Riley Barkman was raised in Kleefeld, Manitoba. After high school his path for higher education found him joining the Military, spending two years (1966-1968) at Royal Rhodes in Victoria, BC and two years (1968-1970) at Kingston Military College. Teammate Jon Jenkins later coined the nickname “General Barkman” for a tour book biography, referring either to Riley’s military background or ability to marshal a team through great understanding of the game and its strategies. In either case, the name was well earned.
It was out in Victoria and Kingston that Riley was first exposed to and fell in love with Rugby. When Riley returned to Winnipeg in 1970, there were four teams in Manitoba: Assassins, Saracens, Wasps, and Wanderers, all recently formed. Riley eventually joined the Wasps RFC, and began a lifelong participation in the sport of Rugby.
Riley played club Rugby with the Wasps for more than twenty years until the early 1990s when an injury forced him to retire from playing. Riley was a person who very much “respected the game”, and always had its best interest at heart, thus earning the trust and respect of his peers. He was heavily involved with all aspects of the sport here in Manitoba, and if the game needed an impartial person to settle a conflict or to work on a committee to improve the nature of the sport, that person would generally be Riley.
Riley spent ten years playing on the Manitoba Provincial Team (1972-1982) and in the mid-1980s was co-coach for the provincial program. He was involved in the formation and coaching of the Vincent Massey High School teams in 1974-1975, also coaching his own club, the Wasps, for five years (1974-1980). He was invited by the MRU to attend a planning conference for Rugby in Manitoba held in Gimli in the mid-1970s.
Riley served as Captain for Manitoba in several fixtures against touring sides from overseas. In 1972 he played against Welsh side LLANELLI; in 1973 against Irish side DUNGANNON; and in 1976 against Irish side LANSDOWNE. Riley cherished the opportunity to play against teams from countries where Rugby culture was prominent, and would likely consider this a highlight of his career.
In 1985 Riley was asked help commemorate the opening of Maple Grove Rugby Park by being the captain of a President’s Select Team pitted against the Manitoba Provincial Team of the day.
Riley was also a key participant in seven overseas tours with the Wasps to Hawaii, Trinidad, England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland, as well as trips to Alberta, Saskatchewan, and the United States, contributing his much respected leadership and character to every tour.
It was out in Victoria and Kingston that Riley was first exposed to and fell in love with Rugby. When Riley returned to Winnipeg in 1970, there were four teams in Manitoba: Assassins, Saracens, Wasps, and Wanderers, all recently formed. Riley eventually joined the Wasps RFC, and began a lifelong participation in the sport of Rugby.
Riley played club Rugby with the Wasps for more than twenty years until the early 1990s when an injury forced him to retire from playing. Riley was a person who very much “respected the game”, and always had its best interest at heart, thus earning the trust and respect of his peers. He was heavily involved with all aspects of the sport here in Manitoba, and if the game needed an impartial person to settle a conflict or to work on a committee to improve the nature of the sport, that person would generally be Riley.
Riley spent ten years playing on the Manitoba Provincial Team (1972-1982) and in the mid-1980s was co-coach for the provincial program. He was involved in the formation and coaching of the Vincent Massey High School teams in 1974-1975, also coaching his own club, the Wasps, for five years (1974-1980). He was invited by the MRU to attend a planning conference for Rugby in Manitoba held in Gimli in the mid-1970s.
Riley served as Captain for Manitoba in several fixtures against touring sides from overseas. In 1972 he played against Welsh side LLANELLI; in 1973 against Irish side DUNGANNON; and in 1976 against Irish side LANSDOWNE. Riley cherished the opportunity to play against teams from countries where Rugby culture was prominent, and would likely consider this a highlight of his career.
In 1985 Riley was asked help commemorate the opening of Maple Grove Rugby Park by being the captain of a President’s Select Team pitted against the Manitoba Provincial Team of the day.
Riley was also a key participant in seven overseas tours with the Wasps to Hawaii, Trinidad, England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland, as well as trips to Alberta, Saskatchewan, and the United States, contributing his much respected leadership and character to every tour.