A Rugby Club for Kids and Youth in Toronto
Welcome to Toronto City & Toronto Amazon's Rugby Club
Toronto City is an inclusive Rugby Club for kids and youth, ages 6-18 in Toronto. Young athletes can come and learn the basics of rugby. At each age level, new skills and rules are added until they are playing full 7's and 15's rugby in our U16 and U18 programs (we play Flag Rugby until U10).
THANK YOU SPONSORS & FRIENDS
AGE GRADES AND INFO
Details about the 2025 season here. See ages and stages below.
Flag Rugby: For Kids Ages 6-10
U6 Co-ed Flag
2025
For girls and boys born in 2019/2020/2021 . This program is all about fun (and if they learn a little rugby, that's great too!)
Practices are Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:00pm-7:00pm at Sunnybrook Park
U8 Co-ed Flag
2025
For girls and boys born in 2017/2018 .
In this program we start to introduce the basics of rugby: Running, Passing, and Catching the ball. Teamwork is important at this level as we start to enter tournaments and compete against other clubs in the province.
Practices are Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:00pm-7:00pm at Sunnybrook Park
U10 Co-ed Flag
2025
For girls and boys born in 2015/2016 .
In this program, we continue to work on Run, Pass, and Catch skills as well as team defense as play becomes more team-oriented. Players start to develop more positional and spatial awareness as their game progresses.
Practices are Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:00pm-7:00pm at Sunnybrook Park
Contact Rugby
For Youth Ages 11-18
Mondays only until the end of September
For girls and boys born in 2013/2014 who wish to learn and/or build on the skills previously learned we introduce "controlled contact." Players are thought by trained and certified coaches how to Safely make and take a tackle. Safety is the top priority and our coaches will ensure that no athlete is put in a position where they aren't safe.
Practices are Mondays and Wenesdays from 6:00pm-7:30pm at Sunnybrook Park
For girls born in 2011/2012
U14 Amazons is the point where our female athletes develop their own identity as Amazons. At this level, we introduce basic scrums and lineouts and while we only play 7's, 10's and 13's the games are very much "rugby!"
Practices are Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:00pm-8:30pm at Sunnybrook Park
For boys born in 2011/2012
At this level, we introduce basic scrums and lineouts and while we only play 7's and 10's the games are very much rugby!
Practices are Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:00pm-8:30pm at Sunnybrook Park
For girls born in 2009/2010
U16 brings the introduction of positional play in 7's and 15s as players start to specialize in their positions on the field. This program is a great addition to players who are playing high school rugby.
Practices are Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:00pm-8:30pm at Sunnybrook Park
For boys born in 2009/2010
U16 brings the introduction of positional play in 7's and 15's as players start to specialize in their roles on the field. This program is a great addition to players who are playing high school rugby.
Practices are Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:00pm-8:30pm at Sunnybrook Park
For girls born in 2007/2008
Advancing from U16 rugby players continue to build on their skills and techniques in both 7's and 15's variations of rugby. This program is a great addition for those who are playing Sr Rugby at high school as well as those preparing to play post-secondary, and/or at Sr Women's club levels.
Practices are Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:00pm-8:30pm at Sunnybrook Park
For boys born in 2007/2008
Advancing from the U16 program, players continue to build on their skills and techniques in both the 7's and 15's variations of rugby. This program is a great addition for those who are playing Sr Rugby at high school as well as those preparing to play post-secondary and or at Sr Men's club levels.
Practices are Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:00pm-8:30pm at Sunnybrook Park
About Us
Toronto City Rugby
We are an inclusive Rugby Club for Kids and Youth, ages 6-18, in Toronto.
Our mission is to create pathways and a level playing field so that ALL PLAYERS and teams can compete at the highest level.
We are a collaborative combination of city-based clubs focused on developing the fundamental skills required to play Rugby.
We exist because we believe that through development, our athletes will grow to love the game and continue to play through life. Toronto City players, alumni, coaching and executive are involved at every level of the rugby in Canada.
Where we play
Practice is Monday and Wednesday evenings at Sunnybrook Park Sports Fields
We start in April (actual date is weather-dependent) and we run through the summer. Tournaments are on weekends (actual days/times differ for age groups). There is flexibility for kids who go to camp or families who take summer vacation. Talk to your coach to work out a schedule that works for you and helps us build our teams.
