Welcome and thank you for your interest in the Crusaders Rugby Club of Oakville. We are dedicated to providing all players with a safe, fun and challenging environment. We accept players from the age of five, boys and girls, of all shapes and sizes, no experience required.

Rugby is a game that teaches camaraderie, respect, courage and discipline, and we are committed to providing a program for all players to develop both their rugby skills to the highest degree and their love of the game of rugby.

From humble beginningsthe Crusaders Rugby Club has become one of the largest rugby club in Canada, while still maintaining a “small club” attitude.

With strong on field performances and equally strong off field management, the Crusaders are set to lead the sport of Rugby in Ontario forward in the years to come.

The People

Anyone who has ever set foot in a rugby club or spent the afternoon watching matches, knows it’s the people that make a rugby club what it is.

The Crusaders pride themselves on having a history full of colourful characters as well as some outstanding rugby players. Who in Ontario rugby hasn’t heard the name or experienced the exploits of Bob ‘Fly’ Nye? One of the original and certainly one of the most colourful Crusaders around.

On the field, the likes of Tony Godziek, Randy McKellar and Dave Speirs drew the eyes of Canadian selectors while playing for Crusaders in the 1980′s, thus paving the way for the stars of today: Phil Murphy and most recently Dan Pletch, Sean-Michael Stephen, Mike Pletch, Andrew Wilson and Phil Mackenzie.

History

Born out of a group of ex-pats longing for the game of their homeland and with no clubs in existence in the Mississauga/Oakville area, the founding members of the Crusaders were compelled to create their own club. We officially came together as the Crusaders Rugby Club in 1968 and we’ve been growing and have been playing quality rugby ever since and are now one of the largest club in the country.

From humble beginnings – playing on under developed fields and beer-ups in basements and back yards – to the Crusader Park of today – boasting three quality pitches and one of the top clubhouses in Canada – we’ve come a long way!

Playing for CRU

Why play rugby at the Crusaders Rugby Club?

The Crusaders Rugby Club has been growing the sport of rugby in the Mississauga, Oakville and surrounding communities for close to 50 years.

The Club boasts a large three field facility bordered on one side by Joshua Creek, and 9th line on the other. Looking out from the clubhouse deck, trees line the main pitch making an ideal arena for the sport we enjoy so much.

Members have the benefit of a full facility clubhouse with showers, change rooms, kitchen, bar and banquet hall. The large deck offers an excellent elevated view of the main pitch so spectators can enjoy refreshments whilst taking in the game.

So if you’re looking for fun, camaraderie, teamwork, leadership, training and fitness benefits, rugby is a great place to start. With multiple senior men, women and youth teams there is a place for everyone, whatever your experience or skill level. Many, many of our players have gone on to represent our provincial and national teams so if you have ambition in the sport Crusaders Rugby Club is a great place to be.

We take pride in the depth and experience of our coaches at all age grades and pay particular attention to player safety and development.

The club has three divisions: senior, junior and mini, as well as over 35 touch rugby.

SENIOR DIVISION:Crusaders fields both men’s and women’s senior teams.

Senior Men:

The senior men play in both the Marshall and Toronto Leagues
Rugby Union: The 1st and 2nd teams play in the Marshall Premier Division, the 3rd XV in the Toronto Russell Division and the 4th XV in the Toronto Pinguet Division

Senior Women:

The senior women play in the Toronto Rugby McKenna Division

JUNIOR DIVISION:Players in this division are grouped by age. Teams play according to “junior rules” which include contact. The teams are:
Boys: U18, U16, U14
Girls: U18, U15

MINI DIVISION:The mini division is co-ed and play non-contact “flag” rugby at U8 & U10 age grade with contact starting at the U12 age grade.
The teams are:
U12 – Contact
U10 & U8 – Non-Contact

In addition to scheduled league games we normally host touring sides at the Crusaders.

We welcome all who share our love for the game!