Cameron Moody poses with his wife and children on deployment day. (Provided photo)

Welcome to the 51st annual Can-Am Rugby tournament, hosted by the Mountaineers RFC. For over 50 years, the Mountaineers and the Can-Am Board of Directors have been bringing an action-packed weekend of rugby to the Adirondack Mountains. I have had the pleasure of being involved in many roles for the last 17 years and am excited to welcome you all back yet again. Unfortunately, this year I will be following the action from afar. For the first time in my rugby career, I will not be preparing the fields, welcoming the referees at breakfast, meeting with teams, cleaning the fields, bound in a scrum, raising a glass and sharing stories off the pitch. My duty to country has called me away. I have already missed so much this year, and I will miss more, but Rugby Christmas has become a major holiday for my family and I and I will miss all that comes with it, especially visiting and playing with and against all our rugby family. However, our love of rugby and dedication to hosting ruggers from all over the world each summer at the largest rugby tournament in North America has not changed and the 51st annual Can-Am Rugby Tournament will be one to remember!

This year, Rugby Weekend will be action-packed, both on and off the pitches. With 11 divisions, and the inaugural Women’s Premier and O35 divisions, 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 at the Saranac Lake Civic Center. The Can-Am Carnival at Riverside Park in Saranac Lake will be offering you free entertainment all weekend long with food, drinks, bouncy houses, games and live entertainment in one of the most beautiful settings the area has to offer! We have poured our hearts into offering family-friendly entertainment for all in our beloved host village of Saranac Lake and we hope you all attend and 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, which will no doubt be remembered for years to come. Do not take a second for granted, make every moment count, on and off the pitch, there is nowhere I would rather be during rugby weekend than on those beautiful Adirondack pitches!

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,

Cameron Moody

Director Can-Am Rugby