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Hello Ravens,
Welcome to the 2012 season. I trust you all enjoyed the off season? Believe it or not pre season training starts next week! I hope you are all ready to put in the effort required to win the club another championship cup? We are in a great position this year to get back to back championships but like anything in life, you don’t achieve your goals without putting in the required effort. So, the effort starts next Tuesday, January 10th, 7pm at the Westmount High School gym. Henry and Mike will be there to ‘ease’ you into the new season.

To enter the gym go to the middle door at the rear of the building. Training starts at 7pm sharp so make sure you are there by 6.45pm to allow time to change. You will need normal gym wear, running shoes and a mouth guard.

The school is located at 4350 St.Catherine Street, West. Westmount. H3Z 1R1. Google maps link:
http://maps.google.ca/maps/place?q=Westmount+High+School,+Westmount,+QC&hl=en&cid=5869485863924681351

Nearest Metro stations are Atwater or Lionel-Groulx.

At this time I would also remind you all to be on the look out for new players (including juniors, boys & girls) and to do your best to bring one new player to the club this season. We have lost a few players from last year and we are aiming to enter a second team in the D Division so we need as many players as we can get! Please make sure to get their email addresses to me so they can be added to the Google Group.

Also, please mark on your calendars that our club AGM will be held on February 22nd at 7pm at the Greene Centre. An official notice with all the meeting details will be sent in the very near future. All members are encouraged to attend.

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A fantastic review by The Westmount Examiner of the WRC’s first family day. Check it out!

Three generations of rugby enthusiasts spent a sunny Saturday afternoon at Westmount Park on Aug. 6, eating burgers and hot dogs while catching up with old friends – all in support of the Westmount Rugby Club.

“It’s a fantastic turnout,” club president Tony O’Driscoll said of the family day fundraiser. “Complete success. I couldn’t be happier.”

About 150 turned out for the event, including many parents who watched from the sidelines as their kids played a few friendly matches with other youth from Rugby Club de Montreal (RCM) and Rugby XV de Montreal.

O’Driscoll said what sets rugby apart from other sports is that it’s affordable and transcends height and weight restrictions common in other sports like basketball and football. “It’s open to everybody,” he said. “That’s why kids find it so attractive.”

The club supports youth development through its Mini Rugby program, which runs from May to June. Kids aged 8 to 12 spend Sunday mornings running, passing and learning the basics of tackling, if qualified.

“There are bruises each week, but there are a great many rewards as well,” said Matt Harrington, father of Maeve, 8, who is in the Mini’s program. “Rugby teaches teamwork and discipline. It teaches you that you have to work very hard to accomplish what you want.”

Considering the intensity of the game, safety is of the utmost concern. Up until the age of 12, there is no tackling, just touch. There are also strict penalties for foul play. Offenders can be kicked off the field, banned from the game or even fined in extreme cases.

Adults also took to the field.

Westmount players from the last four decades donned their gum shields once again in an opening match between the Old Boys and rookies. “We’re happy to report the Old Boys absolutely murdered the rookies,” said O’Driscoll.

“It was pretty good to play against the young guys.” says Alexandre Pellerin, who retired from the Ravens last year but came out with his family to play and watch the Westmount Ravens take on the Montreal Exiles for the main event.

“It’s a great game,” he said. “We’re winning.”

“Come on Westmount, you lazy sack of bones,” yelled Tom Edmeades from the sidelines. The former captain of the Ravens was sitting out indefinitely due to injuries, but still came to help out the team by grilling burgers. “They’re my family,” he said. “I met all my friends through rugby or associations through rugby. I had to come.”

Energy was high as the Westmount crowd cheered on their local team to victory, 66-14.

“I feel very proud of the team,” said Nicole Fortunaso, who came out to support her brother Jamie Fortunaso. “The Ravens have been kicking butt the last couple of games.”

“When I used to play, there wasn’t the depth and support that this club has today,” said Clive Ebden, who retired from the Westmount team 19 years ago. “They’ve come a long way.”

For more information, visit the Westmount Rugby Club’s website at http://westmountrugby.com/ or their Facebook page under Westmount Rugby Club. If your children are interested in participating with the Mini’s, contact JS Paul via email at jsebpaul@gmail.com.

WRC has completed another season of its mini rugby program, to great praise from the parents and the city of Westmount. “Our program welcomed an average of 25 kids every Sunday afternoon for 6 weeks and practices consisted in basic rugby skills like passing, kicking and team play. We’ve introduced with great success the basics of tackling and laws of the game” says Jean-Sebastien Paul, the man behind the program. “Every session ended with a full game of touch rugby. We’re looking forward to next season where we will introduce competitive games with other clubs.” A lot of the senior players were involved and had a blast running around with the kids.

Many parents were impressed with the program, and one of them mused: “Congratulations on letting kids have fun while doing constructive work with them, not as simple as it sounds”, a sentiment echoed throughout the community. The Westmount Ravens are proud to be giving back and plan to do it all over again next year. Stay tuned for details!

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WRC a terminé une autre saison de son programme de rugby mini, avec beaucoup d’éloges des parents et la ville de Westmount. «Notre programme a accueilli une moyenne de 25 enfants tous les dimanches après-midi pendant 6 semaines et les pratiques ont consisté à apprendre les compétences de base du rugby tels que passer le ballon, botter le ballon et le jeu d’équipe. Nous avons introduit avec succès les rudiments du placage et les lois du jeu», déclare Jean-Sébastien Paul, l’homme derrière le programme. «Chaque séance s’est terminée par un match de touch rugby. Nous avons hâte à la saison prochaine, où nous allons introduire des jeux compétitifs avec d’autres clubs.” Un grand nombre de joueurs seniors ont participé et se sont très amusés à courir avec les enfants.

Beaucoup de parents ont été impressionnés par le programme, et l’un d’eux avait ceci à dire: «Félicitations pour laisser les enfants s’amuser tout en accomplissant un travail constructif avec eux, ce n’est pas aussi simple que cela semble!», un sentiment partagé dans la communauté. Les Ravens de Westmount sont fiers de redonner à la communauté et planifient de le faire une fois de plus l’année prochaine. Restez à l’écoute pour plus de détails!

The 2010 Quebec rugby season is fast approaching and the Westmount Ravens are always looking for players.  If you are interested in playing Rugby in Montreal then contact the club president or join our Google group.

We also train at Murray Hill every Tuesday and Thursday from 6pm so come down and join us.  Our matches are played on our Home Ground at Westmount park on Saturday’s.  For game times please bookmark this website.