August 6th, 2021

(WHITBY, ON) - The Club Anniversary Spotlight Series is a initiative which will recognize all Rugby Ontario Member Clubs that are celebrating a major anniversary during 2021. Next up is the Toronto Dragons RFC, who are celebrating their 60th Anniversary!

History

The Toronto Welsh

The Toronto Welsh Rugby Football Club was founded in 1961. With connections to several Welsh clubs, the original intention was to include only players of Welsh background; however, this proved difficult to sustain with Toronto’s diverse cultural makeup and soon players of all nationalities and backgrounds were welcomed.  Originally playing out of High Park, the club eventually settled in the Don Mills area of Toronto and played their home matches at Sunnybrook Park.  Notable players developed by the club included David Lougheed, with 34 international caps for Canada.


UToronto RFC

In 1996 a group loosely affiliated with the University of Toronto hit the pitch under the moniker of UToronto RFC.  The club played out of various pitches around the inner city. 

In 2003, the Toronto Welsh RFC merged with up-and-coming side to form a new club: the Toronto Dragons RFC, based at Eglinton Flats in the City's west end.  The club’s current logo continues to honour the rich tradition and distinct elements of Toronto Welsh heritage with the Welsh dragon, and nods to the University of Toronto’s history of branding fonts that use a strong serif.


Toronto Dragons RFC

Since the creation of the club and up to the present day, the Dragons compete in the Toronto Rugby Union Premier League.As it grew, the club continued to build on its heritage of inclusivity and reached out to both inner-city and international connections. New members from Toronto’s diverse neighbourhoods came to play, and the club fostered many relationships with International Clubs through player exchanges. 

The youth program began in 2011 with a small cohort of Juniors donning the Dragons jersey to participate in Rugby Ontario programming. By 2019 the Dragons fielded youth players from under 5 to under 17, boys and girls, with the U13 team going undefeated. 

Etobicoke Invictus

More recently, the Etobicoke Invictus RFC joined with the Toronto Dragons in 2018.  

Created in 2011 and growing quickly to 40+ members, Etobicoke RFC had a mandate to promote and grow the sport of rugby in the west end of Toronto.  Following 8 years of Blood, Sweat, Rugby and the Occasional Beer Up, the Etobicoke RFC merged with the Toronto Dragons RFC to realize a broader goal of a united and prosperous west end rugby community in Toronto.

Club Accomplishments 

•    Senior Rugby Championships

 Players - Canada Representation 

•    Charles Jones - Senior Mens capped for Canada and on the inaugural 1987 World Cup squad. 

•    Dave Lougheed 

•    Andrew Saunders 

•    Welsh Senior Men Ontario League Champs 1983 

•    Junior Rugby Championships 

•    Sevens Championships

•    Ontario Sevens Senior Mens Champions: 1983-1988 (5 consecutive years)

•    Senior Mens Sevens Finalists 1983-1993 (10 Consecutive years) 

•    Saranac Lake (US / North America) Mens Sevens Champions 1988

Notable Alumni

•    Charles Jones - Senior Mens’ capped for Canada and on the inaugural 1987 World Cup squad.

•    David Lougheed, with 34 international caps for Canada

•    Canada U19: Mark Rotman (Captain)

•    Ontario Blues Selections Liam McLeod, Victory Eiche, Conall Kingshott, Selena McCuaig, Angelina McCuaig, Robbie Sowerby, Jayvon Sylvan,

•    Many Ontario Senior Mens Players including (but not limited to):

•    Scott Elliott, Charles Jones, James Jones, Mark Rotman, Andy Stone, David Grindal, Gary Kalk, Andrew Saunders, Dave Laughed, Dave Spence, Zach Zorbas

Future Goals

The Toronto Dragons RFC is a proud member of the rugby community in Toronto and Ontario. Looking forward to the seventh decade the club is working hard on building the youth program, growing a women’s side, expanding the membership for men’s first and second teams, and continuing to play a meaningful part in the development of a healthy rugby community in Toronto.