Photo by Colin Watson

“Rugby Rumble” Event a Knockout

Toronto Scottish RFC hosts boxing fundraiser

By Mark Ince (Toronto Scottish RFC) April 20, 2011

The Toronto Scottish RFC has always had a reputation for having a very active social calendar. The club recently celebrated its 18th annual Halloween Streetcar party, and their Robert Burns Supper is the largest outside Scotland. However, it was a conversation at last year’s annual general meeting that had a number of long-serving members motivated to come up with “Rugby Rumble.”

The club had become aware of two main issues. First of all, they realized they were going to struggle to meet some of the more stringent criteria in Rugby Ontario’s “Seal of Approval” program. Secondly, it had become evident that the club was heavily reliant upon membership dues and sponsorship funds in order to operate.

The Scottish needed a fundraiser that would the draw attention of the membership and stock the coffers to minimize some of the financial dependency on their corporate partners.

Club captain Dan Visentin formed an event committee and Rugby Rumble was born. The first event in 2010 featured eight Toronto Scottish players in four Boxing Ontario sanctioned bouts at the Amsterdam Brewery for a crowd of 250 people. The night was a tremendous success, raising nearly $7,000 and serving as a vigorous kick-off to the regular season.

However, the Scottish were convinced they could do better for their second year. For 12 weeks leading up to the event, the boxers trained with professional coaches and trainers at Grant Brothers Boxing and MMA Gym.

And on April 9, 2011 a crowd of 400 packed into the Amsterdam Brewery. The event offered an open bar ticket with regular admission and VIP options. An MC and DJ kept the crowd entertained between and after the fights were done.

With the addition of a new website (www.rugbyrumble.ca) and several major corporate sponsors — The Duke of Kent, Black and Decker, Fionn McCools and Amsterdam Brewery — the Scottish netted nearly $16,000 at Rugby Rumble II.

As was the case last year, in addition to being a financial success, the real value in the event was the amount of energy and excitement it created for the upcoming season.

Rugby Rumble II was a huge success, and those in attendance witnessed a great display of sheer determination and toughness by the fighters. The Toronto Scottish RFC was able to showcase their camaraderie and commitment to developing rugby to an audience unfamiliar with the sport.

All funds raised from the event will be used for club and junior development.

If you missed out on the event this year, look for Rugby Rumble III in April 2012. Please visit www.rugbyrumble.ca to view the fight results and to learn more about the Toronto Scottish RFC.