The evening will be held on Saturday, December 3rd @ Christ Church Cathedral, and begin at 6pm with the art exhibition, followed by the team dinner. The paintings will be on sale, and tickets for the exhibition and dinner are 30$. At 9pm, the party kicks off in earnest. Tickets for the party are only 5$. So come join the 2011 FRQ Division Champions and party with men who know how to party: rugby men!

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Quand le rugby rencontre l’art. non, vos yeux ne sont pas en train de vous jouer un mauvais tour. le thème du gala des Westmount Ravens cette année est bien “un vernissage” avec une exposition d’oeuvres d’art réalisées par ses meilleurs joueurs, laissant le Van Gogh qui est en eux s’exprimer.

La soirée débute elle aux alentours de 21 heures. Les billets sont au prix de $5.

Venez nombreux fêter le titre de champion du Québec avec ceux qui savent faire la fête, les rugbymen!

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.

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!

Jeremy is looking for a number volunteer to help out to serve meals. If you are available then please contact Jeremy through Google groups.

You can support Westmount Rugby’s fundraising effort by donating to our Movember Team

The hill sprints are done and the head tape is put away. Bruises and shattered shoulders are

healing and that nagging limp seems to have just about cleared up.
Tuesday and thursday evenings feel strangely empty and you’re not
quite sure what sure what saturdays are for now. Yes, sad but true,
rugby season is over once again.
So, it’s time to celebrate as only Ravens can. Drinks, excellent
food, prizes, raffles, cheap drinks, dancing, speeches, awards and
loads of cheap drinks.

Le jogging avec un sac à dos rempli de roches est fini, et le protège-
dents est retourné avec les bas dans le tiroir. Les bleus s’estompent
lentement, et nous marchons de moins en moins comme des vieillards
(mis à part Tony… . Les mardis et jeudis soirs semblent étrangement
vides, et on ne sait plus trop à quoi servent les samedis maintenant.
C’est triste mais vrai, la saison de rugby est encore une fois
terminée.
C’est donc le temps de célébrer comme seuls les Ravens savent le
faire. De l’alcool pas cher, un repas cinq étoiles, de la musique pour
danser, des prix et des trophées (en l’honneur des bons et des moins
bons coups), encore de l’alcool, des tirages, des discours longs et
émotifs, et toujours plus d’alcool.

***

RSVP Here!

When:-  November 13th 2010, doors open 6.30pm

Quand:- Le 13 novembre 2010, à partir de 18h30

Where:-1444 Union (between St Catherine and de Maisonneuve).
Où:- 1444 rue Union (entre Ste-Catherine et de Maisonneuve).

Dress code:-  ‘Formal, with one shocking item’.
For example, black tie with a set of antlers, or for the ladies,
evening dress with a pair of snow boots. Please Gentlemen, keep it
clean.
Code vestimentaire : « Tenue chic, avec un détail choc »
Par exemple, cravate noire et panache d’orignal, ou pour ces dames,
robe de soirée et bottes de ski-doo. Mais s’il-vous-plaît messieurs,
gardez-vous une petite gêne.
Tickets :- $60 (full rate)
$45 (student rate)
There is also a $30 Drinks and Dancing ticket available for friends
and anyone who might like to come after food.

Billets : 60$ (45$ pour les étudiants)
Un billet fin de soirée est aussi disponible (30$) pour ceux qui
veulent seulement venir boire et danser après le repas.
***

Please remember that this is our main fundraiser for the year, so the
more people you can get to come, the better. Bring girlfriends, wives,
friends, long lost relatives.

The Ravens are looking forward to an enthusiastic home field crowd as they take to the pitch on Saturday.

Venue: Westmount Park

Address: Corner of Melville and Sherbrooke West

Date: Saturday, September 18th

Kickoff time: 3:00pm

View Westmount Ravens Home Field in a larger map

As this is opening weekend, the day won’t end with the final whistle.  After game drinks will be held at the Forum, with festivities continuing through the night.

Go Westmount!