A boisterous crowd enjoyed the game

Major sponsors made this game possible. Without the corporate support of TekSavvy, OLG, the Municipality of Chatham-Kent and club sponsor Boston Pizza, the Havoc could not have staged this game. Their active and visible support was evident during the game and throughout the weeks leading up to the big event.


 

The game did present a marketing challenge for local organizers. Due to constrained team schedules, the game had to be played on Wednesday, October 21st. And as field lights didn’t meet International Rugby Board standards, it meant the kick-off had to be scheduled for 4:30 pm so the game could be completed before sunset. Organizers quickly realized the handicap of a mid-week, afternoon kick-off would make the game a tough draw. The date also gave the club only two months to market the game – less than half the time available to promote the previous year’s game.

Following the template developed to market and organize their first international game, the club promoted the game on billboards, signs, radio ads, radio interviews, events and the through a special international section of the website developed for the game. The foundation of all this marketing activity was a major redesign of the club website, undertaken earlier in the year.

When the teams arrived in Chatham, they were engulfed in pre-game activities. Players and team officials were booked into a civic reception, meet and greet dinners, and numerous media interviews.


Much to the delight of the visiting team, Katy Uher, local CKSY radio host and event co-chair, shows their colours to the Jaguars at a Boston Pizza Meet & Greet.


But by far the biggest commitment was staging of one of the largest community outreach programs ever organized around any Rugby Canada game. The day before the game, 21 players from both international teams, visited 12 elementary schools in Chatham, Wallaceburg, Ridgetown and Tilbury, holding rugby clinics for kids in grades seven and eight. The kids laughed and giggled through the clinics, learning how to kick, pass and run with a ball. And what did the kids enjoy most? Without question it was when the visiting players lifted the kids high overhead in mock line-outs to catch a throw-in pass. At one school, almost one hundred kids lined up and the players took turns dutifully lifting everyone. They kids simply couldn’t get enough of the players and the drills.


Two Canadian players lift one of the kids at a rugby clinic held at Gregory Drive Elementary School, to the delight of his classmates.

Organizers left a package of 20 free tickets at each of the schools. At one of the schools, the Head of the Phys. Ed. Department told his kids that they could get a free ticket the next day if one of their parents would agree to take them to the game. When the teacher arrived the next morning, there was a line-up of kids at his classroom door – all looking to get a ticket. All tickets were gone within minutes. And when the crowd assembled for the game, families and kids were much in evidence throughout the stands.

Kent Havoc RFC operates out of Chatham-Kent, Ontario, the largest community in Kent County. Located about halfway between the cities of London and Windsor in southwestern Ontario, the club was founded in 2001.

Southwest Rugby has member clubs in London, Sarnia, Stratford, Walkerton, Kincardine, Walkerton and Wingham. Along with these other clubs, Kent Havoc is working hard to promote and develop rugby in southwestern Ontario.

The Ontario Rugby Union (ORU) is the governing provincial body and Rugby Canada is the national governing body that oversees the activities of all provincial rugby unions. All of these unions abide by the laws of the game established by the International Rugby Board (IRB)

The club holds regular social events for club members and the general public. Click here for an up-to-date schedule of events.

For newcomers, the best way to get a feel for rugby is to come and watch a game or practice in person. Check the schedules for Kent Havoc games and practices. Attendance is free and coaches and club members are always on hand to explain activities, rulings and strategies as they unfold.

If you're looking for help in starting or developing your high school rugby team, please contact Mike Lindsay. We'll do what we can to help you with your high school team.

New players and guests are always welcome at all club games and social events. If you'd like to become part of Kent Havoc rugby, please email kenthavocrfc@hotmail.com and let us know how you'd like to participate. Know someone else who might be interested in joining the club? Send us their name and contact information - we'd be happy to send them a personal invite.