our History
Over a century of grit, teamwork, and community building that paved the way for our future.
bridging the past
& the future
The history of Castaway Wanderers is written in the mud of our pitches and the sweat of our players.
But a true legacy isn't just about looking back; it's about building a foundation for those who come next.
timeline
1912
The Founding Years
Formed by a group of passionate locals, the original Wanderers took to the muddy fields of Victoria. With borrowed jerseys and an indomitable spirit, the foundation of our club was laid.
1965
The Castaways RFC was formed
In 1965, a group of passionate rugby players came together to establish the original Castaway Rugby Club in the Greater Victoria area. Built on a foundation of camaraderie, sportsmanship, and a love for the game, the club quickly became an important part of the local rugby community. What began as a small group of dedicated athletes grew into a respected organization that helped shape the sport on Vancouver Island, fostering generations of players while creating a lasting legacy of competition, friendship, and community spirit.
1988
THE MERGER
The Castaways and Wanderers joined forces, creating an unstoppable powerhouse in Canadian rugby. This union brought together two distinct cultures into one unified family.
2000
magic happens
With coach Tom Browne at the helm, a plethora of predecessors were soon forgotten when the men's team won a trifecta of BC Championships in 2000, 2001 and 2002, putting the club on the Canadian rugby map. A completely new era of CW rugby had commenced. Players from across Canada wanted to play in BC, specifically with CWRFC and were actively sought and recruited by the boundless energy of Brent Johnston. The club and clubhouse thrived. Revenue from bar sales was the primary source of operating expenses for DSC, occasionally supplemented from the players' pockets.
growth
With the introduction of Mini Rugby to the club's programs in 2003, a new arena of interest and emphasis was created. From a very humble beginning with a handful of youngsters, this group has burgeoned to 135 registered boys and girls in 2025. Youth programs quickly grew from this source. It was not a 'first'.
The talented and tireless Don Burgess had run youth programs with the Wanderers some years before, and many 'grads' from those programs were playing on the senior teams.
CWRFC also had similar successes with the work of Tom Stobart and Larry Chung. What was a 'first' was an expansive list of qualified coaches to tutor players in their teenage years, a practice that continues to this day.
The introduction of the game at this young age soon began to yield positive results, with BC Championship banners for U14 to U19 raised at DSC, affectionately known as 'The Temple'.
Indeed, over the past decade, CW age-grade girls and goys have claimed 23 Vancouver Island Championships and 8 BC Championships. Our graduating youth players have been encouraged to pursue their educational goals at university or continue their rugby journey with the club.
VOICES OF THE CLUB
Echoes from those who built our foundation.
IAN Mclean
In 2003, Ian McLean launched the club's Mini Rugby Program, creating a foundation that has introduced countless young athletes to the game. Ian brought a wealth of experience to the program, having coached at the University of Victoria (UVic), coached in Nanaimo, and led the University of Victoria rugby team on international tours. His passion for player development, combined with his extensive coaching background, helped establish a program built on skill development, sportsmanship, teamwork, and a lifelong love of rugby. Ian's vision continues to influence the club's commitment to developing players from their very first introduction to the sport.
Kerri Cook
Kerri Cook serves as the President of Castaway Wanderers Rugby Club, providing dedicated leadership and a strong commitment to the continued growth of rugby in the Greater Victoria community. A familiar face within the club for many years, Kerri has contributed in numerous roles, including managing club teams, regional and provincial representative teams, working with Jr. Tide Rugby, and serving as a Team Liaison Officer with Rugby Canada. Her passion for creating an inclusive, welcoming environment has helped strengthen the club's culture while supporting the development of players, coaches, volunteers, and families at every level of the game. Under her leadership, Castaway Wanderers continues to build on its proud tradition while investing in the future of rugby on Vancouver Island.
Alun rees
In 1965 we founded the Castaways Sports Club.
Within two years the club had morphed into Cricket,Rugby, Soccer and Field Hockey, and in the course of the next ten years rugby numbers dwindled due to playing retirement .
The club received a lifeline as it amalgamated with Oak Bay Wanderers. Our official name then became Oak Bay Castaways, and within a short period of time, we became Castaway Wanderers, and so it has remained until this very day.
The number of players and Captains of Canada, National Coaches, National Managers and National Selectors is living proof of that claim.
Today, we face new hurdles that involve maintaining treasured standards, and in particular the moving of our sports home nearer to Windsor Park. This is a mammoth task that is going to take our total support both financially and spititually.
The Pride in our organization has never been in question, and the establishment of the Oak and Palm Sports Club society is proving to be the highly qualified expertise needed to accomplish. this new and exciting phase in our history.
I am proud to see that the life of this development is in good hands, but at the end of the day , it is the responsibility of older and newer members to offer as much support as is necessary to the new and exciting cause.
We are a very respected Canadian sports organization, but. our goal must surely be , To Own The Podium as the BEST.
This is achievable by giving your full support to the Oak and Palm Sports Club Society.
