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As the season approaches, our athletes are back at it putting in the work to make it happen this year. Saturday we will be travelling to Burlington to take on the Centaurs at 2pm.

This year the Blue and Gold will be lead by: Iain McLeish – Paddy Watson – Brian Krawetz – Sandro Fiorino – Michael Allen – Brain Spanton – Matthew Sneath

Alumni Dinner – A fantastic response already and seats are filling up fast! Let me know if you plan on attending so I can reserve a seat for you. This year we will be honoring the 2014 and 2015 McCormick Cup champs.

Date – Wednesday May 13
Time – Drinks – 6:30 / Dinner – 7pm
Place – Balmy Beach Club
Price – $125

A portion of the ticket goes towards supporting the Balmy Beach Juniors. Please send an e-transfer to beachalumni@gmail.com and once you have received a confirmation you are good to go. Lets goooooooo!!!!!!!

You’re officially invited to the Balmy Beach Alumni Spring Dinner on Wednesday, May 13 an evening you won’t want to miss.
🍻 Drinks at 6:30pm – 🍽️ Dinner at 7:00pm
This year, we’re celebrating something special: the 2014 and 2015 McCormick Cup Champions. Come relive the magic of both seasons with great food, big laughs, and stories that only get better with time. To secure your spot, please send $125 to beachalumni@gmail.com. You’ll receive a confirmation email once your payment is processed. This is going to be a huge night, and seats will disappear fast. Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!

The 2026 Balmy Beach Schedule:

Some highlights – Please note the schedule is subject to change.
– Preseason season starts on April 25 in Burlington
– The regular season start on May 9th
– First home game is May 23
– Club day is July 18th
– Playoffs start September 26
– Quarter finals October 3
– Semi finals October 17
– Finals October 24

Balmy Beach Rugby 2026 Schedule

Preseason

Saturday, April 25
Time Beach Team Opponent Location
TBA Beach Burlington Burlington
TBA

Saturday, May 2
Time Beach Team Opponent Location
12:30 TRU W CRU CRU
2:00 ORU I CRU CRU
3:30 ORU II/III CRU CRU

Season Games

Week 1 – Saturday, May 9
Time Beach Team Opponent Location
5:00 ORU I Aurora Aurora
3:30 ORU II Aurora Aurora
2:00 ORU III Aurora Aurora
12:00 TRU W Brampton Brampton

May 16 – BYE WEEK

Week 2 – Saturday, May 23
Time Beach Team Opponent Location
4:30 ORU I London Beach
3:00 ORU II London Beach`
1:30 ORU III BYE BYE
11:00 TRU Mens Buccs Beach
12:00 TRU W Ajax Ajax

Week 3 – Saturday, May 30
Time Beach Team Opponent Location
4:30 ORU I Burlington Beach
3:00 ORU II Burlington Beach
1:30 ORU III Burlington Beach
12:00 TRU Mens Bay Street Beach
12:00 TRU W Barrie Barrie

Week 4 – Saturday, June 6
Time Beach Team Opponent Location
3:30 ORU I Waterloo Waterloo
2:00 ORU II Waterloo Waterloo
11:00 ORU III Waterloo Waterloo
3:30 TRU Mens Saracens Sunnybrook
12:00 TRU W Brock Brock

Week 5 – Friday, June 12
Time Beach Team Opponent Location
Fri 7:30 TRU W Mississauga Mississauga

Week 5 – Saturday, June 13
Time Beach Team Opponent Location
3:30 ORU I Brantford Brantford
2:00 ORU II Brantford Brantford
3:30 ORU III Brantford Brantford
3:30 TRU Mens Buccs Sunnybrook

Week 6 – Saturday, June 20
Time Beach Team Opponent Location
3:00 ORU I CRU CRU
1:30 ORU II CRU CRU
12:00 ORU III CRU CRU
12:00 TRU W Mississauga Beach
11:00AM TRU Mens Saracens Beach

Week 7 – Saturday, June 27
Time Beach Team Opponent Location
3:30 ORU I Scottish Scottish
2:00 ORU II Scottish Scottish
12:30 ORU III Scottish Scottish
TBA TRU Mens Bay Street Sunnybrook
12:00 TRU W Barrie Beach

July 4 – BYE WEEK

Week 8 – Saturday, July 11
Time Beach Team Opponent Location
3:30 ORU I Burlington Burlington
2:00 ORU II Burlington Burlington
12:30 ORU III Burlington Burlington
TBA TRU Mens TBA TBA
Fri 7:00 TRU W Markham Beach

Week 9 – Saturday, July 18
Time Beach Team Opponent Location
3:30 ORU I Aurora Beach
2:00 ORU II Aurora Beach
TBA TRU Mens TBA TBA
12:00 TRU W Peterborough Beach

Fri July 24
7:00 TRU W Brampton Beach

Aug 1 – BYE WEEK

Week 10 – Saturday, August 8
Time Beach Team Opponent Location
3:30 ORU I London London
2:00 ORU II London London
TBA TRU Mens TBA TBA
TBA TRU W TBA TBA

