Following the Nomads

Mudmen aiming for Maritime rugby championship versus Loyalists in Fredericton, N.B.

The Charlottetown Nomads won the Caledonia Cup in 1955, now the Hunter’s Ale House P.E.I. Mudmen are gunning for the same feat 62 years later.

Kickoff between the Nova Scotia champ Mudmen and the New Brunswick champ Fredericton Loyalists for the 95th version of the Maritime senior men’s ruby championship is 1 p.m. in Fredericton, N.B.

It’s the Mudmen’s first appearance in the Caledonia Cup. Fredericton has won it 15 times so Phil Gallant, long-time Mudmen player and organizer, knows it won’t be an easy game.

“It’s been a special year for P.E.I. rugby and the Caledonia is one more goal we have our sights on. On Saturday the game is expected to be a tight one. P.E.I. is up against a lot as Fredericton is a tough place to play. They will have a lot of fans there and it will be loud. We hope to silence them early and take control of the game,” said Gallant.

The Mudmen lost to the Loyalists 31-27 in early July in P.E.I., then went on a 10-0 run over the next two months culminating in its first N.S. title.

Gallant said the Mudmen played a sloppy game and the Loyalists capitalized on those mistakes.

Coming with the Mudmen is a fan bus and several ex-Mudmen and Abbies players and Gallant thinks that’s an edge for P.E.I.

“It is a great feeling having a lot of the former Mudmen and Abbies along for the ride. It makes you play harder knowing those guys who paved the way are there watching. One of the special thing about winning the N.S. championship last week was having so many veteran guys there to be a part of it,” said Gallant. “That championship was everyone’s for the work put in over the years. We want this Caledonia Cup to be able to share that with those guys and solidify ourselves in rugby history.”