History was made when 54 flag rugby playing middle school students took to the CanadINN Stadium field during the halftime of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs Toronto Argonauts on July 9th! As soon as the halftime signal went off, the field was awash in colour as the four flag rugby teams took over from the Pros. The event was in honour of the 80 years of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers who had their early start as a part of the Wanderers Rugby Football Club.

As passes were made and touches scored – Fans could be seen and heard cheering on the players!  The Jumbo Video Screen had images from all the games in live action! After 7 fun filled and eventful minutes, the 54 players, coaches, referees, with assistance from the Saracen RFC and Vincent Massey Female Rugby Team  all were high fived and cheered by oncoming pro players from the Bombers and the Argos!
Benjamin, from Winnipeg, “loved playing rugby” and was really excited to be able to play at the Bombers 1/2 time on July 9 and is looking for ways to make rugby part of his future plans.

Sydney, from Winnipeg, says she will attend a high school that offers rugby so that she can play rugby next year. “I hadn’t really heard about rugby before this but now I want to keep playing!”
A coach from rural Manitoba indicated that in his 23 years of Rugby this was the best exposure for the sport he has witnessed.

Obby Khan, Offensive Lineman of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and Rugby Manitoba Youth Rugby Ambassador, introduced the program to over 1000 students from all over Manitoba in the past 18 months via the Youth Flag Rugby Schools program that runs from January until May. The program received a Canadian Rugby Foundation grant and a private donation to assist with offsetting the costs of giving rugby balls to the schools to keep the program going after Obby has spent the afternoon taking them through the skill progressions into a full game of 7 vs. 7 flag rugby.

“Flag Rugby is the perfect sport for kids and anyone can play. If you can run and throw the ball backwards, you are a flag rugby player. It’s perfect!” Khan said, noting players of all sizes and strengths can play. “Every kid out there has touched the ball 30 - 40 times.”