Started in 1958 by a handful of United
Kingdom and Australian ruggerites, the Saints struggled during their formative years. Problems were many; the average Canadian was not impressed with the absence of “protective
equipment” and the closest away game was 60 miles distant, with some as far afield as 180 miles.
In the early to mid sixties the Saints
were a team to be reckoned with. They were unbeaten in the 1964 season,
winning the Southwestern Ontario Rugby Union championship for the first time. During
this period the Saints fielded one and a half teams, which meant that many members played Saturday and Sunday games, often
pressured during the Saturday evening festivities whilst their resistance and pains were at a low ebb.
Sarnia
being a somewhat nomadic city, especially in those days, resulted in the Club losing eight senior members in one year, a shock
from which it took several years to recover. In fact, only two players were still
active during the 1968 season form the 1963 club.
Recognizing that the future of the
game depended on getting rugby into the schools, a tremendous effort was expended late in the 70`s into the 80`s, to the point
where the Saints were able to field two full sides on a regular basis. The seconds
side were primarily a youth side, augmented with a few experienced reprobates (sinners).
Just prior the Club`s 25th year, the Club was thriving. In
1982 the Saints captured the Ontario Intermediate Cup.
In the formative years the Club would
hold it`s post game social in the home of one of the players, much to the chagrin of the wives. As the club grew, premises were leased for such functions and in 1978 the Club entered an agreement with
Pinsonneault Fitness and Racquet Club, which for the first time in our history, gave us our own field and clubhouse. The finely manicured pitch and infinite goal posts was a staple of rugby in Southwestern Ontario for many years.
Over the years the Club has had many
players represent Ontario as well as representing our Nation playing for Canada.
