is the key to being the best you can be. Paul Steffler (former player and teacher) continues to be a driving force within the club. Each year he travels to schools to teach young prospects the game. Rob Brouwer (FFSS rugby coach, LRFC player and coach) says, "Rugby is a good sport for camaraderie. If they get along well they stay out of trouble and that brings out the best in kids. They have to work hard to get a goal, set a goal for them and if they achieve they feel good." 82 year old Vince Jones, founder and current director of the LRFC states, "You coach to play the game fairly, play fair, and play hard. By all means don't do anything dirty, certainly not fighting. I don't advocate fighting in any way, shape, or form." He goes on to say, "Rugby is, believe it or not, a mental process. A lot of people think that because of scrums and tackles it's a game for huge big behemoths with their knuckles dragging on the ground. It's not so, rugby is a very intelligent game… It is not a game for the faint- hearted, or weak- minded, or weak- willed." Every rugby coach may have their own philosophy yet one thing seems to remain common: the importance of teamwork and hard work. Many players go on to coach or referee for the younger teams because of the love of the sport. The young players benefit from the experiences that these former players bring to the field. The Lindsay Club has several experienced players coaching today and many still talk about Vince Jones and how much they learned by playing for him in the past.
The Lindsay Rugby Club is an important influence in the development of our local youth. When you consider the history of the Lindsay Rugby Club and the accomplishments of its players to date you can see many successes. The benefits of playing rugby are not only physical, but also mental and the many skills learned can be used in other sports as well. The coach's philosophies teach fair play, perseverance, and a commitment to the team and the club itself. Rugby builds character, self confidence and a healthy lifestyle in both players and coaches while providing them with opportunities to have lasting memories and friendships. The Lindsay Rugby Club continues to enrich the lives of its players as well as coaches and administrators. It offers a positive environment for all to develop physical as well as mental skills and will continue to produce high quality , highly skilled players to compete at all world levels.