Ajax Wanderers looking to build rugby programs

“The great thing about rugby is that it is a sport for life,” says Skip Crosby, who began an association with the club in 2006 when his son registered, volunteered his time, got on the board of directors last year and is now the president. “You can start when you’re five years old. You can play senior men’s well into your 30s and there’s always oldtimers’ games going on.

“It’s a social thing too because you are part of a club.”

The Wanderers offer a variety of programs, starting with kids as young as five with a minis program that focuses on fun at tournaments against other clubs. The minis game is a touch format, helping to reduce injuries and fear. There are four senior men’s teams as well as U20, U18, U16 and U14 programs for the boys, a U12 co-ed team, and an U18 women’s program. The season opens in May and runs through the end of September, with playoffs running through October.

The club is also trying to re-establish a senior ladies’ program. The Wanderers were women’s champions in the mid-1990s, and are trying to rebuild that success, says Crosby.

Last year the club had close to 300 members, broken down into 75 senior men’s players and the rest all under the age of 18. Those numbers quash the theory that rugby is only a game for grown men.

“When you think of rugby you think of senior men out beating each other up and then going and having a beer,” says Crosby of the myth. While some of that does occur, the majority of the club’s membership lies with its youth programs.

Also on the club’s calendar this year will be hosting the Quad-A and Triple-A OFSAA provincial high school rugby championships from June 5-7. July 19 is Wanderers’ Family Day with games against the Peterborough Pagans that will also include jumping castles, face painting and a pig roast.

For more information about the club, contact Crosby at president@ajaxwanderers.com .