Week 11 – Saturday, August 15
Time Beach Team Opponent Location
3:30 ORU I Waterloo Beach
2:00 ORU II Waterloo Beach
TBA TRU Mens TBA TBA
TBA TRU W TBA TBA

Week 12 – Saturday, August 22
Time Beach Team Opponent Location
3:30 ORU I Brantford Beach
2:00 ORU II Brantford Beach
TRU Playoff Game 1

Aug 29 – BYE WEEK

Sept 5 – BYE WEEK

Week 13 – Saturday, September 12
Time Beach Team Opponent Location
3:30 ORU I Scottish Beach
2:00 ORU II Scottish Beach
TRU Playoff Game 2

Week 14 –  Saturday, September 19
Time Beach Team Opponent Location
3:30 ORU I CRU CRU
2:00 ORU II CRU CRU

McCormick/Gee Gage Round One – Sept 26
Time Beach Team Opponent Location
3:30 TBA TBA TBA

McCormick/Gee Gage Quarter Finals – October 3
Time Beach Team Opponent Location
3:30 TBA TBA TBA

October 10 – BYE WEEK

McCormick Cup / Gee Gage Cup Semi Finals- October 17
Time Beach Team Opponent Location
3:30

McCormick Cup / Gee Gage Cup Finals- October 24
Time Beach Team Opponent Location
3:30

Tom Redwood – It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that on April 2nd, we lost one of the originals, Tom Redwood.

As soon as I have some details regarding the celebration of life, I will pass it along.

Please keep the Redwood family in your thoughts and prayers during this most difficult time.

Spring Dinner – Mark it on your calendar, the Spring Dinner to kick off the 2026 rugby season will be held on Wednesday May 13th.  7pm

This dinner will be honoring the McCormick Cup champions of the 2014 + 2015 seasons.

More details to follow…

There are no 6 Nations games this weekend but the tournament continues next week.

Rugby Squash tournament makes its return to the club. Here’s a blurb from the organizer 240 Gord Young

It is with great pleasure to announce that the Rugby Squash Tournament is back March 25th, 26th and March 28th of 2026 and this is your formal invitation to sign up! It is time to dust off your balls, racquets, goggles and such and squeeze onto the courts for some epic Squash action! Not to worry, the rugby part is very minimal and we have band aids on site.

We need 64 players of varying skill sets, from beginner to pros (it’s a state of mind); to pay $75, get a deluxe souvenir T-Shirt to prove you were really there, a bite to eat during the week, a few pints, a chance to win fabulous prizes and most importantly the opportunity to rub shoulders with new people, old friends, exes, foes and some cool rugby players pretending to play Squash.

Format is rally-point to 25, no need to win by 2 and you will be matched up, as best as humanly possible, with someone of like ability or inability, keeping in mind we make the odd mistake in ranking players! Having said this, any mismatches will be addressed as best we can and all matches should be reasonably even.

Please confirm via email, as soon as possible, to gyoung240@yahoo.ca and e-transfer the cash and I will solidify your spot. We do our best to accommodate timing on the schedule but it is relatively flexible. Games will run from 4pm to about 10pm on Wednesday and Thursday and if you are not pissed by then, it’s your fault. Eight teams of 8 players for the Wednesday and Thursday evening, we then take the aggregate for each team and the top 4 teams play off on Saturday with a clean slate and 4 teams are eliminated after play on Thursday, pretty simple! Games Saturday run 1pm to 4pm and voila, we are done!

Thanks for all of your wonderful support over the years and incidentally, all proceeds go to the rugby section. Fast math tells me we have raised over $100,000 over the many years we have been doing this and the rugby budget now exceeds well over $100,000 every year and this is a very fun way to help. Sign up, do it now as it will fill up quickly. Cheers, 240 (Gord Young)

Last week saw a solid turnout at the club on both Saturday and Sunday. Thank you to those who showed up to support the Junior Rugby program.

Here is the schedule for this weeks games:
Saturday Feb 21 – In the Hall
9:10am – England vs Ireland
11:40am – Wales vs Scotland

Sunday Feb 22 – In the Bar
10:10am – France vs Italy

*Please note that games being played in the hall is $20 per person.

Alumni Awards 

This Thursday marks the beginning of the 6 Nations Tournament. Come on down to the club and watch some great rugby while supporting the Jr Rugby program. If the game is being played in the hall, the cover is $20 per person but if the game is being played in the bar there is no charge for members and guests only.

Thursday Feb 5 in the bar
3:10pm – France vs Ireland

Saturday Feb 7 in the hall
9:10am – Scotland vs Italy
11:40am – Wales vs England

Last call for the Rugby Banquet for this Friday. If you’re interested in attending Please sign up through the link and e-transfer $60 to balmybeachrfc@gmail.com. In the message please state your name, the name of any guest you are bringing and that the funds that are transferred are for the banquet, https://forms.gle/wHLrQW6jNPuERX599 Should you have any questions please reach out to Iain McLeish coachmcleish@gmail.com

The 6 Nations tournament is looking to get underway next week with lots of exciting games to be broadcasted at the club. Please remember that some games require a cover charge to be seen and that money goes towards the Jr Rugby program. Schedule coming soon…..

