Welcome to the 50th annual Can-Am Rugby tournament, hosted by the Mountaineers RFC. Over the years many faces have come and gone through the visiting clubs, The Mountaineers and the Can-Am tournament board. However, our love of rugby and dedication to host ruggers from all over the world each summer at the largest rugby tournament in North America has remained constant. A lot has changed over the last 50 years of Can-Am Rugby, our event has grown and became bigger than anyone ever thought it would, we have been able to not only host the greatest rugby tournament in the world, but we have been able to support our local communities, youth groups, businesses, organizations and so much more.

What a year it has been already, not only are we celebrating the 50th anniversary but we have been named the Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Business of the year and Can-Am Rugby and the Mountaineers Rugby Football Club are being honored with induction into the Saranac Lake Walk of Fame. Huge milestones, major accomplishments and a very bright future for Can-Am Rugby and the Mountaineers!

This year Rugby Weekend will be action packed, both on and off the pitches. You can expect more of the same fast and physical action on the pitches in both Saranac Lake and Lake Placid as well as exciting matches in the wheelchair rugby division hosted in the Tupper Lake Civic Center. Again this year we will be bringing you free entertainment all weekend long at the Can-Am Carnival in Riverside Park with food, drinks, bouncy houses, games and live entertainment in one of the most beautiful settings the area has to offer! Our event has expanded and grown into a Tri-Lakes, community event for anyone and everyone and we hope you all enjoy.

Without the tireless efforts of the Can-Am Rugby tournament board of directors, the Mountaineers RFC, and of course our long list of sponsors and supporters none of this would be possible, Thank you for all you do to make sure our event has continued success.

From players, alumni, rugby fans and families the Mountaineers have been blessed with unequaled dedication. The Mountaineers board spends many hours behind the scenes making sure our club thrives and the Can-Am board works year-round to make hosting thousands of rugby players, friends and families look effortless. I would like to take a second and express my admiration and deepest thanks to these extremely hardworking people who do all of this for their simple love of the game; they never ask for anything and don’t bat an eye at the many requests they receive. They just take pride in helping ruggers and our community.

As players and fans travel from all over to a little town in the heart of the Adirondacks for one action packed weekend, keep in mind the history of this tournament, the legacy we have built and the future we aspire towards. Enjoy your weekend with friends (new and old) and family. Work hard on the field and enjoy your time off it. Be safe and considerate of your teammates, opponents and surroundings and you can be a positive part of this year’s tournament, that will no doubt be remembered for years to come.

In closing, the Can-Am board members and Mountaineers will be out and about all weekend sporting Mountaineers apparel. As the hosts of this wonderful event, if we can be of any help feel free to approach us. We hope to make this weekend one you will cherish forever. Have a great weekend playing and watching the best game in the world. Also make sure to take a second and enjoy these great communities nestled in the Adirondacks. And when you get back to work on Monday or Tuesday, if that extra day of recovery is needed, try not to be frustrated when others just don’t get what you experienced and understand: your love of rugby; rough, tough, humbling RUGBY!

Slainte.

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Cameron Moody is the director of Can-Am Rugby.