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  • Group photo of Crusaders Rugby Club players in yellow jerseys posing on a rugby field in Oakville.
  • Crusaders Rugby Club players in yellow jerseys form a huddle on a grassy field in Oakville, with numbers visible on their backs.
  • Group of Crusaders Rugby Club players in yellow jerseys standing on a grassy rugby field in Oakville.
  • Group of Crusaders Rugby Club players in yellow jerseys standing together on a rugby field in Oakville.
  • Outdoor gathering of Crusaders Rugby Club members and guests seated at long tables under a canopy in Oakville.
  • Crusaders Rugby Club players in Oakville pass a trophy at a picnic table in an outdoor park.

Crusaders Rugby Club crestAbout the Crusaders Rugby Club

The Crusaders Rugby Club is the largest rugby club in North America – and a registered non-profit club dedicated to the promotion of, and participation in, sport in our community. Our club, often referred to as The Cru or the Oakville Crusaders, is a community of more than 1,400 from age 4 to 74. The club’s broader community of alumni, non-playing members and supporters is in the region of 7,000 people. The Crusaders Rugby Club is a non-profit, volunteer-based club to which our board directors, coaches, parents and players donate significant amounts of their time. We most gratefully rely on commercial sponsors, municipal government support, donors and volunteers to be able to offer all we do.

Rugby has a unique culture that underlines the values of honour and respect for opponents, teammates, coaches and referees. The sport’s culture is founded in camaraderie, mutual respect, teamwork, and sportsmanship – key life lessons for youth. The club is committed to providing a program for all players to develop their rugby skills, develop personally and grow their love of the game of rugby.

Born out of a group of expats, we officially came together as the Crusaders Rugby Club in 1968. We’ve been growing and have been playing quality rugby ever since and are now the largest rugby club in North America, with a successful Junior program of over 240 players, many of our athletes representing Ontario and Canada. Crusaders continue to wear the maple leaf: in 2025 and 2026 alone, Brenden Black, Jack Shaw, Jacob Ince and Jack Gore earned their first caps for Canada’s men, and Lizzie Gibson earned hers for Canada’s women. Taylor Perry, who made her Canada debut as a Crusaders junior, won Olympic silver in Paris in 2024.

Many of our players go on to pursue professional rugby careers in Canada and overseas – which is a point of pride for the club – but not really all that we are about. At its core, the Crusaders Rugby Club is a family-oriented rugby club and very much more than just a rugby club to its members.

Our members include players from the age of four, boys and girls, of all shapes and sizes, no experience required.

“Combination of playing to win and still maintaining a club atmosphere where everyone is welcome and supported by all players.” – Parent, 2026

“The culture/clubhouse aspect of rugby is unparalleled in the province/country.” – Player, 2026

“Coaches really make the kids feel welcomed and the kids look up to them.” – Parent, 2026

Year-Round Rugby

We’ve come a long way since 1968, today boasting three quality pitches and one of the top clubhouses in Canada set in 26 acres of parkland on Ninth Line in Oakville. We operate a complete, year-round program for our athletes:

  • April – June: preseason outdoor training
  • June – August: Rugby Ontario fifteens season
  • September – November: Rugby Ontario sevens season
  • November – April: indoor strength & conditioning program and indoor skills training program