Rugby football has a long history in Canada dating back to its initial appearance in the 1860’s. Introduction of the game and its early growth is generally credited to immigrants, members of the regimental armies, and to the Royal Navy in Halifax, NS and Esquimalt, BC.
Although rugby has flourished on both Canadian coasts, many of the games’ firsts have happened in Ontario and Quebec. In 1864, Trinity College in Toronto, published the first set of rules for the game of rugby in Canada. In 1868, the first club, the Montreal Football Club was formed.
The first game in British Columbia was played in 1876, between members of the Royal Navy and the land forces on Vancouver Island. It was another ten years before the game was played on the mainland and in 1889; the British Columbia Rugby Union was formed.