OUR HISTORY

Founding members Warren Thomas, Dr. Myles Dunstan-Adams (our first president), along with Bevan Eathorne, Al Forsey, Erland Hindson, Huia Martin, Ro Hindson, and Philip Motchman formed our first executive to manage a rugby men's team based on a then graduated Pen-High squad.

On October 19th, 1980, a day that will now last in infamy, the team travelled to Vernon to play at Kalamalka Junior High. Vernon trying to promote the sport in their area, arrange for Shaw cable to videotape the game, the team decides that this is the day we will gel together and win for the first time, beating Vernon 17-12, tries scored by Rob Brydon, Rick Morgan and Huia Martin.

Back in the day, the Quins played in a league known as the Okanagan Mainline Rugby Union, including teams from Merritt, Revelstoke, Trail, Vernon, Kamloops and Kelowna. The league formed a representative team which played a few exhibition games against lower mainland Rep teams and one game of notoriety against touring team Bath R.F.C. of England when they were fresh off winning the John Player Cup trophy. The game was played in Penticton, was fast paced, bloody, and one hell of a learning experience for all of our players. A lasting memory of facing one of the worlds top club sides. We did not manage to win.

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BECOMING THE 'QUINS

Whilst the team originally played simple as Penticton RFC, captain Jim Alway suggested our name should be ‘Harlequins’ after we had decided on the reverse quarters scheme on our new jerseys. The core of the team was enjoying some suds while opening mail and discovered several invitations to tournaments in the southern states, London and Hawaii all from other Harlequins clubs. Our captain of the day, Rob Brydon, noted “we’re World Famous”.

In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, some Kootenay boys came up with what seemed like a great idea whilst looking at a small map, the Inland International Rugby Union, teams included Penticton, Vernon, Trail, Cranbrook, Spokane (WA), University of Idaho, and Kalispell (MT). Can you guess road trip? As the league evolved we played most of our league games at each others' tournaments, as Vernon to Kalispell represents a 14 hour drive.

We made two trips to the BCRU finals, the first held at Velox in Victoria and the second with incredible hosts Campbell River. Whilst we faired much better in Victoria, both tournaments were a great exposure for the players that stepped onto the field. Annually we would also make a pilgrimage to the Abbotsford Gobbler Tournament, and have won this tourney once a long time ago, finishing second on several occasions.

In 1990, Ken Sommerfeldt, overhears a conversation about a piece of property at Wade and Rigsby streets in Penticton, this moment in time would land us our then club-house which was a cultural experience in itself, although slated for development in the future, making our home field of McNicoll Park our one and only field and club-house since then. 

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OUR "WORLD FAMOUS" RUGBY POSTS

In 1995, Penticton hosts the BC summer games, procuring some legacy funding and our members volunteer to remove old jumping pits and other hazards inside the running track. The legacy money is used to buy steel to construct Rugby posts, the welding was done by School district #67, City crews dug the holes and provided restraints, we acquired a crane, Steve Lloyd was the brains of the operation, the painting was done by club members, the only glitch was Marty Godsmark not understanding how steel pipe is measured. In the end we have possibly the thickest rugby posts in the world, they stand 35’ above the ground, extend 10’ into the ground and are encased in 6’ of concrete. Our seamstress Bob made custom pads for them.

In the fall of 2004 a contingent of 24 traveled to Waikiki, Hawaii to attend the Hawaii Harlequins 40th Anniversary tournament. We played Hawaii, Western Samoan Warriors, University of Hawaii, who hosted us with a feast in the park, and Port Alberni Black Sheep, Matthew and Jenn Evans tied the knot on the Rugby pitch at Kapiolani park. Tiki’s and Duke’s love us. We survived Sandy Beach, played rugby in the sand at Kailua.

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NOW

Our Junior program visited England and Wales with a contingent of 25, they are currently training and fund-raising for a trip to Newfoundland in the Spring. 

In June, we host the “SunFest” featuring mens, ladies and old boys divisions, dates for all of our events can be found on our website.

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Every year, Penticton takes part in the Okanagan League along with Salmon Arm and Vernon, competing to qualify for the annual Saratoga Cup. 

 

Our club now includes a full Men's XV, Women's and Junior XV programs, allowing us to organize days full of rugby 

Who we are is part of a constant evolution, what we are is a great bunch of team-mates and friends who get together, to play possibly the best sport in the world, and share a life-changing human experience, from travelling all over this great province and beyond, taking part in each other's individual journeys as part of a bigger team.

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Come join us, whether you never played rugby or scored the winning dropgoal during the 2003 Rugby World Cup final, the Quins will always have a place and a pint for you.

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1,2,3 QUINS !