CANADIAN RUGBY UNION 1898-1906
In 1898 the Canadian Rugby Union adopted a Divisional format with a set game schedule and playoffs for the first time. Initially three divisions: Onatrio Rugby Football Union, Quebec Rugby Football Union and Canadian Intercollegiate Union, they were joined in 1902 by the Manitoba Rugby Football Union. In 1907 the Canadian Rugby Union introduced the Alberta Rugby Football Union and in 1909 the first Grey Cup, donated by Earl Grey was played. Irish involvement during this era included the Winnipeg Shamrocks in 1903 and 1905 and Ottawa St. Patrick College in 1906
1898 CANADIAN RUGBY UNION
| ONTARIO RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| Ottawa Rough Riders | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 210 | 20 | 12 |
| Hamilton Tigers | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 77 | 88 | 8 |
| Osgoode Hall | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 60 | 118 | 4 |
| Toronto Argonauts | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 19 | 140 | 0 |
| QUÉBEC RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| Ottawa College | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 23 | 66 | 4 |
| Kingston Granites | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 69 | 43 | 4 |
| Montréal Amateur Athletic Association | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 72 | 55 | 4 |
| CANADIAN INTERCOLLEGIATE UNION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| University of Toronto | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 20 | 6 |
| McGill University | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 29 | 4 |
| Queen’s University | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 28 | 2 |
PLAYOFFS
| Ottawa College | 23 | Montréal AAA | 1 |
| ROUND 2 | |||
| Ottawa College | defeated | Kingston Granites | by default |
CANADIAN RUGBY UNION SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
| Ottawa Rough Riders | 11 | Ottawa College | 1 |
1899 CANADIAN RUGBY UNION
| ONTARIO RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| Kingston Granites | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 81 | 38 | 10 |
| Ottawa Rough Riders | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 75 | 27 | 10 |
| Toronto Argonauts | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 46 | 91 | 4 |
| Hamilton Tigers | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 59 | 0 |
| QUÉBEC RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| Ottawa College | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 8 | ||
| Brockville | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 8 | ||
| Montréal Amateur Athletic Association | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 47 | 69 | 6 |
| Westmount Britannia Athletic Club | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | ||
| CANADIAN INTERCOLLEGIATE UNION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| University of Toronto | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 56 | 18 | 5 |
| Queen’s University | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 23 | 4 |
| McGill University | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 21 | 56 | 3 |
PLAYOFF
| Kingston Granites | 8 | Ottawa Rough Riders | 0 |
1900 CANADIAN RUGBY UNION
| ONTARIO RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| Ottawa Rough Riders | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 89 | 25 | 8 |
| Toronto Argonauts | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 102 | 42 | 8 |
| Kingston Granites | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 25 | 81 | 6 |
| Hamilton Tigers | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 32 | 100 | 2 |
| QUÉBEC RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| Brockville | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 12 | ||
| Montréal Amateur Athletic Association | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 73 | 87 | 8 |
| Westmount Britannia Athletic Club | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | ||
| Ottawa College | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | ||
| CANADIAN INTERCOLLEGIATE UNION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| Queen’s University | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 43 | 26 | 5 |
| McGill University | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | ||
| University of Toronto | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| PLAYOFF | |||
| Ottawa Rough Riders | 30 | Toronto Argonauts | 12 |
| CANADIAN RUGBY UNION | SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP | ||
| Ottawa Rough Riders | 17 | Brockville | 10 |
1901 CANADIAN RUGBY UNION
| ONTARIO RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| Toronto Argonauts | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 65 | 28 | 10 |
| Ottawa Rough Riders | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 111 | 34 | 8 |
| Hamilton Tigers | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 34 | 69 | 4 |
| Kingston Granites | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 84 | 2 |
| QUÉBEC RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| Ottawa College | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 145 | 32 | 8 |
| Westmount Britannia Athletic Club | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 53 | 78 | 8 |
| Brockville | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 53 | 72 | 6 |
| Montréal Amateur Athletic Association | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 20 | 89 | 2 |
| CANADIAN INTERCOLLEGIATE UNION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| University of Toronto | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||
| Queen’s University | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 30 | 43 | 2 |
| McGill University | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| PLAYOFF | |||
| Ottawa College | defeated | Westmount Britannia Athletic Club | |
| CANADIAN RUGBY UNION | SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP | ||
| Ottawa College | 18 | Toronto Argonauts | 3 * |
*(replay of 12-12 tie game)
1902 CANADIAN RUGBY UNION
| ONTARIO RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| Ottawa Rough Riders | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 4 | 8 |
| Toronto Argonauts | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 32 | 4 |
| Hamilton Tigers | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 0 |
| QUÉBEC RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| Ottawa College | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 115 | 20 | 12 |
| Westmount Britannia Athletic Club | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 21 | 106 | 4 |
| Brockville | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 75 | 47 | 4 |
| Montréal Amateur Athletic Association | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 34 | 72 | 4 |
| CANADIAN INTERCOLLEGIATE UNION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| McGill University | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 42 | 18 | 5 |
| University of Toronto | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 32 | 4 |
| Queen’s University | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 27 | 3 |
| MANITOBA RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| Winnipeg St. John’s College Rugby Club | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 11 | 4 |
| Winnipeg Rugby Football Club | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 29 | 2 |
| Winnipeg Rowing Club | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 34 | 0 |
Hamilton Tigers defaulted 3 games
CANADIAN RUGBY UNION SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
| Ottawa Rough Riders | 5 | Ottawa College | 0 |
1903 CANADIAN RUGBY UNION
| ONTARIO RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| Hamilton Tigers | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 129 | 48 | 8 |
