History of the ERU
Adapted from A History of Rugby Football in Edmonton
written and published by Paddy Lamb, City of Edmonton Historian.

The first record of an organized rugby club in Edmonton appeared in the Edmonton bulletin on September 19, 1891; an article announcing the appointments of the executive officers of the Edmonton Football club and calling for members. This meeting also led to the first official match between Calgary and Edmonton, thus sparking a healthy rivalry that has since permeated almost every sport in Alberta. However, the growth of rugby in Alberta for the next three decades was stunted by the popularity of Canadian football and the First World War.

Folllowing the war in 1920, the growth of rugby in Alberta increased dramatically. This revival (following a lag period due to the war) was perhaps sparked by the news that the New Zealand All Blacks would be visiting Canada in 1921 and finally allowed rugby to become firmly established in Edmonton. Between 1921 and 1930, at least three separate teams were active within the city. Unfortunately, the Depression and the onset of the Second World War caused another interruption in the development of rugby in Edmonton. This decline in rugby lasted almost 20 years.

The second or 'modern' revival of rugby in edmonton is due, at least in part, to the discovery of the vast oil reserves in Alberta. Leduc Oil Well No. 1, just outside Edmonton, and the subsequent oil boom produced a large influx of young people as well as an increase in immigration. By 1960, there were four rugby clubs in Edmonton. The increase in activity resulted in the formation of the Edmonton Rugby Union in 1960 and the Alberta Rugby Union in 1961. By 1970, the ERU was still expanding both the number of member clubs as well as the number of divisions of play. At this time, many of the clubs boasted teams in three divisions. This led to a major fund-raising effort and the subsequent purchase of 30 acres of land at Ellerslie in 1971 to serve as the permanent grounds of the ERU. Development of the land was somewhat slow but in 1975, Ellerslie Rugby Park had the first functional, regulation-sized fields in northern Alberta. The ERU continued to grow during the 1970's as communities outside Edmonton began to produce competitive sides and women began to play the sport. In 1980, there were 41 teams playing rugby in the ERU but as the recession approached, the 'modern revival' began to decline. Since that time, the number of rugby clubs in Edmonton has remained fairly constant. The 1999 season begins with 22 member clubs playing in 4 senior men's divisions, 2 senior women's divisions, and 2 junior divisions.