2026 is a big year for the Belleville Bulldogs as the rugby club celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Kyle Ripley, Bulldogs secretary and 50th anniversary committee head, says the club has come a long way since the mid-1970s.
“In 1976, we would have started with just trying to struggle to get it together one men’s team, around 15 guys, you know, 14-16 guys on any given game day. And now this past year we were actually up to being the third biggest club in Ontario and with numbers, right around 700 numbers.”
The junior programs, especially U16 girls, have been especially strong.
“Since COVID we’ve seen massive increases in all of our junior age groups. Our boys, when we came back from COVID, we were barely able to run a team and we run two teams and almost three there now too. But the U16 girls over the last five or eight years have been consistently running three teams which is really impressive.”
Ripley says strong local high school programs have helped the club recruit new members.
Many of players have gone on to higher level teams, including national teams.
Among them are Sara Svoboda who played for Canada, including at the World Cup, and Matt Mullins who was part of the Senior Men’s National Sevens team which won a Pan Am Games bronze medal.
Other players have gone on to provincial teams with many also playing in the university and college system.
“We really are proud of all of our athletes and really proud of what we’re doing to prepare these kids for not just high school and club rugby but the potential to play at the next level in the colleges or universities or representing their province or country.”
Current and previous members are invited to celebrate during the club’s official anniversary weekend July 10-12.
Events will include a meet and greet on July 10 at Capers.
The Hall of Fame Banquet will be held July 11 at Sans Souci where some new members and life members will be inducted.
Tickets are almost sold out.
Sunday is a special day of rugby at Mary Ann Sills Park with a festival featuring teams from U8 to Old Boys which could include players in their sixties.
Ripley says the club survives because of its volunteers, many, like him, began as players in their youth and continue to contribute to the club.
They always welcomes new volunteers.
Ripley says the club will continue to evolve as it enters its next 50 years.
They are looking into adding mixed-abilities rugby.
“Where you know, anybody, regardless of their ability, can play in a flag or contact style of rugby. You know, it’s gonna require a bunch of volunteers to get that off the ground but I think with the population that we have and the number of people that are already playing and want to continue to play, I think that it could be very successful.”
Ripley says they’d also love to someday have a permanent clubhouse like other clubs in the province.
Registration for the upcoming rugby season from flag (U4-U12) to Senior Men’s and Women’s is now open.
Visit their website for more information about Bulldogs rugby.
