Manitoba Rugby Hall of Fame to induct class of 2025

Winnipeg

The Manitoba Rugby Hall of Fame will hold its annual induction dinner on Oct. 18 at The Gates on Roblin in Headingly. The 2025 induction class is small with just three builders, Christopher Chapman, Larry Cherrett and Sonja Hill MacAulay.

In the majority of sports, individuals inducted into a hall of fame as builders usually got their start as players. Their love of their sport often saw them move into coaching or administrative roles. That’s certainly the case for the three rugby inductees, whose resumes are lengthy.

Chapman first played rugby at Churchill High School. He then played for the Winnipeg Assassins Rugby Football Club for nearly two decades as well as for the Wimbledon Old Boys. He was member of the provincial U19 team in 1987 and for the Manitoba Buffalo in 1998. He became involved with the administrative side in 1988 with the Assassins where he served in several positions including president. He also started coaching at Churchill High in 1988. At present he coaches at Dakota Collegiate and the Rugby Manitoba Men’s Sevens. He also has worked in administration with Rugby Manitoba, Manitoba Schools Rugby, Unified Ultimate Rugby and Maple Grove Rugby Park.

Cherrett first played for the Winnipeg Wanderers RFC in 1970. In 1973, he along with Tom Millar and Desmond Walton founded the University of Manitoba Rugby Football Club, now known as the Manitoba Wombats. He played for the team until 1984 and then ended his playing career with the Assassins the next season. Over the years, he worked as a volunteer for many organizations and served as president of the U of M RFC, Rugby Manitoba and the Maple Grove Rugby Park where he was a member of the founders committee. In 1999, he helped coach a combined Vincent Massey/Kelvin side, which won the high school championship. For more than a decade, he co-chaired the HOF selection committee.

MacAulay got her start in rugby at Kelvin High School where she played from 1988 to 1990. She then played for the Sturgeon Creek Rowdies RFC for many seasons and her playing resume is highlighted by several years as captain of the Manitoba senior women’s provincial team. She moved to Australia, where she won a championship with University of Queensland RFC and earned a spot on the Queensland Regional Team in 2003 and 2004. Off the pitch, she coached at Kelvin, Silver Heights, Golden Gate Middle School and Vincent Massey and spent five years as president of the Winnipeg High School Rugby Committee. She also launched a U!5 boys program in Winkler and assisted with a girls team at Selkirk Collegiate.

The Rugby HOF was established in 2010 to celebrate the history of the sport that can be traced back to 1879 in our province and to recognize those who have significantly contributed to the game. Ray Hoemsen, the past chair and present communications coordinator, reports that to date 75 honoured members have been inducted in the player, official, builder, pioneer and team categories. Glenys Mackenzie is the current chair of the HOF and Jim Russell is vice-chair.