For the past five years, the Chestermere Vikings, Chestermere’s local rugby team, have been serving Chestermere as well as Langdon, Strathmore, and other surrounding areas. The Chestermere Vikings Athletic Association focuses on community engagement and youth development.
At the helm of this initiative stands Matt Rainey, a 62-year-old semi-retired school bus driver and the President of the Chestermere Vikings Athletic Association. The story of the Chestermere Vikings began in late 2017 when a group of eager young boys expressed their desire to play rugby. While the city offered opportunities, the distance made it impractical for the local children.
Matt Rainey, in collaboration with concerned parents, recognized the need for a local rugby club that would cater to the needs of the youth in their community. “We registered as a not-for-profit at the end of 2017 and started programs in 2018,” said Rainey.
“Rugby provides many opportunities. There are more scholarships available to rugby players in Canadian universities per capita than for football, basketball, and other sports,” said Rainey. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chestermere Vikings witnessed tremendous growth, with a staggering 130 players showing their interest. As the pandemic swept across the globe, it disrupted the club’s activities, leaving them with 80 dedicated players training indoors in the preseason.
“We’ve aligned with other clubs in regional areas, and that’s how we’re maintaining our program and trying to redevelop it through our involvement with these other areas that are struggling like we are to get numbers back involved,” said Rainey. Currently, the club boasts approximately 50 players across various age groups, ranging from under sevens to under teens.
Rainey’s journey with rugby began at the tender age of four in Australia, where he grew up. Being a level three coach with a postgraduate education in sports science, he has coached from grassroots to national. And in countries as diverse as Australia, Italy, France, and Canada.
The club aims to host rugby games in Chestermere in the near future. While the absence of an indoor training facility within Chestermere poses a challenge for the club during the winter months, the Vikings continue to explore options and are hopeful that future developments may bring a solution closer to home.
“It’s available to every body type. Because you need the big guys, you need the small guys who need to be fast,” said Rainey. The Chestermere Vikings Athletic Association is a place where everyone is welcome, and they strive to create a positive environment for their community by uniting individuals from all walks of life through the sport.
