For many such as Don Innes, rugby was to become a way of life. While he made many friends over the years throughout his rugby experiences, fate would have Don meet his wife and best friend Jan, at of all places, a Wasps’ “Ides of March” party.
Don along with his good friend Bob Constable joined the Wasps Rugby Football Club in 1967, two years after the club’s founding. Encouraged to play by Bob’s mother at the urgings of her employer, both were among the first Canadians (i.e. those without a foreign accent) to join and play for club. Their first game was against the Wanderers Rugby Football Club, the only other rugby club to exist in Winnipeg at the time, at the old Weston Field located on Logan Avenue. Don was to continue playing for another 25 plus years, initially starting out on the Wing and moving to the Stand Off position in his later years. As a player Don was instrumental in many of the Wasps’ 1st, 2nd and 3rd Division Provincial Championship teams over the years, was an avid participant in the Legends Rugby Team, and participated in a number of the club’s noted overseas tours as well, including the tour to Ireland in 2015. Not yet finished, Don is planning to participate in the upcoming Golden Oldies tour to New Zealand in 2018.
In addition to his many playing experiences, Don undertook to coach various high school teams throughout the years coaching at Vincent Massey, J. H. Bruns and Springfield Collegiate to aide in the club’s recruitment efforts and to inspire new generations of athletes to play the game of rugby.
Don also served many terms as President and Vice President of the Wasps RFC. As a member of the Board of Directors who took control of the club during some difficult times in 2006 and the years following, Don was appointed President again and undertook to guide the club back to a solid foundation upon which to build for future success. If ever one wanted to know how a president should run a rugby club they needed to look no further than Don.
As a member of the club executive Don was also involved in the early days in what was to eventually transpire as the formation and development of Maple Grove Rugby Park (MGRP). Along with Bart Evans of the Assassins RFC, Don worked on the proposal that was to see both rugby clubs agree to contribute the substantial monies they earned through Bingo fundraising endeavours in an effort to help finance the creation of a rugby facility in Winnipeg.
Don’s rugby endeavours would eventually migrate to the upkeep and maintenance of MGRP where he served as Groundskeeper and General Manager of the park for seven years. Although a paid position, Don donated many hours of his time and other resources of his own volition in efforts to maintain the quality of the fields and general condition of the facility during trying economic times. Don took pride in this work, motivated by his experiences, like many players prior to 1985, of playing on trodden down cow pastures and asphalt parking lots passing as rugby pitches.
In 1983, in recognition of his hard work and dedication to the Wasps RFC and the development of rugby, the club struck the “Don Innes Award”, the club’s highest honour presented annually at seasons’ end to a club member who has demonstrated exemplary service to both the club and the sport of rugby in general. Player, administrator, volunteer, employee, Don’s contributions to the sport are truly deserving of induction as an Honoured Member to the Manitoba Rugby Hall of Fame.
Don along with his good friend Bob Constable joined the Wasps Rugby Football Club in 1967, two years after the club’s founding. Encouraged to play by Bob’s mother at the urgings of her employer, both were among the first Canadians (i.e. those without a foreign accent) to join and play for club. Their first game was against the Wanderers Rugby Football Club, the only other rugby club to exist in Winnipeg at the time, at the old Weston Field located on Logan Avenue. Don was to continue playing for another 25 plus years, initially starting out on the Wing and moving to the Stand Off position in his later years. As a player Don was instrumental in many of the Wasps’ 1st, 2nd and 3rd Division Provincial Championship teams over the years, was an avid participant in the Legends Rugby Team, and participated in a number of the club’s noted overseas tours as well, including the tour to Ireland in 2015. Not yet finished, Don is planning to participate in the upcoming Golden Oldies tour to New Zealand in 2018.
In addition to his many playing experiences, Don undertook to coach various high school teams throughout the years coaching at Vincent Massey, J. H. Bruns and Springfield Collegiate to aide in the club’s recruitment efforts and to inspire new generations of athletes to play the game of rugby.
Don also served many terms as President and Vice President of the Wasps RFC. As a member of the Board of Directors who took control of the club during some difficult times in 2006 and the years following, Don was appointed President again and undertook to guide the club back to a solid foundation upon which to build for future success. If ever one wanted to know how a president should run a rugby club they needed to look no further than Don.
As a member of the club executive Don was also involved in the early days in what was to eventually transpire as the formation and development of Maple Grove Rugby Park (MGRP). Along with Bart Evans of the Assassins RFC, Don worked on the proposal that was to see both rugby clubs agree to contribute the substantial monies they earned through Bingo fundraising endeavours in an effort to help finance the creation of a rugby facility in Winnipeg.
Don’s rugby endeavours would eventually migrate to the upkeep and maintenance of MGRP where he served as Groundskeeper and General Manager of the park for seven years. Although a paid position, Don donated many hours of his time and other resources of his own volition in efforts to maintain the quality of the fields and general condition of the facility during trying economic times. Don took pride in this work, motivated by his experiences, like many players prior to 1985, of playing on trodden down cow pastures and asphalt parking lots passing as rugby pitches.
In 1983, in recognition of his hard work and dedication to the Wasps RFC and the development of rugby, the club struck the “Don Innes Award”, the club’s highest honour presented annually at seasons’ end to a club member who has demonstrated exemplary service to both the club and the sport of rugby in general. Player, administrator, volunteer, employee, Don’s contributions to the sport are truly deserving of induction as an Honoured Member to the Manitoba Rugby Hall of Fame.