FAQ

Practices

When and where do you practice?

During our regular season from spring through summer, we practice outside at Riverdale Park East on Tuesday (Mixed Abilities non-contact and Contact) and Thursday (Contact, Mixed Abilities optional) evenings.

During the fall and winter, we offer a mix of indoor and outdoor sessions at locations like Ballsports Polson Pier and other gymnasiums in downtown Toronto.

Can anyone attend practice?

Yes! In fact, we recommend trying out a practice before committing to registering. Before coming out, we ask that you contact us via our Join Us page below so that we will be able to have a member of our team welcome you to the practice, or to contact you if there are any modifications to our regularly scheduled practice (e.g. if there is a change to a practice due to adverse weather conditions).

What equipment do I need?

To join in with our outdoor, non-contact practices, you will need:

• Soccer or rugby cleats (American football, baseball, or other cleats with studs at the front toe area are not permitted.)
• Comfortable gym clothes that allow you to move freely.
• Water bottle.

If you plan to join our contact program, a mouthguard is required for all contact during both practices and games.

I’ve signed up for non-contact. Can I join Thursday practices?

Yes! Our non-contact team members are welcome to join our Thursday contact practices. While you won’t be allowed to participate in contact itself, drills will be modified for non-contact players to participate in their own way. You’ll also have the opportunity to support contact drills in various low or no-contact ways while learning more about the sport.

Membership

Do I need to have played rugby before?

No. Our club is open to players of any ability and includes people of all skill levels from complete beginners to highly experienced players.

Do I have to be gay to join?

No. As an inclusive club, we are open to everyone regardless of sexual orientation.

Is the club open to women?

Yes! People of all genders are welcome to join our club. Note that Rugby Ontario and the Toronto Rugby Union do not currently allow mixed-gender teams to play in league games, but Muddy York has players of various genders and will always find a way for all players to be included via their Co-Ed Mix Abilities and Women’s Contact programs.

I am transgender, can I play on a side that aligns with my gender identity?

Yes! Whether you play on a men’s team or a women’s team depends only on how you self-identify. All of the games we play are sanctioned by organizations that have clear non-discrimination policies. Rugby Ontario ­— which sanctions all our league games — states this in their operations manual as follows:

[…] the principle and practice of fair and equitable allocation of resources and opportunities and to encourage participation by all Ontarians regardless of race, and ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex (gender), sexual orientation, sexual identification, disability, age, marital status or family status.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss your specific situation, please contact us.

How much does it cost to join?

Your first practice is on the house. When you’re ready to join, dues will be explained in detail by our recruitment team and are broken down as follows:

• Rugby Canada dues (including insurance)
• Rugby Ontario dues
• Club dues

If you are unable to pay the full dues, financial assistance options are available.