See our FAQ's for more information
Why Play Rugby?
Fitness, mental toughness, and determination are developed at every age playing rugby. This provides young athletes with the critical life skills to succeed beyond sport, while allowing them to make new friends and build confidence.
We work hard to keep our Rugby fun, but competitive, to deliver amazing results in which players and parents and coaches can all take pride. Respect for teammates and opposition, along with athleticism and coordination, are core areas of coaching & training. We develop players to realize the benefits of their training quickly while shaping them into future leaders and mentors on and off the field.
Toronto City Rugby Club History
Toronto City Rugby Club traces its roots back to 2006, when the Di Nardo family began organizing U12 rugby in the 401/Yonge corridor. By 2007, the Saracens U10 and U12 teams had formed with the support of Chris Rideout, while Dave “Tiger” Williams established the Scottish U10s. At the time, neither club could consistently field a full U10 team, so Dave and Barb Di Nardo joined forces—combining players and competing together at local rugby festivals.
Over the next several years, player numbers steadily increased. U12s progressed to U14s, U10s moved into U12s, and a new U8 program was introduced. Growth came with challenges, and in a practical show of unity, Dave and Barb even ordered blue jerseys featuring both club names: “Saracens” and “Scottish.” They also took to local pubs, recruiting rugby-playing parents from other clubs and encouraging them to bring their children into the game.
This spirit of collaboration eventually led to the formation of a single junior club representing the entire City of Toronto—what would become Toronto City Rugby Club.
In 2016, Damien Benedict, Shannon Quesnelle, Lara Morgan, and Robbie Burns came together to launch the club’s girls’ program, the Toronto City Amazons, marking a major milestone in the club’s commitment to inclusivity and growth of the women’s game.
From its humble beginnings in 2006 with just 10 players, Toronto City Rugby Club has grown to more than 360 athletes today. The founding families of the club’s early years include the Di Nardos, Quesnelles, Shaws, Spargos, Webbs, Bryans, and Benedicts—families whose commitment and volunteerism helped shape the club’s culture and values.
Following COVID-19, Toronto City Rugby Club assumed responsibility for facilitating the junior programs of both the Saracens and the Scottish. Today, the club is focused on building strong, sustainable pathways for youth aged 6 to 18.
Toronto City Rugby has also played a pivotal role in developing high-performance athletes. Notable players who began their rugby journey with this group and went on to represent Canada at various levels include Riley and Morgan Di Nardo, Kiki Idowu, James and Stephen Webb, Jack Bryan, Reese Morgan, Victoria Stanley, and Adam Doane.
As the club continues to grow, athletes are encouraged to pursue senior club rugby as well as college and university opportunities. Together, Toronto City Rugby Club, the Saracens, and the Scottish continue to work collaboratively to ensure rugby in North Toronto not only endures, but thrives.
At its core, Toronto City Rugby Club is built on values of inclusivity, community, respect, and opportunity. The club’s legacy is rooted in families, volunteers, and coaches who believed in creating a safe, welcoming environment where young people could develop confidence, character, and lifelong friendships through sport. With clear development pathways from grassroots to junior, senior, collegiate, and national levels, Toronto City Rugby remains committed to growing the game while supporting each athlete’s individual journey—on and off the field. As the club looks to the future, it continues to honour its past by putting people first and ensuring rugby remains accessible, values-driven, and community-powered for generations to come.
Proud Partners of Toronto Inner-City Rugby Foundation
T.I.R.F. believes in eliminating barriers that prevent young people from reaching their full potential both on-and-off the pitch. Thanks to the generosity of the Doncaster Foundation, the Webb Family and Eventi Capital Partners, they offer scholarships and bursaries to eligible players.
Toronto City Rugby Club is a proud partner of the Toronto Inner-City Rugby Foundation because of a shared commitment to equity, access, and opportunity through sport. Together, we believe rugby should be available to every young person—regardless of background, circumstance, or financial means. Through this partnership, we work to remove barriers, invest in community-based programming, and create clear pathways that allow athletes to develop not only as players, but as confident, resilient leaders. By aligning our values and resources, we are strengthening the game and expanding its impact across the City of Toronto.