Truro Saints RFC

TRURO RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB

In 1975 the game of Rugby Union Football was firmly established in Central Nova Scotia with the founding of The Truro Rugby Club by Derek Kersley and Jim MacAfee.

Derek was born in London, England in 1928. Before immigrating to Canada, he was a member of the Ilford Wanderers Rugby Football Club and in 1972 was honored by that club when he visited as the President of the Nova Scotia Rugby Football Union. His knowledge of rugby etiquette and his insistence that it be respected were legendary in the early years of the Truro Rugby Club. Derek was a Professor at the Nova Scotia Teachers College and well respected as an artist and art educator.

Jim MacAfee was born in Fredericton, New Brunswick in 1946. In grade IX he was introduced to rugby and by at least five years, he was the youngest player on the Fredericton Loyalist senior rugby team. He enrolled at the NSAC in 1966 and played basketball, soccer, and anchored great woodsmen teams. For two years running he was chosen NSAC Athlete of the Year. He played rugby for the New Brunswick Senior All Stars from 1969 - 1971 and played for the Hall of Fame Pictou County squad from 1972 - 1975.

Farnham Mill Rugby Park is a living tribute to Derek and Jim and the seed they sowed so many years ago.

FARNHAM MILL RUGBY PARK

Driving through rural North River just outside of Truro, there seems to be a new complex growing that may puzzle many of the local residents that either live or travel through the area. Growing out of the ground on the outskirts of Truro is a rugby park that has been 20 years in the making. While the Farnham Mill Rugby Park has been used for a couple of years now; it has definitely started to take on a more defined shape over the last season or so. 

The Truro Saints rugby home is now the host to 2 full size pitches as well as a smaller field that is used as a practice pitch and a home to the fledgling Mini Rugby program. The facility is also doted with a small shed that does double duty as the interim "Clubhouse" and another smaller storage structure. The parking lot is now plenty large enough to accommodate plenty of parking and in a first for Nova Scotia Rugby; the team has even managed to acquire a washroom facility for the users of the park, in matching Saints colors no less. Plans to construct the second match field's goal posts are slated for this summer and from the looks of a recent visit to the park the ground may have already been turned on the future home of the Saints permanent club house.

What does it take to make this dream facility a reality for the Truro Saints? It takes a lot of blood, sweat and beers. In creation of the Truro Saints annual Indoor 7's tournament over 30 years ago the Saints began down the road to creating a future home for the club and being the envy of most other clubs in the province. While I would imagine that even the founding members of the tournament never saw the tournament that started out as being played in one afternoon by a group of friends turning into the 3 day rugby festival that it is today. As the tournament grew the club wisely invested the money and let it grow as they had already had the luxury of having a club house and adjoining field to use at the TAAC Grounds. While the previous clubhouse was full of history and this Truro native's first beers, the writing was on the walls as the 100 year old historic building was demolished for safety reasons several years ago. While many clubs with that level of financial security would likely have reacted with a knee jerk reaction instead the club waited patiently for the right opportunity to present itself. Located on essentially farmland just outside metropolitan Bible Hill, the Saints found themselves with enough space for all their future needs and a location that was just far enough out of the public eye. 

The Saints have also taken a very positive step of making the park inclusive rather than exclusive. By opening it up to other user groups including cross country skiing, walking groups, dog enthusiasts and many other community groups they are looking to pull in a wider demographic that will be able to help grow the park and make it a focal part of the community. The park has already paid immediate dividends with the creation of a women's side for the club last year and an improved atmosphere around the team as they rally around this common goal. 

As with most clubs there is always a select few that go the extra mile to make these things a reality for their teams and the Saints are no different. The club would like to thank Dick Cotterill, Mark MacLellan, Mike Muggeridge, Mike MacLeod, Rob Kinley, Sam Dickie, Andrew Russell, Rae MacInnis, Macleod's Farm Machinery, McGinley's, Stella Jones, Casey Concrete, Molson's, and the countless others that have in the past and will again in the future continue to help grow the park and the club. While most of these members have moved past their playing days it will be comforting for them to know that in near future they will finally have a deck to sit out on and a facility to look out over, as the next generation of "Saints" have the opportunity to learn the game at the park that they all built. 

PRESIDENTS

Club Alumni