Top training centre named after Ottawa’s Al Charron
Ottawa’s Al Charron is already a legend in Canadian rugby.
Now, his name will be associated with the top rugby training centre in the country.
Rugby Canada announced Monday that the training facility being built at the Centre of Excellence in Langford, B.C., will be named the Al Charron Rugby Canada National Training Centre.
Rugby Canada CEO Allen Vansen called the training centre a “critical resource for the development of Rugby Canada’s national teams.”
Charron was born and raised in Ottawa, developing his rugby chops at Hillcrest High School and the Ottawa Irish RFC. Having his name on a training centre in the rugby hotbed of British Columbia is an astounding feat.
Charron, 50, earned it by winning a record 76 test caps for Canada, including participation in four rugby World Cups, scoring a try against New Zealand while playing with a broken rib. Usually a flanker or second row, Charron was captain of the Canadian side 25 times and beyond argument the finest forward in Canadian rugby history.
Charron, who had a professional career overseas, played five times for the famed Barbarians squad and was a member of the World 15s side that faced Argentina to celebrate its centenary anniversary in 1999.
In 1993, Charron scored a famous try to lead Canada past Wales in a rare upset at Cardiff Arms Park, affirming his legend.
Charron, who remains active in the Ottawa sports scene, said he was “deeply moved” at having his name linked to a facility that would train and mould Canadian rugby players for years to come.
“This is big for my family,” Charron said. “I know my late mother (Madonna) and father (Rene) would be immensely proud of this honour being bestowed on me and to see the name they gave me attached to a facility like this.”
Charron thanked his wife, Annette, and son Rylan for their unwavering support. He and his family were in Langford to put a ceremonial shovel in the ground.
Year-round rugby weather has always helped the West Coast produce many of Canada’s top players. The new facilities will kick things up a notch.
A 1,765-square-metre, twostorey training centre will support all of Canada’s rugby teams at one location. It includes a 650-square-metre gymnasium, recovery and stretching rooms plus dining, office and lounge space among other amenities.
The new training centre is the largest investment ever made by Rugby Canada and levels of government to develop rugby talent. Last summer, the federal government committed up to $3 million for the centre, while the City of Langford contributed $2.5 million and Rugby Canada close to $1 million, with a pledge to raise about $1.5 million in total.
The entire project is expected to cost nearly $8 million and is scheduled to open in September, 2017. Ultimately, it should help close the gap between Canada and the world rugby powers, most of which don’t face the hurdles of geography and climate that have challenged national Canadian squads for years.
My late mother and father would be immensely proud of this honour ... and to see the name they gave me attached to a facility like this.