This year, TIRF had the privilege of furthering its partnership with the TDSB by supporting TDESAA’s flag rugby tournaments across the city as referees, touch judges, and scorekeepers. Over three weeks of flag rugby tournaments, we had the pleasure of watching young athletes develop their rugby skills, demonstrate incredible sportsmanship, and cultivate friendships. Throughout the flag rugby season, around 400 players participated, with many experiencing the joy of playing rugby for the first time.
After 10 exciting tournaments, the season culminated with the City Championships hosted at North Toronto Collegiate Institute. The tournament featured 8 teams representing all four regions of the city: North, South, East, and West. The day was packed with thrilling matches that kept everyone on the edge of their seats.
The day kicked off with intense semi-final matches. In the Grade 8 semi-final, Don Valley faced Sir Alexander Mackenzie, while Don Mills took on Corvette in the Grade 6 semi-final. Both games were nail-biters, decided by one point differential with Sir Alexander Mackenzie and Corvette winning respectively.
In the Grade 8 finals, Sir Alexander Mackenzie played Hodgson who had a bye to the finals. After a long back and forth game, Hodgson (navy blue) came up on top as Grade 8 City Champions. In the Grade 6 finals, Corvette faced Williamson Road and emerged victorious, adding another highlight to the day. Similarly, in the Grade 5 finals, Diefenbaker beat Blantyre, securing a well-deserved win.
There were many firsts for the winners of the tournament. Diefenbaker Elementary School (purple) claimed victory in the Grade 5 division in their debut season of having a flag rugby team! Corvette Junior Public School (white) also made history by winning the Grade 6 flag rugby championship, marking the school’s first city championship across all sports.
As we celebrate the success of this season, we look forward to seeing these young athletes continue to develop their skills and passion for rugby. We are excited about the potential expansion of flag rugby to the West region and the addition of a Grade 7 division next year.
Thank you to all the players, coaches, and supporters for making this season unforgettable. We can’t wait to see everyone out again next year for more flag rugby action!
– Cornelius Osei-Owusu