The Rugby Banquet will be held on Friday February 6th. The annual night of debauchery and telling stories about how great we are, followed by too much beer is always a highlight of the off season. For $60 you get a three course meal, as well as table wine and bread to throw to all the presenters. Please sign up through the link and e-transfer $60 to balmybeachrfc@gmail.com. In the message please state your name, the name of any guest you are bringing and that the funds that are transferred are for the banquet, https://forms.gle/wHLrQW6jNPuERX599 Should you have any questions please reach out to Iain McLeish coachmcleish@gmail.com

Super Bowl Sunday is February 8th. The club will also be showing the big game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. Come on down and watch the game on the big screen and throughout the club.

A special thank you for all who participated in the auction a few weeks back. We have raised $11k towards the rugby section. This will go a long way in helping out coaches, permits, equipment etc.

There were so many highlights in 2025 like the club celebrating its 70th anniversary, the dominance of the women, the birth of the Balmy Beach Old Boys (BBOBs) and many more. We have a lot to look forward to in 2026 both on and off the pitch.

On behalf of the Alumni executive team, we would like to wish you and your family a very happy and safe holiday season.

RUGBY ONTARIO STATS

Marshall Premiership 1s
Marshall Premiership 2s
Marshall Premiership 3s

TRU Men Premiership – BBRC 3s
TRU Women Premiership – 1s

It is with deep sorrow I must let you know the passing of our dear friend Lambert McKenzie. He passed away on Wednesday night but unfortunately there are no details available at this time. There will certainly be a celebration of life and when I have that information, I will pass it along. Please keep the McKenzie family in your thoughts and prayers

The winter auction is our most important fundraiser of the year. Last year we raised over $10,000 and the Balmy Beach Club matches that amount. That means last year’s auction generated $20,000. This money goes to many things including helping players who come from underprivileged backgrounds to play rugby with our club, buses to playoff games, additional coaching staff etc… It is critical to our season next year that this event is successful. Please see the message below from Alex Rea and the organizing committee:

Our biggest fundraiser of the year — the Rugby Holiday Market & Silent Auction — is coming up on Saturday, December 6th from 4–7 PM at the club.

This event is crucial to funding our upcoming season, and we need everyone’s involvement to make it a success. The club will match every dollar we raise, up to $20,000 — so if we hit our goal, that’s $40,000 going directly into supporting us on and off the field.

Here’s how you can help:
Show up & bring people – The event is open to the public, so invite your friends, family, coworkers — anyone who might come out and support.
Get donations – We’re collecting items for the silent auction and accepting monetary donations.
Ask around in your networks — local businesses, friends, family — and let them know we can provide donation letters if needed.
This fundraiser directly impacts you and your teammates. Let’s step up, support the club, and make this event our best one yet.

Thanks for being part of it — let’s crush that $20K goal

Last week the 1s travelled to Brantford for their semi finals game against their long time rival the Harlequins. This game was a rematch of last year’s McCormick Cup final which saw the Beach win in dramatic fashion on the last play of the game. Unfortunately 2025 was not the repeat season the Beach was hoping for but they had a chance to get back to the finals next week. The boys were fired up and started the game by playing some inspired rugby but so was Brantford. The Quins scored first and then the Beach responded shortly after. A costly turnover by the beach saw the Quins take a lead into halftime but our boys were not out of it. The Quins pack was dominating in the second half and provided clean ball for a very dynamic backline but our defensive structure was able to absorb their flash. A late red card issued to the beach for too many offsides was the difference maker. We were within striking distance of taking the lead but the card took the wind out of our sails. Beach 31 – Brantford 43.

The McCormick Cup finals will be Brantford s Waterloo on Saturday October 4th in Brantford. The game will be shown on Rugby Ontario’s Youtube page. Kickoff is 3:30pm.

Congratulations to all our athletes this year, This year showed that even with our backs against the wall and facing demotion, we’re still a very dangerous team that can turn it around any week.

The Balmy Beach Old Boys (BBOBs) are back in action this Sunday at home at 1:30pm vs Oakville.

The Beach 1s ended their regular season by playing the CRU in Oakville on Friday night. Another dominant performance for our athletes showing they are peaking at the right time. The boys were using this as a tune up and tweaking the fine points of their game. Stiff defense kept the CRU at bay which translated to points for the good guys. The final was 29-10. The 1s have won their last 5 of 6 and secured a playoff spot. Next week the 1s travel to Brantford to start their playoff push.

The BBOBs were back in action on Sunday playing the GITS (Gentlemens Inner Toronto Select) at Tubs and Gee Gage. A stacked side for the Blue and Gold saw the likes of Kyle Nichols, Adam Marshall, Andrew Strudwicke lace them up for a run. The Beach scored early – I mean the third phase off the kick off early and the scoring didn’t stop. The GITS had a strong pack and controlled their set piece but the Beach backs were no match. Every ball was played out wide, poking holes all over their backline. Final score Beach 75 – GITS 15.

This Saturday the Canadian Women’s Rugby team takes on England for the championship. The club will be showing the game in the main hall. Kickoff is at 11am but I suggest you get there early to get a seat.