‘Impressive history’: How the Wanderers Rugby Football Club has shaped sports in Winnipeg over 100 years

Current and former players of the Wanderers Rugby Football Club celebrate the team's 100th anniversary. Uploaded July 17, 2026. (Brad Hirst/Wanderers Rugby Football Club)

A local sports team that has helped shape the sporting landscape in Winnipeg is marking a major milestone.

When the calendar flipped to 2026, the Wanderers Rugby Football Club was able to say they have been in operation for 100 years.

Brad Hirst, president of the team, said their history goes back even further, but it was put on pause due to the First World War.

“According to some of our stories passed down and some of the history we found, we had to stop for (the First World War) because all of our team went out to battle there,” said Hirst.

“It was 1926 when we started up the Wanderers 2.0 again. So, we are over 100 years old, but we have been continuously in operation for 100 years this year.”

The Wanderers are based out of the Teddy Bass Athletic Field and play their games at Maple Grove Rugby Park.

It’s an organization that accepts everyone, no matter their athletic ability or skill level, Hirst said, adding joining the team 25 years ago helped him get into shape.

They have also previously had a women’s team.

Current players have helped coach high school rugby teams around the city, with many of those students joining the Wanderers after high school.

“We encourage everyone to come on out. With rugby, it’s a very different environment when it comes to teams because we have such a camaraderie.”

Impacts on Winnipeg sports

Over the team’s 100-year history, the Wanderers have helped shape the sports world of Winnipeg today.

It starts on the football field. Hirst said the Wanderers were responsible for founding what eventually became the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1930.

“The story goes that back in the day, when I think it was the (Western Canadian Rugby Football League) were trying to form a team here in Manitoba, they approached the Winnipeg Wanderers and asked if we had enough players that would be interested in forming a club.”

Just five years later, that team would go on to become the first western team to win the Grey Cup.

The Wanderers were also the first organization to field a women’s rugby team in the province back in 1979.

As well, they played a crucial role in funding and building the Maple Grove Rugby Park – an area that has become a centralized location for rugby games in the city.

“The Wanderers Rugby Football Club are really kind of the pioneers of rugby in the province or certainly had a significant hand in the beginnings of rugby in Manitoba,” said Christian Taylor, the president of Rugby Manitoba.

“They have an impressive history. There are no other clubs that have a 100-year existence in the province, and they have done an incredible job to just sustain themselves over the last 100 years and contribute to the growth of the sport in Manitoba.”

The Wanderers have been receiving plenty of recognition for reaching the milestone.

As part of celebratory activities last weekend, the team was honoured at the Winnipeg Blue Bombers game against the Toronto Argonauts.

Their anniversary is also coming at a time when the men’s national team returns for a game for the first time in 33 years.

Canada’s men’s national team is taking on Zimbabwe at Princess Auto Stadium, and the Wanderers are being celebrated before the game.

Leading up to the game, the men’s coach Stephen Meehan said the team has been learning about the significance of rugby in Winnipeg from fellow Winnipegger and national team player Kyle Steeves.

“He’s spent some time this week really giving everybody a more detailed understanding of rugby in Winnipeg. So, we’re all learning more and more about the local rugby, which has been terrific to get a better understanding of things,” said Meehan.

Meehan said he understands it has been a long time since the men’s national team has been here, and that is something the players are focused on ahead of the game.

“We need to have all that in mind and make sure that we perform well for the supporters and hopefully people want us as a result to come back.”

‘Adding more to our legend’

Looking to the future and what the next 100 years of Wanderers rugby could look like, Hirst said it needs to start at the grassroots level.

Focusing on promoting rugby to youth, from contact to flag rugby, Hirst said it’s key that Winnipeg and Manitoba’s youth are able to enjoy the game in all its forms.

“We’ve got a lot of young kids through our high school programs that are expressing interest to play,” said Hirst. “I’m very confident that the Wanderers are going to spend the next 100 years building, getting even better and hopefully adding more to our legend.”

Hirst notes he has an “immense amount of pride” being able to represent the Wanderers and is humbled to know he has played a small part in the organization’s legacy.

Taylor believes as long as the Wanderers continue to have such dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly to create a welcoming, family-like environment, the team will have no problem creating more success in the future.

“I think people are drawn to that and because of it, commit their time and energy to helping it grow and continuing to foster that environment and the success of the organization,” said Taylor.

If there is anyone who wants to join the Wanderers, from experienced rugby players to first-timers, Hirst said they practice every Monday at 6:30 p.m. at Kildonan Park at Teddy Bass Athletic Field.

“Look for a large group of men throwing around a rugby ball and just come introduce yourself,” said Hirst.