Sponsored by Peel Pub, Westmount Rugby Club (a.k.a. The Ravens) will start the 2009 season away to Brome Lake on May 30. And sporting their traditional maroon shirts, the home opener will be against Barbarians in Westmount Park, one week later.

But the games that take place throughout the summer are only part of what the team is all about. It's a club that continues to be a genuine part of the local community, fostering old traditions and making sure the sport survives in the city, for generations to come.

Tom Spencer and Josh Rosenstein now play for Westmount, but were first coached by “Old Boys” when they attended Selwyn House School. “I had a volunteer coach, who coached me at Selwyn and Dawson College,” said Spencer, 23. “He was a very influential in me continuing to play rugby. He taught me a lot, and I want to do the same.”

Tom is proud of the rugby reputation of Selwyn, a school of some 200 students, that can compete with public schools of over 1,000 students. “The coaching staff at Selwyn is honestly world class, so it is a pleasure to work with these guys.”

Ten Selwyn alumni have played for Westmount in the past two seasons and Tom and Josh aim to keep those links alive. They will be helping out with the training of the Selwyn rugby team over the coming months, using McGill facilities until Westmount Park becomes available in May.

However, getting youngsters involved in rugby starts long before high school. Westmount winger, Jay Lister, 30, is a high school teacher who has run the club's “Mini Rugby” program for the past five years. With the assistance of all team members, he organizes a non-contact, non-competitive, co-ed, introduction to rugby for local kids aged eight to 12.

“We do this through a combination of drills and games designed to promote the ideals of team-play, sportsmanship, fitness, and fun,” says Lister. "What we hope to accomplish is that and the end of the day, the kids go home feeling more like they've been to camp instead of to a sports practice."

The program begins on Sunday, May 3, at 12 p.m. in King George Park and runs through June 21, with the exception of Victoria Day weekend. It costs just $35 to register a child and the session runs for 90 minutes each Sunday. More information can be obtained from Andrew Maislin at amaislin@westmount.org.

With the future in safe hands, Westmount Rugby will also be celebrating the old times this Thursday, when players from the 1950s to the present day will be meeting up for the annual “Old Boys Drinks” event. All former players, especially those who may have lost touch with the club, are welcome to join the fun, this Thursday, April 30, from 6 p.m. at McKibbin's Pub on Bishop Street.

Experienced and rookie players are always welcome. For details on training, games and more Old Boys events, please visit www.westmountrugby.com