Niagara Lightning

Last updated
Niagara Lightning
Niagarathunder.gif
Full nameNiagara Lightning Rugby Football Club
Union Rugby Canada
Niagara Rugby Union
Nickname(s)Lightning
Founded2004
Location Burlington, Ontario
Ground(s)Mohawk Sports Park
Chairman Flag of Canada.svg David Burnett
Coach(es) Flag of Canada.svg
Kit left arm thun1.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body thun1.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm thun1.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks thun1.png
Kit socks long.svg
1st kit
Kit left arm thun2.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body thun2.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm thun2.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks thun1.png
Kit socks long.svg
2nd kit
Official website
niagarathunderrugby.org

The Niagara Lightning (formerly Niagara Thunder) are Canadian rugby union team based in southern Ontario. The team played in the Rugby Canada National Junior Championship and draws most of its players from the Niagara Rugby Union.

Contents

The Lightning play their "home" games in Hamilton (Mohawk Sports Park) and nearby Burlington, Oakville (Crusader Park), and Brantford.

History

In 1998, Rugby Canada and the provincial unions agreed to form the Rugby Canada Super League. Fourteen unions and sub-unions were invited to compete in the new semi-professional league. However, the Niagara Rugby Union (along with the Toronto Rugby Union and the Eastern Ontario Rugby Union) decided not to participate. Both Toronto and Eastern Ontario joined the league the following year, leaving Niagara as the only invited union not to join.

The Niagara Rugby Union finally decided to field a team in time for the 2004 RCSL season. The new club was named the Niagara Thunder.

In 2012 the Niagara Rugby Union put together two Under 17, 7 aside teams in both the boys and girls divisions of the Ontario Summer Games held at York University. All 7 aside U-17 squads have since 2012 have played under the name Niagara Thunder, including the 2014 Ontario Summer Games held in Windsor.

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