| Toronto Argonauts | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 70 | 75 | 4 |
| Hamilton West End Pleasure Club | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 35 | 111 | 0 |
| QUÉBEC RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| Ottawa Rough Riders | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 65 | 28 | 10 |
| Montréal Amateur Athletic Association | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 76 | 43 | 8 |
| Ottawa College | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 47 | 43 | 6 |
| Westmount Britannia Athletic Club | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 23 | 97 | 0 |
| CANADIAN INTERCOLLEGIATE UNION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| University of Toronto | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 50 | 21 | 7 |
| McGill University | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 38 | 4 |
| Queen’s University | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 28 | 58 | 1 |
| MANITOBA RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| Winnipeg Shamrocks | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | ||
| Winnipeg Rowing Club | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | ||
| Winnipeg St. John’s College Rugby Club | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
1904 CANADIAN RUGBY UNION
| ONTARIO RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION | |||||||
| EAST DIVISION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| Peterborough | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 61 | 58 | 4 |
| Toronto Argonauts | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 64 | 4 |
| Torontos | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 82 | 60 | 4 |
| WEST DIVISION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| Hamilton Tigers | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 205 | 21 | 8 |
| London | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 41 | 110 | 4 |
| Toronto Victorias | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 26 | 141 | 0 |
| QUÉBEC RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| Ottawa College | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 10 | ||
| Montréal Amateur Athletic Association | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 59 | 54 | 8 |
| Ottawa Rough Riders | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | ||
| Westmount Britannia Athletic Club | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 35 | 105 | 0 |
| CANADIAN INTERCOLLEGIATE UNION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| Queen’s University | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 64 | 31 | 6 |
| McGill University | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 32 | 6 |
| University of Toronto | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | ||
| MANITOBA RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| Winnipeg Rowing Club | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 56 | 34 | 6 |
| Winnipeg St. John’s College Rugby Club | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 21 | 6 |
| Winnipeg Rugby Football Club | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 23 | 67 | 0 |
CITY FINALS
| Ottawa College | 21 | Ottawa Rough Riders | 5 |
| Montréal AAA | 30 | McGill University | 18 |
PLAYOFFS
| Torontos | 14 | Toronto Argonauts | 4 |
| ROUND 2 | |||
| Torontos | 21 | Peterborough | 7 |
| Queen’s University | 13 | McGill University | 0 |
| FINAL | |||
| Hamilton Tigers | 77 | the Torontos | 15 * |
* in two games, total points series
1905 CANADIAN RUGBY UNION
| ONTARIO RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| Hamilton Tigers | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 248 | 23 | 12 |
| Toronto Argonauts | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 57 | 90 | 8 |
| Toronto Victorias | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 22 | 112 | 4 |
| London | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 108 | 0 |
| QUÉBEC RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| Ottawa Rough Riders | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 126 | 36 | 12 |
| Montréal Amateur Athletic Association | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 87 | 66 | 8 |
| Ottawa St. Patrick College | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | ||
| Westmount Britannia Athletic Club | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | ||
| CANADIAN INTERCOLLEGIATE UNION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| University of Toronto | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 107 | 57 | 12 |
| Queen’s University | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 102 | 99 | 5 |
| McGill University | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 83 | 101 | 4 |
| Ottawa College | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 73 | 108 | 3 |
| MANITOBA RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| Winnipeg Rowing Club | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 72 | 7 | 6 |
| Winnipeg Rugby Football Club | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 23 | 4 |
| Winnipeg St. John’s College Rugby Club | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 46 | 0 |
| Winnipeg Shamrocks | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 41 | 0 |
London defaulted 4 games
CANADIAN RUGBY UNION SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
| University of Toronto | 11 | Ottawa Rough Riders | 9 |
1906 CANADIAN RUGBY UNION
| ONTARIO RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| Hamilton Tigers | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 205 | 22 | 12 |
| Toronto Argonauts | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 75 | 48 | 8 |
| Peterborough | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 43 | 128 | 2 |
| Toronto Victorias | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 45 | 170 | 2 |
| QUÉBEC RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| Montréal Amateur Athletic Association | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 169 | 34 | 10 |
| Ottawa Rough Riders | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 164 | 82 | 8 |
| Ottawa St. Patrick College | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 83 | 151 | 5 |
| Westmount Britannia Athletic Club | 6 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 44 | 193 | 1 |
| CANADIAN INTERCOLLEGIATE UNION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| McGill University | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 97 | 72 | 8 |
| University of Toronto | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 74 | 36 | 6 |
| Ottawa College | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | ||
| Queen’s University | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 | ||
| MANITOBA RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION | GP | W | L | T | PF | PA | PTS |
| Winnipeg Rowing Club | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 7 | 8 |
| Brandon | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 31 | 6 |
| Winnipeg St. John’s College Rugby Club | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 52 | 2 |
| Winnipeg Rugby Football Club | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 26 | 22 | 2 |
Winnipeg Rugby Football Club defeated 3 games
CANADIAN RUGBY UNION SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
| Hamilton Tigers | 29 | McGill University | 3 |
Report
Irish involvement in the Canadian Rugby Union between 1898 and 1906 included the Winnipeg Shamrocks in 1903 and 1905, who won the Manitoba Rugby Football Union Championship in 1903 with a 3-1 record, although only finished with a 0-2 record in 1905; and the Ottawa St. Patrick College playing the Canadian Intercollegiate Union, posting a 2-3-1 record in 1906.
