Two Oak Bay rugby alumni are among those to be named as Rugby Canada’s inaugural seven inductees into the 2017 Hall of Fame class during tomorrow night’s annual awards dinner at Fairmont Waterfront Hotel in Vancouver.
Al Charron, Gareth Rees, Rod Snow, Robert ‘Ro’ Hindson and Gillian Florence will be inducted into the player’s wing while Robert Spray and Mike Luke will be the first inductees into the builder’s category.
Rees and Hindson both played with the Castaway Wanderers of Oak Bay.
Rees attended Oxford University and played professionally for Wasps, Newport, Merignac and Harlequins where he won various cup and league competitions as well as scoring titles. He also represented the famed Barbarians four times. In Canada, Rees suited up for the University of Victoria and Castaway Wanderers and represented his province on many occasions.
In addition to the World Rugby Hall of Fame induction, Rees has been inducted into the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame, BC Rugby Hall of Fame, BC Sports Hall of Fame and Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.
Hindson played for the Penticton Harlequins RFC, Castaway Wanderers, Oak Bay Wanderers, UBC Old Boy Ravens as well as the University of Victoria, Vancouver Island, University of British Columbia and provincially for B.C. He was also the only Canadian to play for the South Pacific Barbarians against the South African Barbarians in their 1987 tour. He also lined up for the World Team against Ireland as part of their centenary celebrations in 1973.
Hindson has been inducted into the BC Rugby Union Hall of Fame and the BC Sports Hall of Fame.
“We are very pleased that Rugby Canada has approved the seven nominees who had been recommended to be inducted into the Rugby Canada Hall of Fame,” said Barry Giffen, Past President and chair of the Ways and Means Committee. “This inaugural group of inductees are examples of the commitment and success of individuals who have contributed significantly to Rugby Canada’s foundation of world class standards and success.”
Last October, the Ways and Means Committee was established to develop a plan to honour and preserve rugby’s culture and heritage in Canada by recognizing the extraordinary achievements of rugby’s participants throughout the country.
The Rugby Canada Hall of Fame will be located in the Al Charron Rugby Canada National Training Centre in Langford and will feature a museum that highlights and celebrates moments in Canadian rugby history.
The seven inductees will be celebrated at the annual Rugby Canada awards dinner March 9 in Vancouver, ahead of the HSBC Canada Sevens at BC Place March 11 and 12. Visit events.rugbycanada.ca for tickets.
