Lethbridge Rugby Club celebrating 50 years
By Lethbridge Herald on June 21, 2022.
By Justin Seward
Lethbridge Herald
While delayed a year due to COVID and the irrigating of their field , the Lethbridge Rugby Club is still going to celebrate its 50th anniversary next month.
Around 150 former LRC players are expected to be at the club’s field for the celebration.
Doug Checkley, an LRC member of17 years, said anytime the club hits a milestone, it’s really a good opportunity to get people to come back and be a part of the club for a day.
“We do really stress family here at the Lethbridge Rugby Club,” he said.
“We are a family. We are a group of rugby brothers and sisters and so it’s a nice opportunity for some people who have stepped away from the game recently to come back and connect with the community.”
Checkley said it’s a pretty impressive feat to get to 50 years.
“There’s been a lot of ups and downs for a lot of different clubs in Alberta in the time that I’ve been involved,” he said.
“I’ve been playing rugby for 20 something years and I’ve seen a lot of clubs come and go. Lethbridge is kind of a staple. We’ve always had a team — sometimes only one — but we’ve always had a team compete in a league and have shown well provincially even though we’re a much smaller club … I think it’s just a pretty admirable thing for a smaller community like Lethbridge to have a rugby club that’s stayed alive for 50 years.”
Ryan McKeown is the current LRC men’s head coach and has been with the club over 15 years.
“It’s good to see the club grow and I’ve been here long enough (and) I’ve seen a dozen generations of players and it’s always good seeing new people out and enjoying the sport that we all love,” he said.
“It’s good that we’re still going strong and so far we’re looking like we’re going to have a good strong season again this year on our 50th.”
An alumni game is in the works for July 16, while a silent auction, a 50/50 draw, potentially a meat box raffle and a jersey giveaway are among the activities.
The menand women’d LRC teams will be playing games that day as well.
An event is still being confirmed for the Friday.
A pancake breakfast is potentially going to go ahead on July 17.
“So we’re just doing lots of things to raise money,” said four-year member Savanna Collison.
“Just a bunch of stuff to make sure the alumni are still feeling included and a part of the club that they were a part of so long ago.”
The LRC are still looking for more alumni to attend the weekend.
“We’re continuously reaching out and trying to get as many participants and spectators as we can for the weekend to make it extravagant as it should be for our 50th anniversary,” said Collison.
More information for alumni can be found on the Lethbridge Rugby Club Instagram page and website at https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/lethbridgerugbyclub/.
23-22
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