References (Canadian Football Almanac 1875-2012 – David Stewart-Candy & Dave Clamen)
SOURCES
Ontario Rugby Football Union
Québec Rugby Football Union
Western Canada Rugby Football Union
Manitoba Rugby Football Union
Saskatchewan Rugby Football Union
Alberta Rugby Football Union
British Columbia Rugby Football Union
Canadian Intercollegiate Rugby Football Union
Kingston Rugby Football League
Winnipeg Rugby Football League
Intermediate Champions
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Calgary Stampeders Attendance Statistics 1979
Edmonton Eskimo Attendance Statistics 1966-1987
Montréal Alouettes Attendance Statistics 1977
CFL versus NFL Scores
kindly supplied by David Clamen
Thornhill, Ontario
Canada
Canadian Football League Facts Figures & Records 1986 Edition
Canadian Football League Facts Figures & Records 1994 Edition
Canadian Football League Facts Figures & Records 1995 Edition
Canadian Football League Facts Figures & Records 1996 Edition
Canadian Football League Facts Figures & Records 1997 Edition
published by Canadian Football League
Fifth Floor
110 Elginton Avenue West
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
M4R 1A3
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http://www.cfl.ca
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written by Frank Cosentino
published by Musson Book Company Limited
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written by Frank Cosentino
published by Bain & Cox
Winnipeg, Manitoba
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100 Years of Canadian Football
written by Gordon Currie
published by Pagurian Press Limited
Toronto, Ontario
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written by Bob Calder and Garry Andrews
published by Western Producer Prairie Books
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
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written by Merv Daub
published by McGill-Queen’s University Press
Montréal, Québec & Kingston, Ontario
1996
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published by Jim Dorash
1996 British Columbia Lions Football Club
Montréal Alouettes Guide Média / Media Guide ’86
published by Club de Football Les Alouettes de Montréal
1986
Ottawa Rough Riders ’87 Media Guide / Guide Média
published by the Ottawa Rough Riders Football Club
1987
Ottawa Rough Riders 1995 Fact Book
published by the Ottawa Rough Riders Football Club
1995 Ottawa Rough Riders
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published by the Toronto Argonauts Football Club
1989
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written by John M. Fulgano
published by The Sports Fanatic
San Ramon, California
1997 John M Fulgaro
The Vancouver Sun
October 24th 1998
published by Pacific Press
Vancouver, British Columbia
1997 & 1998 Attendance
kindly supplied courtesy of the Saskatchewan Roughriders Football Club
Canadian Junior Football League
http://www.cjfl.ca/
Ottawa Rough Riders Fan Page
http://roughriders.ottawa.com/history/coachrecord.html
Professional Football Researchers Association
http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Sideline/5960/contlg.htm
University of Western Ontario Mustangs
http://members.tripod.com/mustangfootball/overallrecord.htm
Many thanks to Jim Stevenson (Statistician – Ontario Football Conference) for kindly providing OFC material for 1984 to 2000
Many thanks to Mitch Soivenski of Hampton, New Hampshire for submitting errata corrections
Acknowledgements
Thanks to David Stewart-Candy
About this document
Data Compiled by Dave Stewart-Candy & Dave Clamen, (Canadian Football Almanac 1875-2012, unpublished, Vancouver 2012).
Text Written by Enda Mulcahy
Kindly given to and edited by Enda Mulcahy for the
Eirball | Irish North American & World Sports Archive
Last Updated: 27 March 2021
(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2021
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