As the end of the 2015 season draws close, it is time to reflect on our successes and our challenges.

The club has grown and continues to move forward (Advance) both on and off the pitch.

The 2015 season was hectic, and full of great successes:

               – First year BACK in the Super League

               – McCormick Cup playoffs,

               – Resurgence of the Blues 3rds,

               – The Blues Classics (aka BOBs or Old Boys)

               – The start of the rookie rugby, aka mini flag rugby,

               – The start of U12 contact rugby,

               – Our “End of School Rugby Fest”,

               – 1 U16 & 2 U18 touring sides

               – Our U16 and U18 provincial playoffs.

               – Junior representative players

               – Blues Foundation

The season was also challenging:

               – FRQ registration and league disorganization

               – New registration system (2 in as many years)

               – Lower Junior registration numbers

               – 3rds numbers in the first couple of weeks

               – Lack of competitive Junior teams to play

               – Reduction in mini-festivals

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Super League Rugby 2015

You know you belong when the number one team in the league is quoted as saying: “THE BLUES ARE BACK”.

Yes indeed the Blues are back in the Super League, after the long trek up the competition ladder. The 1sts, finished

in 4th place with a 5-5 record; 3 of those loses by a combined total of 5 points, could have easily been 8 – 2. The 2nds

finished in 3rd place with a 6-4 record.

A generally positive season, with some challenges to address, but I have full confidence in our senor men’s coaches

and players to step up and not only meet those challenges, but to surpass them. Advance.

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Blues 3rds

The 2015 season saw the return of the Blues 3rds. Although the first couple of matches were challenged with having

sufficient numbers, overall it was a positive season. 8 of the 10 scheduled matches were played, with one game played

as 12s (first match vs Lanark). It took a while but once people knew we had a 3rds side, they started to come out of the

woodwork.

And Yes PATCH is a Blue although seemingly playing for our opponents when they were short in numbers.

I believe with the strong growth in our juniors moving up to men’s, the strength of our senior men’s program and the general knowledge

of our 3rds, this program will be moving up to the Blues standard of a competitive rugby team. Advance.

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Blues Classics (BOBs)

The old boys were resurrected this year for a couple of matches and friendlies. Unfortunately, a few players got injured in the first match

versus the Indians Old Boys. Thanks to Wheels, we have started the long road to bringing back the Old Boys. Our goal is to have the Old

Boys up and running for the 2017 Vintages tournament. Advance.

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Rookie Rugby and U12s

A great thanks to Lee Powell, Jim and Karen Nordin, and especially Ian “Duff” Bingeman for a great inaugural season for the Blues

minor program. Being the newest club on the block to start a minor program, we were only one of two clubs to successfully plan

a mini festival. The Blues End of School Rugbyfest on June 28th was a great success, and I look to that becoming a standard fixture on

all EORU rugby clubs calendars.

And a great thanks to Flu and Jim Risk for helping the U12s to a great start. The 2nd and 3rd generation Blues are starting their long and

enjoyable journey to the love of rugby. Advance

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Blues Junior Program

Another undefeated year in EORU club rugby for the U16s and U18s. The Blues U16 played a total of 14 matches this year (6 league games,

Blackburn U16 touring side, 4 NCYRF games, 1 friendly vs Beaconsfield and 2 Ontario Provincial playoff matches). They finished undefeated

in the EORU league match play, and won 3rd place at the provincials (with a 53-0 victory in a 40 minute match).

The U18s also were undefeated in their EORU league schedule. They played a total of 16 matches (7 undefeated league games, friendly vs

Beaconsfield U18, Oratory Pax and Stewart’s Mellville touring sides, 4 NCYRF matches, and 2 provincial matches). They finished undefeated

in the EORU league match play, and won a silver medal at the provincials.

As a club we need to start looking outside of EORU for competitive matches for our Juniors. How and where we go is another challenge…Advance

Once again we will be running our Winter Program. The hope is to have a section for U12 & 14 (given enough numbers), a U16 & U18 section

and a section for our senior men.

Date:        Saturday Nights

Time:       6:00 – 7:00 PM

Season:   Jan 2 – March 5th, 2016 (10 sessions)

Location:  Ottawa University’s Lees Avenue Campus Dome

Cost:        $100 (registered players)

                $125 (non-registered players, must register online, insurance coverage)

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New Sponsor! Pro Physio

Pro Physio has agreed to a sponsorship deal for 3 years with the Bytown Blues RFC. Our beloved Athletic Therapist Erin Quinn who works primarily for the Senior Mens Team works for Pro Physio!

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AGM

We will be sending out a notice announcing the date and location for our AGM. Stay tuned…

Ciao!
Jim Shaw

Bytown Blues RFC – President