The Calgary Canadian Irish Athletic Club (CCIAC) is a sports club based in the northeast of

Calgary Calgary ( ) is the largest city in the western Canadian province of Alberta and the largest metro area of the three Prairie Provinces. As of 2021, the city proper had a population of 1,306,784 and a metropolitan population of 1,481,806, makin ...

Alberta Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...

. The club runs a number of

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

and

field hockey Field hockey is a team sport structured in standard hockey format, in which each team plays with ten outfield players and a goalkeeper. Teams must drive a round hockey ball by hitting it with a hockey stick towards the rival team's shooting ci ...

teams for both men and women as well as a number of junior programs.

History

The club was founded in 1971. The idea of forming a rugby football club based on the Irish community in Calgary was conceived by Derrick Wright and Jim Sullivan to name but two. It was decided not to confine the club's activities to rugby, but to promote other amateur sports, to improve and maintain the moral, intellectual, physical and social qualities of its members and to stimulate good citizenship and friendship. The club has been committed to being a premier outdoor athletic club in Calgary ever since 1971, and one of the most successful rugby programs in Western Canada.

CCIAC Senior Men Players who have represented Canada at the Rugby World Cup

Julian Loveday (1999)
Quinten Fyffe (2003)
Ryan Smith (2007, 2011)

Highlights

In 1973 a ladies field hockey section of the club was formed.
In 1993 the club was the first rugby club in Calgary to open its own clubhouse and playing fields, complete with 2 full size rugby pitches and 2 field hockey pitches.
In 1999 a Women's Rugby team joined the club to form one of the best women's rugby programs in Canada.
In 2003 the club became the first rugby club in Calgary to open an indoor gym.
In 2011 all three senior men's rugby teams qualified for playoffs.
In 2011 the 2nd division team won the provincial championship by beating the Norwesters 16-12.

Senior rugby

The club fields three senior men's teams (Alberta cup, Calgary 2nd & 3rd division).

Junior programs

The CCIAC runs a number of junior programs for all age groups. Mixed

mini rugby Mini rugby, also known as New Image Rugby, is a form of rugby union designed to introduce the sport to children. It uses a smaller ball and pitch than standard rugby, and has eight to ten players a side. Invented in England in 1970, mini rugby was ...

(U5, U7, U9, U11)
Boys junior rugby (U13, U15, U16, U18)
Girls junior rugby (U13, U15, U16, U18)

Clubhouse and grounds

The clubhouse and grounds are located in the northeast of Calgary. The club maintains two full rugby fields, a practice field and two field hockey pitches, as well as a fully licensed clubhouse, changing facilities, gym and athletic treatment room. Though stocking a proper bar and food service area. The Calgary Irish have been known for running out of beer. This is a reoccurring problem.

References

External links

Club websiteCalgary Ladies Field Hockey Association website
{{Rugby union in Alberta Rugby union teams in Alberta Field hockey clubs in Canada Sports clubs and teams established in 1971 1971 establishments in Alberta