HISTORY
The Burlington Centaurs Rugby Football Club was founded in 1973. The first club president was Dave Swift and the first club captain was Monty Heald. The Centaurs were always a very competitive side in those early years. Off the field, development was second to none and in four short years, B.C.R.F.C. had organized (in conjunction with the City of Burlington and Wintario) a headquarters at Sherwood Forest Park for the 1979 season.
These facilities, which included a full international-size pitch with a “pop-up” watering system, were soon to become one of the best rugby fields in all of Canada. We started with a small but very cozy ground-floor club room. The club continued to develop in playing skills and depth. A third team was added in 1979 and a strong junior program was also part of this growth.
In 1990 a major project was completed, in that, our new clubhouse was officially opened. This superb clubhouse, built over the original facility, opened to a balcony overlooking the pitch at the halfway line. In 2020, the clubhouse was renovated and updated to maintain its status as one of the premier facilities in the province. And now, some 30 years later, a new clubhouse is being planned.
OUR FUTURE
In 2018, the decision was made to reengage the City of Burlington to demolish and rebuild the aging rugby clubhouse. With almost 300 memberships, the Centaurs currently offer programs to minis (U6-U12), juniors (U14-U18), senior men’s and women’s and mixed-ability rugby. With rising memberships and new opportunities, we have felt the physical constraints of the current facility and desperately need more space.
Dubbed “The Revitalization Project” we have started to save for the new clubhouse and are looking for donations to reach this goal. We need to raise and acquire $1,000,000.00 through grants and donations and over $150,000.00 has already been pledged and donated.
The Burlington Centaurs Rugby Football Club Capital Fund was established in 2019 to support the Revitalization Project – the goal being the construction of a new clubhouse for the Burlington Centaurs Rugby Football Club in partnership with the Niagara Old Boys. Any funds raised beyond our primary Revitalization Project will be used to establish an endowment fund to secure the future of the rugby club in the Golden Horseshoe indefinitely.
In honor of our 50th Anniversary we are launching our buy-a-brick campaign. For a donation of $1,000.00 you will own a brick with an engraving of your choice to be installed in the new facility on our Founders Wall and with a donation of $250.00 you will have a plaque on our builder’s wall. We thank you for your generous donations and support as we continue to provide grassroots rugby to our community. Friends through rugby, Friends through life.
Should you have any questions about the buy-a-brick campaign please contact Peter Frettcliffe by email at payments@centaursrfc.com.
USE THE FORM BELOW TO DONATE TO THE BURLINGTON CENTAURS FUND:
