It started three years ago, by getting all rugby club teams to play a match at LaSalle Secondary School on the same day. Since then, the Kingston Panthers “Club Day” has become something players and management look forward to.
“We do a lot of work to try to continue to grow the game,” women’s coach Sean Dunleavy said.
And it’s worked. Memberships have grown in early years age groups, as well as in the women’s division.
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“Two years ago, (I was) seeing some of the players who were minors, (they’re) now playing with the senior women.” senior women’s player, Lauren McEwen said. “I saw them at the minor level which is really cool to see that development.”
The annual event is open to the public, and runs from 10 a.m. to about 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Organizers are hoping for a large turnout, in hopes of continuing to grow the number of players under the Kingston Panthers umbrella.
“If folks sort of give it a bit of a chance, I think they’ll be pleasantly surprised with the sense of family, the sense of community or the confidence-building that comes from playing the sport,” Dunleavy said.
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