The Oakville-Trafalgar High School (OTHS) Red Devils’ Rugby team has been a long-standing success, consistently dominating its league for the last 50-plus years. With 40 senior titles in the last 40 years, high levels of student participation, and high-achieving alumni, this group has established itself as an athletic superpower.
Since its 1971 season, this team has crushed its competition. This year marked the beginning of a 29-season winning streak at the Halton Championships, securing the Red Devils’ status as a force to be reckoned with. Today, the tradition continues, with the mens’ and womens’ teams bringing back titles from the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) championships. have gone on to play rugby internationally, and have been celebrated for their excellence in the sport.
Tony Godzeik became the first OHS player to move onto the international level, while Randy McKellar and Dave Speirs have competed on the global stage against some of the world’s top teams. Mike Scholz, a 2006 graduate of the program, has played 6 matches for Canada, was a member of the National 7’s team, and the winner of a 2011 Pan Am gold medal. Sean- Michael Stephen, a 2001 graduate, has also played 22 matches for the Canadian team, captained the Pacific Pride (a national high-performance men’s team), and captained Plymouth-Albion, an English club.
Phil Murphy, a 1996 graduate, played 19 matches for Canada, and has been a member of professional rugby clubs in France, England, and Italy. An additional 100-plus players have played for the Ontario Rugby Team and the Oakville Crusaders Rugby Club, while an even greater amount has found success on university teams across the world.
With such a fantastic legacy behind them, the teams of today continue to strive for success. Although the expectation of excellence does not rest lightly on the shoulders of its players and coaches, their immense love for the game and unbreakable sense of camaraderie continue to guide them to victory. The Red Devils’ are committed to encouraging young men and women to achieve greatness, hone their athleticism, and celebrate teamwork—values which have followed (and will follow) its players both on and off the pitch.
