evergreen rfc update september

Hello Evergreens,
The season has officially started with the Ice-Breaker Tournament recently having been hosted by the Priest Valley Vicars in Kelowna on September 7, 2024.

The Evergreens were well represented with a full team and spares making the trek to the sunny Okanagan. After a Friday afternoon of golfing and wine tasting to start things off, we played in three games (back-to-back in 30 degree weather) with the result being 3 draws. Admittedly, some of the draws were a little lopsided but that's Old Boys rugby for you!! Alumni Eric & Shane Cable were in attendance although both refused the offer to don green jerseys!

Our schedule has us playing the Ebbtide in Victoria on October 27th with a possibility of making it an overnight trip. So for those that missed out on Kelowna this is your chance to redeem yourselves!

Our Wednesday (5.00pm) and Sunday (1.00pm) runs continue to be well attended even with the addition of a team running session after touch. We have several new members on our squad this year. Welcome  - John R, Deano, Martin, Herb & Tony to the Evergreens (and anyone I might have missed) but please remember we are always looking for new recruits so please continue to spread the word. A reminder if you are a new member to the club and want to stay up to date with game times, practice information and questionable humour please let us know and we will add you to the Whatsapp group.

Our iconic clubhouse has been fortunate to recently host several prominent visitors:

• Prior to the Canada vs Japan match we were given the opportunity to educate the referee for the game, Eoghan Cross on the finer points of rugby laws, especially those concerning forward passes and deliberate knock-ons! Eoghan joined us for a game of touch and then supported the bar with some of that World Rugby money! 
  
• As part of their trip across Canada the current President and Manager of the Hartlepool Rugby Football Club, Andy Bell & his wife Judith stopped by to exchange rugby stories and a few bits of swag. We all thoroughly enjoyed their visit and the chance to start a relationship between our two clubs. We have been duly invited to visit Hartlepool for a game and we of course extended the invitation to host their veteran team. Thanks to everyone that made them feel so welcome during their visit.

Memberships
If you haven't already done so, Evergreen memberships are now online through Sportlomo. To register please proceed to their website https://www.sportlomo.com/login-new/and sign on to your account. We have several membership options:

• $400.00 Playing membership
• $385.00 Over 77 playing membership 
• $125.00 Social membership
• $ 60.00 Visitor Two weekend (8 days) membership
• $ 40.00 Visitor One weekend (72 hour) membership

Pioneer rates are still set at $75 and can be paid at the club in cash or check.

Schedule
The schedule has been revised with our first game vs the Twilighters on Sunday, Sept 29 kicking off at 11am. It's an earlier game due to the WXV games at BC Place that day.

Here are the games for the first half.
(Home games)
September 29 @ Twilighters (11am ko)
October 6 vs Originals (this game may change due to WXV games in Langley)
October 20 vs Priest Valley Vicars
October 27 @ Ebbtide
November 24 vs Snowcaps
December 8 - Christmas Fundraiser

Our Christmas Dinner is scheduled for Wednesday December 11th. More information will be provided in the next newsletter.

Before we end we were recently contacted by alumni Allan Cobbin who quite rightly declined paying Pioneer dues this year!
In the mists of time I remember receiving a Lifetime Membership from the Club. Vern Loffstrom and Murray Anderson also remember this. While I continue receiving  the regular notices about the Club I feel that  I need not send in any Annual dues. I recently celebrated my 95th Birthday and Am probably about the oldest remaining member. I joined the Evergreens in the Spring of 1973 and toured with the Club to Japan in 1974, and in 1978 and also in 1982. 

Thanks for reaching out! At 95 you are definitely the oldest Evergreen. 

To celebrate we invite you down to our next home game to don some purple shorts and have a run around...we will definitely waive your membership fees if you do!!

Any stories you would like to share?
I can note that Denny Veitch (many years ago on a trip to Victoria ) told Bill Buckingham (who had his arm in a sling ) just how he  could carve up a roast !!  I meet with Vern Loffstrom on a regular basis to play poker or cribbage and will pass along the good news about a free lifetime membership. Murray Anderson is at Evergreen House in North Van and isn't doing too well. I'll keep you posted on his status . I am not able to travel to Vancouver so unfortunately will miss being able to don some purple shorts !  Many thanks for your regular messages.. All my best  from the Sunshine Coast

So if you are under 95 and not a lifetime member we look forward to seeing you and your Pioneer dues at an upcoming home game or the Christmas dinner!

Cheers
Evergreen RFC